Women's Health February 22, 2026 0 Comments

How USA Hockey’s Unbelievable Olympic Upset 46 Years Later Will Inspire Your Next Game-Changing Move!

Ever wonder what it takes to turn the impossible into reality on the world’s biggest stage? The Olympic Games aren’t just about medals—they’re about moments that shake us to our core, redefine what we think is possible, and yes, sometimes rewrite history right before our eyes. Athletes dedicate their entire lives chasing that elusive gold, but every now and then, they stun us all with a comeback or a triumph so sweet it tastes like victory itself. Fast forward to February 22, 2026—exactly 46 years after the original “Miracle on Ice”—when Team USA flipped the script again, toppling Canada 2-1 in overtime to snag their first men’s hockey Olympic gold since 1980. Jack Hughes’ clutch shot and goalie Connor Hellebuyck’s jaw-dropping defense didn’t just steal the game; they stole the moment and added a fresh, electrifying chapter to Olympic lore. Curious about the other jaw-dropping Olympic moments that have left fans breathless, from Nancy Kerrigan’s resilient silver to the first ever perfect 10? Stick around—you won’t want to miss this trip down memory lane. LEARN MORE

The Olympic Games are all about breaking records, with athletes working their entire lives towards a gold medal. Over the years, Olympians have stunned fans with their incredible performances, unprecedented wins and comeback moments.

And now, we can add a new chapter to Olympic history: On February 22, 2026—exactly 46 years to the day after the original “Miracle on Ice”—Team USA defeated Canada 2-1 in overtime to win their first Olympic gold in men’s hockey since 1980. Jack Hughes scored the game-winning goal just 1:40 into overtime, with goalie Connor Hellebuyck stopping an incredible 41 of 42 shots. The victory was especially sweet, as Canada had previously dominated this rivalry in gold-medal matches at the 2002, 2010 and 2014 Olympics.
Keep reading to learn more about the most shocking Olympic moments in history, from Nancy Kerrigan’s recovery to the first perfect score!

‘Miracle on Ice’ (1980)—and the 2026 sequel

The original: 1980 Winter Olympics, Lake Placid, New York

Team USA celebrates its 4-3 victory over the Soviet Union in the first final round match of the Men’s Ice Hockey event at the Winter Olympic Games in Lake Placid, New York, on February 22, 1980. The game was dubbed “the Miracle on Ice.”

If you witnessed the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, New York, you’ll likely remember the hockey game, famously known as the “Miracle on Ice,” between the United States and the Soviet Union. The US team consisted of young college players and amateurs, while the Soviet Union team, which was favored to win, was full of players who were already seasoned professionals—plus they had already won four Olympic gold medals.

Taking place during the Cold War, the United States was in need of some positive news. So when the amateur men’s hockey team came through with a very unexpected win of 4-3, the game was deemed the “Miracle on Ice” and has since been one of the most talked about sporting events in American sports history.

MILAN, ITALY - FEBRUARY 22: Matthew Tkachuk #19, Jack Eichel #9 of Team United States and teammates celebrate their gold medal win during the Men's Gold Medal match between Canada and the United States on day 16 of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena on February 22, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) — MILAN, ITALY – FEBRUARY 22: Matthew Tkachuk #19, Jack Eichel #9 of Team United States and teammates celebrate their gold medal win during the Men’s Gold Medal match between Canada and the United States on day 16 of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena on February 22, 2026, in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)Getty

The 2026 Victory: Milan, Italy

Forty-six years to the day after that legendary upset, Team USA engineered another epic victory on February 22, 2026. This time, the Americans toppled longtime nemesis Canada 2-1 in overtime to win their country’s first Olympic gold in men’s hockey since 1980.

Jack Hughes scored the decisive goal, ripping a shot past Jordan Binnington just 1:40 into 3-versus-3 overtime. The Americans forced overtime thanks to an incredible performance from goalie Connor Hellebuyck, who withstood constant Canadian pressure and turned away 41 of the 42 shots he faced.

Unlike the 1980 team of unheralded amateurs, the 2026 squad featured NHL superstars. But the victory was just as sweet—especially after Canada had previously won gold-medal matches against the U.S. at the 2002 and 2010 Olympics and shut out the Americans in the 2014 semifinals.

Bars across America opened before sunrise for the early-morning game. Fans watched “Miracle” the night before to hype themselves up, set their alarm clocks and gathered to witness history repeat itself—46 years to the day.

A perfect 10

Multiple exposure shows Romania’s Nadia Comaneci on the balance beam in Olympic women’s gymnastics, as she went on to win her second gold medal of the night, and her third of the games. She is the first gymnast to be awarded a perfect score of 10.0 at the Olympic GamesBettmann / Contributor

In 1976 at the Montreal Games, Nadia Comăneci became the very first gymnast to earn a perfect 1o in an Olympic competition. The Romanian athlete was just 14 years old at the time and achieved the score after her performance on the uneven bars. Being that her score was the first perfect, the scoreboard displayed a “1.00” because it wasn’t yet programmed to show a perfect score.

The score made Comăneci the youngest all-around Olympic gold medalist at the time. She went on to earn seven perfect scores during the 1976 Games, as well as three gold medals, one silver and one bronze.

The Dream Team

The 1992 Olympics US basketball team quickly became known as “The Dream Team” after their stellar performance at the Barcelona Games. The group was the first American one to feature active NBA players, including Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, Scottie Pippen and Charles Barkley, among others.

The team defeated each of their opposing teams by an average of 44 points, earning themselves a gold medal after their 8-0 record, as well as a spot in the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame. Michael Jordan spoke about the team’s legendary win and how it’s helped to shape the sport.

“I think globally basketball has grown, and I think the Dream Team had a lot to do with it,” Jordan said.

Nancy Kerrigan’s silver medal

After the 1994 attack on Nancy Kerrigan, in which she was whacked with a collapsible metal baton in the lower right thigh above her knee, the skater’s Olympic future was on thin ice. Kerrigan was forced to pull out of the National Championships, but luckily, she was able to recover in time for the Games in Lillehammer, Norway.

Kerrigan wowed judges with her performance, earning herself a silver medal for the women’s singles competition. Despite her intense injury, which was only a month prior, Kerrigan was able to pull through and skate cleanly.

Tara Lipinski became the youngest winner

Tara Lipinski of the United States (center) raises her arm with a bouquet of flowers to celebrate winning the gold medal alongside silver medallist Michelle Kwan (right) and bronze medallist Chen Lu — Tara Lipinski of the United States (center) celebrates winning the gold medal alongside silver medallist Michelle Kwan (right) and bronze medallist Chen Lu of China in the Ladies Figure Skating Singles competition of the XVIII Olympic Winter Games (1998)Jamie Squire / Staff

It’s always baffling to see the ages of some gold medal Olympians after witnessing their incredible talent, but what about the youngest winner ever? Tara Lipinski became the youngest winner of an individual event in the history of the Winter Games—a title she still holds. The figure skater was just 15 years and 255 days old when she earned a gold medal at the 1998 Games in Nagano.

Lipinski’s win was even more amazing after she placed 15th at the 1996 World Championships at age 13. Her first-place win at the Olympics was unprecedented and one of the most shocking Olympic moments.