8 Defining Sports Moments That Changed The World

The Miracle on Ice (1980)

In the midst of the Cold War, a team of unheralded American college hockey players defeated the seemingly invincible Soviet Union team—a group of professionals who had dominated the sport for years. The “Miracle on Ice” was more than an upset; it was a moment of national pride and hope during a time of economic struggles and international tension. When broadcaster Al Michaels screamed “Do you believe in miracles? YES!” he captured exactly what the moment meant to a country desperate for one.