Everyone loves an underdog story – the little guy who rises up against all odds and manages to defeat their seemingly unbeatable opponent. Sports history is full of these incredible tales of triumph, where pure determination, grit, and hard work have led to some of the greatest upsets in history. Here are just a few of the greatest underdog wins in sports history.
1. The Miracle on Ice
In the 1980 Winter Olympics, the US men’s ice hockey team faced off against the heavily favored Soviet team. Despite being considered massive underdogs, the US team managed to pull off a stunning upset, defeating the Soviets 4-3 and going on to win the gold medal.
2. Leicester City’s Premier League Win
In the 2015-2016 English Premier League season, Leicester City was the ultimate underdog team. Despite being odds of 5,000-1 to win the league, they managed to do just that, beating out some of the biggest and most well-funded teams in the world.
3. Buster Douglas Knocks Out Mike Tyson
In one of the biggest upsets in boxing history, Buster Douglas knocked out Mike Tyson in the 10th round of their fight in 1990. Tyson was considered unbeatable at the time, and Douglas had been given very little chance of winning, but he managed to pull off one of the greatest upsets of all time.
4. Rulon Gardner’s Olympic Victory
In the 2000 Olympics, Rulon Gardner faced off against the seemingly unbeatable Russian wrestler, Alexander Karelin, in the Greco-Roman wrestling finals. Despite being much smaller and less experienced than Karelin, Gardner managed to pull off a shocking upset, winning the gold medal and cementing his place in Olympic history.
5. The US Open Golf Championship
In the 1913 US Open Golf Championship, unknown golfer Francis Ouimet competed against the reigning champion, Harry Vardon. Despite being a complete unknown in the sport, Ouimet managed to win the tournament in a playoff, shocking the golfing world and becoming an instant legend.
These incredible underdog stories prove that anything is possible in sports – no matter how big or small your opponent may be. With hard work, persistence, and a little bit of luck, anyone can achieve greatness, and these incredible victories will go down in history as some of the greatest moments in sports.
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