lip top 10: sporting triumphs
Well, the Olympics are still cracking along, so this fortnight I’m sticking with the theme of sports, but thought I’d make it a little more positive – we’re celebrating sporting triumphs, whether it be underdog victories, overcoming serious adversity, or just being pretty tank.
1. Mariel Zagunis
It really depends on what you consider to be an underdog victory as to whether you think this qualifies, but it’s on the list because I think it’s pretty nifty. Mariel Zagunis is an American Sabre Fencer who won the Olympic gold medal in Athens in 2004, the first year the sport was included in the program. What I think is cool about it is that she wasn’t even supposed to be competing. Although she tried, Zagunis did not qualify, but because Nigeria decided not to send their qualifying athlete, as the next highest seeded fencer in the world, she was given a spot. From not even qualifying to winning gold; she did alright.
2. 2008 Japanese Olympic Softball Team
Now this is an unexpected victory. The United States would win. Everyone knew it. Everyone knew it so much that it was decided that the 2008 Olympics would be the last time the sport featured at the games because the Americans were too dominant. In fact, since softball was included in the Olympic program at the 1996 games, the US had won every gold medal, and at the time that the IOC decided to pull the plug on the sport, the US team was on a 79 game winning streak. They breezed through the Olympic tournament unbeaten and posting massive wins, then were beaten by Japan when it counted most – the gold medal match. Bad time to post your first loss, ay?
3. Marny Cringle
What does one do after they lose their leg in a London Underground train accident in 1996? Just casually become a champion wheelchair tennis player. And just to make her that little bit cooler, she is in the process of having a bionic limb fitted. She has already had her femur lengthened for the limb to be fitted, and if it is successful, she will be the first person in the world to have a bone stump lengthened and a bionic limb fitted.
4. Saudi Arabia, Brunei and Qatar sending its first female athletes to Olympic competition in 2012
Let’s get one thing clear here, Saudi Arabia, Brunei and Qatar made these decisions not so much in a, “Hey, it’s about time we gave these ladies a shot!” way, but in a, “Oh, the IOC has put some pressure on us for this to happen,” way. So it wasn’t completely of their own volition, but progress is progress, right?
5. Alisa Camplin
Remember the Winter Olympics when speed skater Steven Bradbury won gold because everyone else fell over? At those same games (Salt Lake City, 2002), Alisa Camplin won the aerial skiing by actually beating everyone else. Although Bradbury gets the title of winning Australia’s first Winter Olympic gold medal, Camplin still competed as an underdog, with two fractured ankles, and won.
6. Manon Rheaume
Manon Rheaume is a Canadian Ice Hockey Goaltender who became known not so much for being in a world champion team, but because she was the first, and to date only, woman to play in a National Hockey League exhibition game. You know all those international friendlies the Socceroos play? It’s kind of like letting a woman play in that.
7. Louise Sauvage
As a wheelchair racer Sauvage has won nine gold and four silver Paralympic medals, one silver Commonwealth Games medal, four gold World Athletics Championships medals, four Boston Marathon golds, one gold and one silver at the Los Angeles Marathon, one gold at the Beppu-Oita Marathon and one gold at the Berlin Marathon. She’s pretty tank.
8. Jana Pittman
Her career may have been shrouded in controversy, but she should be given a little credit for this: she had knee surgery one week before competing in the 400m hurdles at the Athens Olympics and still managed to come in fifth.
9. Babe Zaharias
Babe Zaharias competed in the 1932 Olympics in the 80m hurdles, javelin and high jump, coming away with two gold’s and a silver. She gained All-American status in basketball. She played competitive billiards. She then turned her hand to golf and won 10 LPGA Major Championships. Jack of all trades, really.
10. Jessica Long
Jessica Long is a paralympic swimmer. She currently holds 13 world records and has won seven gold medals, one silver and one bronze. You know how old she was when she won her first gold medal? 12.
