Greatest comebacks of all time in the Olympics

Comebacks turn great athletes into legends. The Olympics push the body and mind harder than any other event. Some athletes compete through injuries. Others return after illness, crashes, or years of failure. A few even come back after deep personal loss.

These moments matter because they show what sports are truly about. It’s not just about winning. It’s about getting back up when everything feels lost. Fans remember these stories for years. They prove that one race, one jump, or one final effort can change everything.

Many of these athletes were written off before their big moment. Some got hurt during the Games. Others arrived after long battles with pain and setbacks. Still, they rose when it mattered most.

These comebacks did more than earn medals. They shaped Olympic history. From dramatic relay finishes to emotional podium scenes, each story shows courage, heart, and focus under pressure. Here are 15 of the greatest Olympic comebacks ever.

1. Team USA – Jason Lezak

At the Beijing 2008 Games, Jason Lezak swam the anchor leg of the men’s 4×100-meter freestyle relay. France led by almost a full body length. Lezak chased down Alain Bernard in the final meters. He touched the wall just 0.08 seconds faster. Team USA won gold. The race set a world record. That finish is still one of the most famous swims ever.

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2. Germany – Matthias Steiner

Matthias Steiner won gold in weightlifting at the Beijing 2008 Olympics. A year earlier, his wife Susann had died in a car crash. He almost quit the sport. Instead, he trained with her memory in mind. After his lift, he cried on the podium while holding her photo and his medal.

3. Team USA – Miracle on Ice

The 1980 U.S. men’s hockey team faced the powerful Soviet Union. Most American players were college athletes. The Soviets had won four straight Olympic golds. The U.S. won 4 to 3 in the semifinal. They later claimed gold. Miracle on Ice became one of the biggest upsets in sports history.

4. Austria – Hermann Maier

Hermann Maier crashed hard in the downhill race at the 1998 Nagano Winter Olympics. Many feared he was badly hurt. Days later, he returned. He won gold in the Super-G and giant slalom. Fans began calling him “The Herminator.”

5. Australia – Betty Cuthbert

Betty Cuthbert won three gold medals in 1956. Fame and injuries pushed her away from the sport. Years later, she came back as a 400-meter runner. In 1964, she won gold in Tokyo. Her return is one of track’s greatest stories.

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6. USA – Simone Biles

At the Tokyo Olympics 2020, Simone Biles withdrew from several events due to the twisties. Mental health became her main focus. Two years later, she won the world all-around title in 2023. Paris 2024 marked her Olympic return. She earned all-around gold, one silver, and two bronze medals.

7. USA – Dan Jansen

Dan Jansen fell during the 500 meters at the 1988 Games after learning his sister had died. In 1992, he placed poorly again. Lillehammer 1994 brought another fall in the 500. Later, he skated the 1,000 meters and won gold with a world record. The medal was dedicated to his sister.

8. Soviet Union – Dmitry Bilozerchev

A serious car accident almost ended Dmitry Bilozerchev’s career in the early 1980s. Recovery took years. At the 1988 Seoul Olympics, he returned in top form. He won gold in pommel horse, still rings, and team competition.

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9. USA – Gail Devers

Doctors diagnosed Gail Devers with Graves’ disease in 1990. Her symptoms included weight loss and painful foot sores. Amputation was once considered. Treatment helped her recover. She won 100-meter gold at Barcelona 1992 and two more golds at Atlanta 1996.

10. USA – David Wottle

David Wottle ran last after the first lap of the 800 meters at Munich 1972. In the final stretch, he sprinted past the field. He tied the silver medalist in time but won by 0.03 seconds.

11. Great Britain – Sebastian Coe

Sebastian Coe lost the 800 meters at Moscow 1980 to rival Steve Ovett. Illness later kept him out of the 1983 World Championships. At Los Angeles 1984, he won silver in the 800 and gold in the 1500. The results proved his class again.

12. Australia – Cathy Freeman

Illness and injury slowed Cathy Freeman in the late 1990s. She missed key training time and took a break in 1998. Her return in 1999 brought an unbeaten season in the 400 meters. At the Sydney Olympics 2000, she won gold. As an Indigenous athlete, the win carried deep meaning.

13. USA – Greg Louganis

During the 1988 Seoul Games, Greg Louganis hit his head on the springboard in prelims. Doctors stitched his wound. He returned to competition with focus. Gold followed in both the 3-meter springboard and 10-meter platform.

14. Netherlands – Annemiek van Vleuten

A crash in the Rio 2016 road race left Annemiek van Vleuten with a concussion and spinal fractures. Recovery took weeks. At Tokyo Olympics 2020, she won gold in the women’s individual time trial. The result showed her strength and patience.

15. Team USA – Kerri Strug

An ankle injury worsened during the 1996 Atlanta Games for Kerri Strug. She fell on her first vault in the team final. Pain did not stop her. She completed a second vault to secure gold for Team USA. It was the country’s first women’s gymnastics team gold.

Conclusion

Each comeback shows what makes the Olympics special. Pain, loss, and failure did not stop these athletes. Their moments still inspire fans around the world.

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