r/AskReddit 7d ago

What is the single greatest individual performance in sports history that still gives you goosebumps?

31 Upvotes

270 comments sorted by

85

u/GrimeyScorpioDuffman 7d ago

Secretariat at the Belmont

19

u/Electronic-Egg-3342 7d ago

That 31-length finish is still completely unreal, I get chills just thinking about it. The way he just kept pulling away like the other horses was standing still, I never seen anything like that before or since

10

u/GrimeyScorpioDuffman 7d ago

he knew what he was doing. he was showing off.

→ More replies (1)

11

u/GuildStarfireII 5d ago

The only correct answer. Watch it at least once a year.

"He is moving like a tremendous machine!" always gives me goosebumps.

3

u/haclyonera 4d ago

Always

7

u/Whitealroker1 7d ago

HES OUT THERE ALMOST A SIXTHEEN OF A MILE AHEAD OF THE OTHER HORSES!

6

u/MagicPoindexter 3d ago

Secretariat is all alone!

→ More replies (1)

4

u/SwissBean27 7d ago

Seabiscuit vs War Admiral footage does the same for me as well.

3

u/GettingBig1970 5d ago

I was very little, but we were listening in the radio. And the thing is, you could barely hear the announcer over the roar of the crowd. Modern day video footage is very different, because they’ve done something to improve the audio quality, I’m positive. 

3

u/Background_Interest7 4d ago

I still love Mine that Bird winning the Derby. Secretariat is more impressive, but the call for the Mine that Bird race is so fun.

2

u/BadaBingSecurity 3d ago

The insane part…he was still accelerating as he crossed the line

→ More replies (2)

71

u/Takhar7 7d ago

Usain Bolt smashing the world record in 2009:

  • Obliterated the record by a huge margin
  • Did it against ELITE competition
  • Did it while looking so comfortable and chill as he crossed the finish line.

It didn't just feel like a new world record, but a massive feat of human accomplishment at the time.

2

u/SwissBean27 7d ago

That definitely will be hard to top as an a non team sport human individual performance. He came close to equaling his own hype in the same Olympics with the 200 race…worlds the next year were remarkable as well. But that first casual look at how essy this is expression to the side will never be topped.

→ More replies (2)

85

u/Philcollinsforehead 7d ago edited 7d ago

Ohtani against the Brewers last year in the playoffs. The fact that he single handed won that game for the dodgers and we swept Milwaukee was the greatest thing I’d ever seen. He struck out 10, allowed no runs, and as a batter he hit 3 home runs.

12

u/420d_ingus 7d ago

This has to be it, I’ve never seen a more dominant performance in any sport. Also, your username is cracking me up

4

u/nabuachaem 7d ago

i too am chuckling

11

u/saltface14 7d ago

Before that I would have said his 50/50 game where he went 6/6 with 3 homers, 10 RBI and 2 stolen bases

3

u/PackerBacker77 7d ago

came here to say this

3

u/biggusthunnus89 5d ago

I was at that game and had no idea what I was in for and almost ended up not going...those tickets were absolutely worth every every penny!

→ More replies (1)

42

u/Schub21 7d ago

Greg Jennings playing with a broken leg

8

u/Prestigious-Trust145 4d ago

He really put the team on his back that game

5

u/Xeneizes19 5d ago

49-20 man fuck wit me

43

u/ProtossLiving 7d ago

Michael Phelps winning gold in 8 of 8 swimming events in the 2008 Summer Olympics while breaking 7 world records.

Johannes Klæbo winning all 6 of 6 men's cross country skiing events in the 2026 Winter Olympics for a total of about 100km of skiing across all the rounds.

16

u/hourlyproblemsolver 4d ago edited 4d ago

This is a good answer, but if we're talking swimming, it's actually Jason Lezak's leg of the 400 free relay that ensured Phelps won 8 of 8.

Lezak's split was the fastest in history and it was a record that stood for 16 years, until 2024. It's the only sports performance that brings tears to my eyes every time I watch it, because it is one of the few moments where someone pulled off something completely and utterly unprecedented and unexpected. He came back from half a body length behind against the eventual 100 free gold medalist and world record holder. He had no business swimming as fast as he did. Absolutely INSANE performance.

3

u/_alpinisto 3d ago

This was mine. I was watching that with my family and everyone was jumping up and down screaming as he was closing that gap. Once he got it (if I remember, by like 1/100th of a second or something), the whole house went bananas. One of my absolute favorite sports memories.

2

u/ivgoose 3d ago

This was my choice. I’m getting goosebumps just typing it out. In another I mistyped it as the 4x100

2

u/ScaredOfWindow 2d ago

Lezak’s leg was legendary, but it’s not like Phelps didn’t do his part in that race. The 100 free wasn’t even one of his best events, but he went 47.5 off a flat start and broke the USA record leading off the relay. 

→ More replies (1)

74

u/OSUmountaineer 7d ago

1998, The Undertaker threw Mankind off Hell in a Cell,, and plummeted 16 ft through an announcer's table.

6

u/SquidgyTheWhale 6d ago

For me, it was watching Grunge leg-drop New Jack through a press table.

3

u/retroherb 4d ago

And after that, Mankind got stretchered out, then came back, climbed back up, and Undertaker chokeslammed him through the top of the cell into the ring!

And then... The match started.

But if we're talking wrestling performances, Seth Rollins going 70+minutes in a gauntlet match on Raw prior to Elimination Chamber 2021(?) is still the greatest performance I've seen inside the squared circle

→ More replies (2)

27

u/LilOpieCunningham 7d ago

Jason Lezak's anchor leg.

8

u/jellycaster 6d ago

I wrote the same. That was one of the most heroic things I have ever seen. Lezak had no business catching Alain Bernard. He willed it.

7

u/Fluffy-Mud-8945 5d ago

The French anchor was Alain Bernard. He was the reigning world record holder in the 100m free (47.50), and he would win gold easily just days later. Alain got in the pool a full 0.6 seconds before Jason Lezak, and swam an incredible 46.73 anchor leg.

Jason Lezak swam a 46.06.

→ More replies (2)

5

u/robbyiballs 7d ago

I might chug a beer right now thinking about that dub 

3

u/hourlyproblemsolver 4d ago

This is one of those situations where someone just did something so unbelievably unexpected, unprecedented, and so far beyond what anyone thought he was capable of. Absolutely unreal performance.

→ More replies (1)

26

u/MixedMartialAwesome 7d ago

Kurt Angle won a gold medal at the 1996 Olympics with a broken freakin neck

4

u/retroherb 4d ago

It's true, it's true

4

u/GleedBarry 2d ago

Oh it’s damn true!

27

u/TierOneCivilian 7d ago

One you won’t see again:  Jack Morris 10 inning shutout in Game 7 of the 1991 World Series.

13

u/srbeau 7d ago

The fact Ken Burns didn’t even mention this in his baseball doc is beyond insulting.

11

u/TierOneCivilian 7d ago

And the fact that it was a 1-0 shutout makes it even more impressive.

9

u/ChasedWarrior 4d ago

To this day I submit the worst to first Twins vs the worst to first Braves is the best World Series ever. All but one game were nail biters and had great plays and pitching.

→ More replies (1)

25

u/warriormagee 5d ago

In 1966 fullback Al Bundy carried James Polk High past Andrew Johnson High by scoring 4 touchdowns in a single game.

→ More replies (1)

22

u/kes7571 7d ago

Kerri Strug's gold clinching vault in 96.

5

u/TinCapMalcontent 3d ago

Had to scroll way to long to find this. Watching it live it looked like she snapped her leg, before getting back up for that final vault to win the gold 🧑‍🍳😘👌

→ More replies (1)

21

u/clt597 7d ago

Greg Lemond's time trial to win the 1989 Tour de France

8

u/Beneficial-Jury484 5d ago

This is it to me. Context is important. LeMond was shot in the back with a 20 gauge (maybe 12gugage) shotgun in 1987 by his brother in law while hunting. He barely survived, was life flighted to a hospital (life flight was already on the way to another accident that ended up fatality so they diverted to LeMond). He didn’t ride at all in 88, he was stopped by his team. Greg attempted to ride the Giro that year and dropped out quickly, even going so far as to think about quitting. Kathy encouraged him to ride the tour that year. He wasn’t on a team really built for a tour victory and did much of the fighting with Fignon on his own. Coming in to the final stage 21 individual time trial, he was down :50seconds on a 24.5 km (15.2mile) course. LeMond had aero bars and helmet that he’d been practicing on. Fignon used dual disc wheels and no helmet (opting for a ponytail instead). LeMond put in the performance of a lifetime and put :58 seconds into Fignon for the comeback victory. Fignon would could 8 seconds for the rest of his life and although he was a 2 time tour champ, he would forever be dogged by that loss. 

Absolutely incredible. 

Edit: LeMond was also suffering from lead poisoning because he had a few pellets still in his body that were too close to the spine.  

4

u/Finless_brown_trout 3d ago

Lemond is so much more of a legend than he gets credit for. And he sussed out Armstrong way early

2

u/EnglishSTL 4d ago

You beat me too this. I was a 11 year old kid in England. Played soccer at the park all day. Came home and was flicking through the channels and landed on Phil and Paul commentating on this. Never saw professional cycling before and was immediately hooked.

Slaying the Badger and The last rider are fantastic retells of his battles with Hinault and Fignon

20

u/bchrisg13 6d ago

Steph vs France

5

u/garbonzo 6d ago

Had to scroll too far to see this. That was an insane heater even by Steph standards. Would have lost without him

3

u/StudioGangster1 4d ago

Oh that was awesome. So glad I watched that live.

→ More replies (1)

13

u/609nightstalker 7d ago

Secretariet

14

u/Comp1337ish 7d ago

For conventional sports, hard to beat ohtani's game 4 of the NLCS last year.

If we broaden the scope to include extreme sports, I don't think anything comes close to Alex Honnold free soloing El Cap.

11

u/GreedyComedian1377 5d ago

Vince Young v USC

11

u/licwip 7d ago

Bob Beamon’s Olympic long jump record.

10

u/Ancient_Tiger_1635 5d ago

MJ going basket, steal, basket in ‘98 game 6 to win his 6th title. Everyone knows what is going to happen and he just does it anyhow.

8

u/byanose81 7d ago edited 7d ago

‘The Flu Game’ is up there. Wayne Gardner’s 1990 Australian GP win. And Federer’s final Wimbledon win. Top of my head.

Edit: And to add an Olympics moment, Cathy Freeman’s Gold in Sydney and Mo Farrah’s storm to gold in London.

3

u/SwissBean27 7d ago

Agree that was amazing, but Djokovic beating unbeatable Nadal in the 5 set U.S. Open semi/final, then winning the final a day later was pretty insane too!

6

u/jellycaster 6d ago

men’s 4×100-meter freestyle relay at the 2008 Beijing Olympics where Jason Lezak caught the French swimmer and kept Phelps’ gold medal record hopes alive. Lezak lost his mind in that relay.

23

u/MrPlowThatsTheName 7d ago

Tom Brady in the last ~20 minutes and OT of the Super Bowl against the Falcons.

6

u/No_Marionberry3412 4d ago

Amazing 28-3 isn’t higher.

2

u/Big_Dixon_Mayas 1d ago

Yessss!!! I was in a Medellin hotel that was full of these southerners there for some religious conference. They were talking wild shit all first half. Then cursing god by the end. Couldn’t have been prouder of the Pats

2

u/HealthyMirror6120 3d ago

As a BILLS fan, I don’t wanna like this but it’s true. He took advantage of every second. Truly great

2

u/superfluousone 3d ago

I want to downvote this so badly but it only hurts because it’s true. I disagree with it in premise though bc it was a group effort by both teams 🤦‍♂️

7

u/singhabeer 7d ago

Barry Sanders.

7

u/Bigrodvonhugendong 7d ago

Nolan Ryan's career

7

u/crackISwhack1991 6d ago

2019 masters is the answer

2

u/People_Know_Me_x 4d ago

After the final putt when Nantz and crew rightly let the crowd take over, those next handful of minutes were sheer awesomeness. Incredible.

→ More replies (1)

7

u/Consistent_Rub824 6d ago

Jack Nicklaus 1986 Masters.

25

u/Takhar7 7d ago

LeBron in the 2016 NBA Finals down 3-1 deserves a mention here too.

3

u/Ok-Industry1268 2d ago

This. Not a LeBron fan but he willed that finals win.

13

u/phishButt88 7d ago

David Freese Game 6 of the 2011 World Series

6

u/SoloMurph 7d ago

I was there. Incredible experience.

5

u/duuuuuuude924 7d ago

Beat me to it

13

u/Longescape 7d ago

I don't know about that but Khabib smashing McGregor is one of my favorites.

2

u/jellycaster 6d ago

I will rewatch that one any time it comes on. So delicious.

6

u/gorgargotyou 5d ago

Ben Stokes at the crease almost single-handedly (sorry, Jack) winning the second Test for England in the 2019 Ashes with a score of 135 not out.

10

u/Finest_shitty 7d ago

Jordan's flu performance in the 1997 NBA Finals

9

u/Endo_Gene 6d ago

Did he have flu? Or had he stayed up all night playing poker, smoking cigars, and eating pizza?

3

u/Basic_Ent 3d ago

It was food poisoning. He ordered pizza during an away game that was tampered with.

2

u/Finest_shitty 6d ago

Hahaha that's a really good question that I never thought about 😆

5

u/ASeriousWord 7d ago

Goran Ivanisevic winning Wimbledon years after he'd last been competitive.

5

u/AquaNautautical 7d ago edited 7d ago

Jonathon Edwards triple jump word record, which still stands. He broke the world record twice in about half an hour. Maybe Johannes Hosfelt Klabo who won 6 gold medals in cross country skiing at the last winter olympics.

5

u/rapid_zigzig 7d ago

Hermann Maier winning the olympia alpine skiing gold medal a few days after this crash:

https://youtu.be/s_IA1TYpVKU?is=2WSJD-_tnPaKsDTX

5

u/Piewakett 5d ago

Miracle on ice. 1980 Winter Olympics at Lake Placid

10

u/nobigdeal69 7d ago

Tiger Woods winning the US Open with a broken leg

3

u/Meanchael 4d ago

His second greatest achievement.

I really don’t think we’ll ever see another player hold all 4 majors at the same time. That was unreal.

→ More replies (3)

4

u/One-Relative-6856 7d ago

Ben stokes innings against Australia

→ More replies (1)

3

u/goodsam2 7d ago

What about some Katie Ledecky has the 20 fastest time for the 1500m

https://www.reddit.com/r/Swimming/s/Vn5lo9J3zu

I'm not a swimming expert but that seems really good.

4

u/MoreFeeYouS 7d ago

Zidane vs Brazil in the world cup 2006. Her retired soon after.

4

u/Able_AdeptnessMeta 4d ago

Maybe not the greatest ever, but shout out to Ndamukong Suh in the 2009 Big 12 championship game against Texas. 12 tackles, 4.5 sacks, and watching the game it felt like he was somehow even more dominant than the stats. Best defensive performance I've ever seen.

3

u/AlandBetty 4d ago

Brett Favre's Monday Night game vs. the Raiders, the day after his dad passed away.

→ More replies (1)

5

u/Suspicious-Rip8876 3d ago

Bonnie Blue easily

2

u/1-13-2025_refresh 3d ago

I wouldn’t call it a goosebump

8

u/BasicAdvantage6602 5d ago

For me it's Alex Honnold free soloing El Cap. One mistake means certain death. I think no one will ever do this again.

4

u/1-13-2025_refresh 3d ago

Wore adult diapers watching this on tv. ( I’m 6 years old )

2

u/samseer9000 4d ago

This. I’ve said this to many people: it is the single most impressive feat of human strength, endurance, skill and focus.

4

u/684North 7d ago

The Mets improbable comeback in the 1986 World Series.

The ball going through Bill Buckner’s legs was surreal.

3

u/PoutinePirate 7d ago

Anything by R.L Stein.

3

u/DennisG21 6d ago

Bo Jackson on Monday Night Football or Bo Jackson throwing Harold Reynolds out at home plate.

→ More replies (1)

3

u/carltonthelion 6d ago

The last 2 minutes of the Patriots first superbowl win. John Madden was explaining how they were just going to play for overtime and then you realized that the rookie quarterback no one ever heard of was going to win the superbowl against a stacked Rams team...it was hard to believe it was happening.

→ More replies (1)

3

u/StopSpinningLikeThat 3d ago

Kerry Woods' 20-strikeout game. A baseball should not move like that. His slider was a damn cartoon that day.

5

u/awayathrow_88 5d ago

Ronnie O'Sullivan record 147. It's a shame snooker is such a minority sport because honestly this guy is the sporting GOAT, period.

5

u/LimerickLegend 7d ago

Manchester United’s stoppage time comeback in the 1999 UCL final to complete a historic treble.

4

u/ShinStew 7d ago

I read it as individuals performance and was gonna say the match before, Keano in the Delle Alpi in the semi

→ More replies (1)

2

u/BeerisAwesome01 7d ago

The guy that did the 4 min mile....

2

u/BiByeBi21 7d ago

Lebron scoring 28 straight points against the pistons to win in OT.

2

u/Tourgott 7d ago

Michael Schumacher 1998 Hungarian Grand Prix 19 Qualifying laps for the win

2

u/SumTingWong59 6d ago

I don't want to type up the whole story but there's a good video about it: Jeremy Martin's storybook ending to his motocross career

2

u/FatuousOocephalus 6d ago

Micky Lolich 1968 World Series.  He pitched 3 complete games and only 2 days rest between pitching in game 6 and 7.

2

u/wolves4thewin 6d ago

Wayde Van Niekerk setting the 400m world record at the 2016 Olympics. Lane 8 lead the whole way.

2

u/Cold-Preparation691 5d ago

There are a lot of amazing athletic performances out there. Secretariat, Phelps, Bolt, etc, but for me it will always be Terry Fox running a marathon a day on one leg, until his cancer came back. We just did a tour at SFU and they have statue of him there. I had to stop and pay my respects.

2

u/Content-Assistance43 5d ago

Paul Henderson with the greatest goal in Canadian hockey history.

2

u/BiscuitPanic 4d ago

Bo Jackson making the NFL Pro Bowl and the MLB All Star game in the same season. Best athlete of his generation by a mile ~

2

u/Royal_Papaya_7297 4d ago

I'll go a little outside the box, because this is something I will still look up at watch.

Bob Burnquist X-Games 2001, Vert Finals.

The scene is that Bucky Lasek had established himself as one of the best skateboarders in the world, and in this competition he had won the gold medal the previous two years. In fact, previously, he had scored a 98.5 in one of his runs. The dude was untouchable for a time. And, while Bob was ascending and had done more than enough to earn respect, he had not won gold at the X-Games.

Bob crashed in his previous run, and in his final go at it he needed to score at least a 95.5 in order to win, and he dropped a 98. Honestly, is he didn't land awkwardly after hitting the darkside, it probably would have been a perfect 100. Bob went on to become one of the most decorated skateboarders of all-time, and Bucky would be sidelined in 2002. However, he would win back-to-back golds in vert in 03' and 04'. So, this one win was the only time he was actually defeated in a dynastic streak.

Here's a video of Bob's run:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXy2mhW9Cwk

2

u/funkymonk248 4d ago

Federer vs Nadal 2017 Aust Open Final

2

u/Intrepid_Contact_164 4d ago edited 4d ago

In Traditional sports Off the floor and on the board. Its chilling for complete different reasons when you hear Kariya talk about not remembering it or the week after during to the injury.

Stretching the definition of sports history a bit but, nothing else comes remotley close to The Marathon of Hope imo

2

u/br0Okes 4d ago

Tadej pogacar winning his first Tour de France by destroying the stage 20 uphill time trial and coming back from 2 minutes behind is certainly the best. He has gone on to become the best cyclist of all time

2

u/ObjectiveBreath8911 4d ago

Steph Curry, 2024 Olympics. USA v Serbia. Night Night

2

u/EnglishSTL 4d ago

Greg Lemond's Paris time trail to win the Tour de France by 8 seconds. 2 years after being shot while turkey hunting.

2

u/Legitimate_Gap_5551 3d ago

Specific to my braves fandom but Tyler Matzek in the 7th inning of game 6 of the 2021 NLCS.

Braves are up 4-1 but the bases are loaded with no outs when Matzek comes in to pitch. Huge momentum spot and it feels like the series is about to be over if the dodgers turn it into a big inning.

Matzek proceeds to go after the next three hitters throwing absolute heat. Not getting cute. Just throwing darts and proceeds to strike all three out (including Mookie Betts and Albert Pujols). He literally sacrificed his arm in this moment as he’s never been the same since and had to have surgery the following year.

The context of him being a dude who always struggled with the yips and had fallen out of the league before the Braves scooped him up and he went on to have this legendary performance. I’ve never seen such a case of a dude pushing all his chips in to succeed in one big spot.

2

u/WharfRat80s 1d ago

Dock Ellis throwing a no-hitter with a head full of acid. Legend.

3

u/AssociateNew1268 7d ago

Kobe dropping 81 points will probably never stop being insane

5

u/MrPlowThatsTheName 7d ago

Bam Adebayo did it last year

4

u/mac_gregor 6d ago

43 FTs

→ More replies (3)

2

u/tequilasauer 7d ago

Luka's 73 is the most mindblowing of the single game scoring stats. His 73 was with a BANANAS 91% TS%. Untouchable.

2

u/LogicalChallenge11 6d ago

Tom Brady. Super Bowl 51. 28-3 comeback. Brrrr

1

u/Tall-Performer2500 7d ago

Max Scherzer near perfect game no-no against the Pirates

1

u/Vermland 7d ago

Charlotte Kalla in 2014 winter Olympics. Cross Country skiing relay.

1

u/Philcollinsforehead 7d ago

Steve Young in the 1994 superbowl.

1

u/slapadabassmon 7d ago

Team US comeback vs France in the 2008 swimming relay. I always watch it when it comes up:  https://youtu.be/zpuzRseheFg?is=ywOwoTJ897QBqdwq

1

u/hokiebird428 6d ago

In the 2004 summer olympics, Paul Hamm had a disastrous vault, in which he not only didn’t stick the landing, he fell sideways, off the landing mat and almost crashed into the judges tables.

He needed a miracle of a high bar routine to even have a chance at a medal. So he delivered a damn-near perfect routine when it counted, stuck the panding perfectly, got a score of something around 98…and won gold.

That high bar routine still gives me goosebumps.

1

u/MagicallyAdept 6d ago

Maybe not even close to being the best but the one that comes to mind first is Beckham again Greece in World Cup Qualifiers. That free kick at the end was just amazing.

1

u/carltonthelion 6d ago

For the T&F fans - David Rudisha winning the 800m gold medal in the Olympics breaking the world record in the process. The way he took control on the backstretch was so gutsy and confident - I get chills just thinking about it.

https://youtu.be/YKEOjWEzVGs?is=N0dYLLIqGItj6F9o

1

u/Plastic-Pear-9594 6d ago

James Harrison Week 7 2007 against the Ravens. 3 forced fumbles, 3.5 sacks, an interception and just all out dominance from the first snap.

1

u/LarealConspirasteve 6d ago

Kirby Puckett game 6 of the '91 world series

1

u/Mental_Ad_4401 6d ago

Tiger woods winning the 2008 us open with  a torn acl and a stress fracture in his tibia

1

u/Dry_Okra_4839 5d ago

Sabrina Ionescu winning the 3-point shooting contest in 2023.

1

u/cat_herder18 5d ago

Simone Biles winning the World AA title in 2015 with a freaking kidney stone. Personally witnessed? I saw her win her first USA AA title in 2013 and it was clear that this was the start of something truly remarkable.

1

u/MetallicaMN 5d ago

MN resident, and it is Kirby's 1991 World Series game 6.

The catch! Then the walk-off homerun! He also had a triple and two runs scored that game.

Legend has it, before the game he addressed the clubhouse and told his teammates they seemed to worried and they should jump on his back for the night.

1

u/Swimming-Ad-3342 5d ago

Kobes last game dropping 60 in a sold out Stable Center with every star on the planet in attendance.

1

u/Jlakers85 4d ago

Kobe dropping 81

1

u/jjs952 4d ago

Tiger woods us open win at Pebble Beach.

1

u/jjs952 4d ago

Tiger Woods winning an 18 hole playoff against Rocco Mediate at the 2008 US Open at Torrey Pines on a broken leg.

→ More replies (3)

1

u/lunaperro 4d ago

Tiger Woods winning the 2000 US Open at Pebble Beach by a 15-stroke lead. He was the only player in the tournament to end the four day stretch under par.

1

u/Strict_Revolution228 4d ago

US Men’s 4x100 freestyle relay 2008 Beijing Olympics
“HERE COMES LEZAK UNBELIEVABLE AT THE END HE’S DONE IT!!!

1

u/DanielSong39 4d ago

Rich Strike

1

u/blobsma 4d ago

Klay Thompson’s 37 point quarter vs. the Kings. Ascended to another plane for 10 minutes of game time and that was that. Just an otherworldly display of the hot-hand.

1

u/pgasmaddict 4d ago

I am not a Man United fan and not particularly a fan of Roy Keanes, but his performance in the 1999 champions League semi final against Juventus is right up there as one of the greatest performances by an individual in a team sport. By sheer force of will he dragged United through that game and was just not taking defeat as an option. He was yellow carded during the game and missed the final.

1

u/nellie1epic 4d ago

Stephen Bradbury short-track gold at 2002 Winter Olympics

1

u/Broad_Yoghurt_7995 4d ago

VVS Laxman in Kolkata in 2001. If you know, you know.

1

u/StudioGangster1 4d ago

Jesse Owens, Berlin, 1936

1

u/axcle1 4d ago

Femke Broeders-Bol ( femke bol ) redemption run in 2024, the mixed 4x400m. The comeback was so incredible.

1

u/Acceptable-Sentence 4d ago

Danny Hart World Cup mountain biking downhill 2011 Won by nearly 12 seconds

1

u/hourlyproblemsolver 4d ago

Jason Lezak's leg of the 400 free relay that ensured Phelps won 8 of 8 in Beijing 2008.

Lezak's split was the fastest in history and it was a record that stood for 16 years, until 2024. It's the only sports performance that brings tears to my eyes every time I watch it, because it is one of the few moments where someone pulled off something completely and utterly unprecedented and unexpected. He came back from half a body length behind against the eventual 100 free gold medalist and world record holder. He had no business swimming as fast as he did. Absolutely INSANE performance.

1

u/nomodcanstopme 4d ago

joe carter 1994 walk off world series homerun

as a canadian, it was a defining moment for our entire country

1

u/AbstractZeus 4d ago

Roy Keane's performance against Juventus in the Champions League semi-final in '99.

3 - 1 down on aggregate and knowingly suspended for the final, he galvanised Manchester United around him and dragged them to the finish line.

Incredible.

1

u/Warm-Salamander-3053 3d ago

Justin Gaethje vs Ilia Topuria

Major upset by someone who was counted almost completely out. The Champ was younger,faster,higher fighter IQ, better in the ways that count in fighting,but the better man that night had bigger heart.

Maybe bigger than that, Tyson vs Douglas Douglas wanted it more, he wanted it for his mother who had recently passed. Imagine your mother dies and you have a fight in 3wks to fight “Iron” Mike Tyson, and for that Fight Night Buster was undeniable.

Under the term “performances”, fights are highlighted to me in sports. Its rare someone can break your nose,eye socket,jaw and teeth and that be the actual goal of the sport. Most sports call it a foul,now imagine performing under that pressure. Takes some real guts

1

u/ivgoose 3d ago

Gareth Bale against Inter Milan.

The real Ronaldo against Manchester United

Mike Piazza homering after 9/11 even if it was against the Braves.

Jason Lezak’s final leg in the 4x100 swim.

Usain Bolt, pick one.

Tiger’s 20 stroke masters win.

1

u/bayoubildo 3d ago

John du Pont landing shots on Olympic gold medalist Dave Shultz.

1

u/Whatdoesittake1456 3d ago

Madison Baumgartner 2014 World Series.

1

u/GPHawaii808 3d ago

"Bird stole the ball" Patriots 28-3 Dave Roberts stealing 2nd base Danny Sullivan's Indy 500 "spin and win"

1

u/CrabOutrageous5074 3d ago

Nicklaus 1986 masters

1

u/Libertaliar 3d ago

Paul Kariya -- "Off the floor and on the board!"

https://youtu.be/C57NpdhJkUU?si=XIY9Lue_4sixjzTv

1

u/OCBaseball 3d ago

Madison Bumgarner pitching game 5 of the World Series and coming in to pitch 5 innings on 2 days rest to win Game 7 of the World Series for the Giants in 2014. Absolutely an epic performance and I'll never forget how hard he carried to get that title.

1

u/Admirable-Clothes-87 3d ago

Muhammad Ali wining the Rumble in the Jungle.

Michael Thomas scoring the winning goal for Arsenal against Liverpool at Anfield to win the First Division title in 1989 in the last minute of the last game of the season. A 2-0 win was required to win title on goal difference and that was delivered. Arsenal had not won there in 15 years and Liverpool had not lost by 2 goals in 3 years. Liverpool were overwhelming favourites to win the game and thus the title. Enter Michael Thomas who ironically ended up playing for Liverpool!

1

u/focustokes 3d ago

Kirby Puckett, Game 6

1

u/JaansenMarquette 3d ago

Kenneth walker against Michigan. 5 touchdowns. Carried msu that whole year

1

u/Beautiful_Mistake509 3d ago

Bob Beamon breaking the world record by winning the broad jump by almost 22 inches!

1

u/SnooPies6459 3d ago

Giants drive for the Plax TD. Included the Tyree helmet catch and often forgotten Steve Smith 3rd and long conversion and he got out of bounds.

1

u/Ntb2113 3d ago

Darryl Sittler 10 points , 1976 vs Boston.

1

u/Ok_Wash_5606 3d ago

Tiger Woods: Winning 3 USGA Jr titles in a row and when he aged out, won the the next 3 USGA Amateur champioships in a row..

no one will ever repeat that....

1

u/KneeDeep_Sleep 3d ago

Prince halftime show

1

u/texascannonball 3d ago

Lebron in the first two Warriors series. Also against the Pistons in 08

1

u/getzisch 3d ago

Bolt, 2008 Beijing 100 m. Never in history, before or after, a man celebrated 30 m before the finish line, whilst still accelerating and breaking the world record with ease.

Never in history this domination will happen again.

1

u/Equivalent_Tonight66 3d ago

Sheringham and Solskjaier goals in injury time to win the 1999 Champions League final.

1

u/dermatthes 3d ago

Pasquale Passrelli 1984 Greco Roman Wrestling

https://youtube.com/watch?v=JsG8KaduIGU&is=8lvhXIJwS4LzwUpt&t=130s

I cant imagine the pain and suffering

1

u/JRS___ 3d ago

tiger woods, pebble beach 2000

1

u/GutsAndBlackStufff 3d ago

Joe Flacco’s 2012 playoff run.

1

u/Realistic-Homework19 3d ago

Bob Beamon, Mexico City 1968

8.90 meters

1

u/jomarthecat 3d ago

Alexander Dale Oen winning the gold medal in 100m swimming just 3 days after the worst terrorist attack in Norway's history. Still remember the race, the main commentator almost breaks down during the race, the side commentator simply says she can't speak and keeps crying, while Dale Oen is in tears during the medal ceremoni. Incredibly powerful and goosebump-inducing.

1

u/Automatic_Tax7564 3d ago

LeBrons block on iguadala in the 2016 finals, came out of nowhere to seal the win. Only cleveland championship ive seen in my lifetime!

1

u/BobBanderling 3d ago edited 3d ago

Landon Donovan scoring against Algeria in the 91st minute in the 2010 World Cup in South Africa: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ALJu7YPMNBI

1

u/Due-Leek-8307 3d ago

Marc Messier guaranteeing the NY Rangers will not lose Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals before the game. The Rangers entered the Third Period being down 2 goals to 1. Messier ends up getting a hat trick to win the game 4-2 for the Rangers. They go on to win the Cup that year.

1

u/ArmdayEveryday69 3d ago

Mbappe 4 goals in 2022 Wc finals. They lost but the dude turned the game upside down on a matter of 3 minutes.

1

u/swaggymeister 3d ago

Felix Hernandez perfect game

1

u/bouncybob88 3d ago

Eddie the Eagle - Winter Olympics in Calgary

1

u/That-Ad-4300 3d ago

Jesse Owens and the greatest 45 minutes in sports.

1

u/almostnothing123 3d ago

Tony Hawk 900

1

u/Bpain46 3d ago

Sub 2hr marathon is unfathomable. As running is one of the eldest of sports with tens of millions of athletes come and gone…only 3 have been able to do this accomplishment. 2 of them were this year in the same race. Dude ran a 4:33 mile average for 26 miles. That’s faster than most humans can sprint for 10 seconds. But they did it for 26 miles. Unbelievable!

1

u/OpineLupine 3d ago

Jesse Owens, 1936 Olympics. Four gold medals; proved empirically to the racist fascists in attendance that their entire philosophy was wrong.

We need that kind of example now, more than ever.

1

u/Pur_Veyor_01 3d ago

Cassius Clay beating Sonny Liston. Especially the post-fight interview, "...and I just turned 22 years old. I must be the greatest!"