Ask 100 different people about the greatest sports moments in history and you will probably get 100 different answers. The reason being that what represents a truly iconic sports moment is somewhat subjective.
After all, you can’t expect someone who’s exclusively interested in football to be too enthusiastic about some kind of achievement in professional swimming.
Still, there have been certain iconic sports news and moments of the decades that nobody can deny were and still are a game-changing moment. The kinds of sports events and achievements that will be looked back on with fondness for generations to come.
So irrespective of where your own interests lie, here’s a brief rundown of some of the greatest sports moments ever that were also captured on camera:
Football World Cup 1966
First up, it’s hard to deny that the whole England World Cup saga from today’s perspective is a little bittersweet. Nevertheless, anyone who was lucky enough to be around at the time Geoff Hurst hit his hat-trick on the hallowed turf of Wembley will know exactly what it meant to the modern British game. When England won the World Cup in 1966, they did so on home soil in front of none other than Her Majesty the Queen. It was the kind of incredible event you couldn’t script – the immortal words “they think it’s all over, it is now,” being uttered by Kenneth Wolstenholme with impeccable timing. Quite simply, the most memorable and important sports moment in the history of British football.
Rugby World Cup 2003
What was truly great about England’s dramatic last-second victory in the 2003 Rugby World Cup was the way in which it reignited the nation’s love for the game. The millions who had previously hadn’t taken a great deal of interest in rugby suddenly became super fans, sparking a revolution for the modern game. When Jonny Wilkinson’s drop goal sealed the victory for England right at the last moment, the entire country celebrated like never before. Even today, this one incredible kick is credited with putting professional rugby back on the map for the masses in the UK.
Europe win Ryder Cup 2012
It wasn’t the victory itself that marked a momentous event, but rather the way Europe mounted the most astonishing and unexpected comeback. Having been down 10-6 to the United States after just two days, it looked as if the whole thing was over before it even got into full swing. Somehow though, José María Olazábal’s dozen warriors completely obliterated one young superstar after the next, clawing back the kind of victory nobody had expected to see. An event that started disappointingly for Europe and ultimately became one of the most important moments in professional golfing history.
Davis Cup win 2015
When Andy Murray won the Davis Cup for Great Britain in 2015, it was the first time the trophy headed back to UK soil since 1936. Despite his somewhat chequered performance around the time, Murray proved to be no less than an unstoppable force, putting on a herculean performance to make mincemeat of his opponents.
Red Rum wins historic third Grand National, 1977
You don’t have to have the slightest interest in professional horse racing to know the name Red Rum. To this day, this remarkable horse remains the only horse to have ever won the Grand National an astonishing three times. And not only did he win, he won by a considerable margin – a full 25 lengths in his final Grand National victory, making headlines all over the world.
Ian Botham at the Ashes, 1981
Undoubtedly one of the greatest victories in the history of test cricket, Ian Botham surprised everyone by hitting an extraordinary 149 with just 92 needed. England were on the brink of defeat and Botham’s recent poor performances had seen him go so far as to resign captaincy of the team. Hence, his leading the team to a spectacular victory nobody saw coming made the whole thing so much sweeter.
Rocky Marciano Retires Undefeated
Last up, one of the most extraordinary careers in the history of boxing, Rocky Marciano finally hung up his gloves for good with 49 wins and zero defeats under his belt. Even today, he remains the only professional heavyweight boxing history to have retired without ever losing a fight. He toyed with the idea of a comeback in 1959, but decided to stay out of the ring and leave his record untarnished.
