The Greatest Olympic Upsets of All Time

14 January 2026

The Olympics have always been a stage for the world’s greatest athletes to showcase their talent. But every now and then, an underdog steals the spotlight and rewrites history. These moments leave fans shocked, legends humbled, and the world in awe.

Let’s take a deep dive into some of the most jaw-dropping Olympic upsets of all time—stories that prove anything is possible when an athlete dares to dream big.

1. The Miracle on Ice (1980 Winter Olympics)

Few sports upsets can rival what happened in Lake Placid in 1980. The U.S. men’s hockey team, a group of college kids, took on the mighty Soviet Union—a team that had dominated the sport for years.

The Soviets had won four straight Olympic gold medals and were expected to breeze through the Americans like a warm knife through butter. But what happened next shocked the world.

With legendary coach Herb Brooks leading the way, the U.S. team pulled off an unthinkable 4-3 victory. The final moments of that game, punctuated by Al Michaels’ iconic call—“Do you believe in miracles? YES!”—became one of the most unforgettable moments in sports history.

2. Rulon Gardner Stuns Alexander Karelin (2000 Sydney Olympics)

If you thought David vs. Goliath was just a fable, Rulon Gardner’s victory over Alexander Karelin in the 2000 Olympics was the real-life version.

Karelin, a Russian Greco-Roman wrestler, was an absolute monster. He hadn't lost a match in 13 years and hadn’t even allowed a single point in six years. Most wrestlers feared him before even stepping onto the mat.

Enter Rulon Gardner—an unheralded U.S. wrestler with zero expectations of winning gold. But against all odds, Gardner managed to score a point and held on to defeat the unbeatable Karelin, stunning the wrestling world and making Olympic history.

3. Billy Mills’ Historic 10,000m Victory (1964 Tokyo Olympics)

Billy Mills, a Native American distance runner from the U.S., wasn’t even considered a serious contender in the 10,000-meter race. While his competitors were world champions and gold medal favorites, Mills was just hoping for a respectable finish.

But with one of the most exhilarating finishes in Olympic history, Mills found an extra gear in the final lap, surging past his rivals to claim the gold medal in world-record fashion. His victory remains one of the greatest upsets in track and field history and an inspiring tale of perseverance.

4. Greece’s Shock Euro 2004 Win (2004 Athens Olympics)

Okay, this one technically happened just before the Olympics, but it deserves a mention. The Greek national soccer team was a 100-1 underdog heading into Euro 2004. No one, literally no one, gave them a chance.

But with a rock-solid defense and a belief that defied logic, Greece stunned the footballing world by defeating powerhouse teams one by one—culminating in a shocking 1-0 victory over Portugal in the final. Their defensive masterclass and their Cinderella story made it one of the biggest surprises in sports history.

5. Steven Bradbury’s “Last Man Standing” Gold (2002 Salt Lake City Olympics)

Steven Bradbury’s gold medal in the 1,000m short-track speed skating event is the definition of persistence meeting luck.

Bradbury was far from the fastest skater in the field. In fact, he was often trailing in most of his races. But fate had other plans.

In the quarterfinals, a competitor was disqualified, allowing him to advance. In the semifinals, an opponent's crash helped him sneak through. Then came the final—a race featuring the best speed skaters in the world. Bradbury was lagging behind when, in the most unbelievable sequence of events, every skater in front of him crashed on the final turn.

He simply coasted past the fallen skaters and won gold, leaving the world in disbelief. If there was ever a perfect example of “right place, right time,” this was it.

6. Fiji’s Rugby Sevens Gold (2016 Rio Olympics)

Fiji had never won an Olympic medal—ever. But when rugby sevens made its Olympic debut in 2016, the small island nation had a golden opportunity to change that.

With a team full of powerful and swift players, Fiji stormed through the competition. They ended up thrashing Great Britain 43-7 in the final, bringing tears of joy to an entire nation.

This gold medal wasn’t just an upset—it was a monumental achievement for a country where rugby is a way of life.

7. The U.S. Women’s Soccer Team’s Stunning Loss to Sweden (2016 Rio Olympics)

The U.S. women’s soccer team had been the team to beat for years. They were expected to cruise to another Olympic gold in 2016, but Sweden had other plans.

In a shocking quarterfinal match, Sweden not only held the U.S. to a draw but also eliminated them in a dramatic penalty shootout. It was the first time the U.S. had ever failed to reach the semifinals of the Olympic tournament—a stunning early exit for a squad stacked with legendary players.

8. The 2004 U.S. Men’s Basketball Team’s Fall from Glory

The U.S. men’s basketball team—often called the “Dream Team”—was never supposed to lose. After all, NBA superstars dominated the roster.

But in 2004, a young Argentina team led by Manu Ginóbili delivered the unthinkable. They outplayed the U.S. in the semifinals, winning 89-81 and ending the Americans’ gold medal hopes.

It was a wake-up call to the basketball world: the U.S. was no longer invincible. Argentina went on to win gold, cementing their place in basketball history.

Conclusion

The Olympics have given us some of the most unforgettable moments in sports history. These upsets teach us that no victory is guaranteed, no opponent is too big, and no dream is too far-fetched.

Whether it's a hockey team of college kids taking down the world's best or a speed skater winning gold simply by standing upright, these stories remind us why we love the Olympics.

Who knows? The next Olympic games could bring another miracle moment that leaves us all speechless.