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With the United States set to celebrate its 250th birthday, it got me to thinking who are the athletes most associated with the red, white and blue.
Whether it be an Olympian winning gold or an athlete serving their country, the country has had some amazing stories of triumph and patriotism.
Here are 10 athletes or teams that stand out when it comes to Old Glory and the country it represents.
This team made the country believe in miracles. On Feb. 22, 1980, the United States faced a Soviet team that had won the previous four Olympic gold medals. Coached by Herb Brooks, the roster was the youngest in the tournament and made up entirely of amateur and collegiate players. Despite trailing in the game, the U.S. rallied and won when team captain Mike Eruzione scored the winning goal to secure a 4–3 victory. The win was not the gold medal game, but a semifinal matchup, which propelled the Americans into the finals. The team went on to defeat Finland 4–2 two days later to claim the gold medal.
Ted Williams won the Triple Crown in 1942. The following year he was flying missions for the U.S. Navy during World War II. Williams missed three seasons from 1943-45 fighting for his country. It didn't end there: Williams was called back into service during the Korean War in 1952. His MLB season lasted just six games. Williams flew 39 combat missions in Korea, earning the Air Medal with two Gold Stars. He was back on the field in 1953, where he was able to play in 37 games. His career had seven years after his service ended, but how much better could his stats have been had nearly fice full seasons not been taken away from him.
Following the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, Tillman left his NFL career to join the U.S. Army. He turned down a three-year, $3.6 million contract offer by the Arizona Cardinals to serve his country. He eventually became an Army Ranger and was killed by so-called friendly fire in Afghanistan. He was 27 years old. He posthumously received the Silver Star and Purple Heart medals.
Hamm made her debut for the United States Women's National Soccer Team at age 15 at the 1987 U.S. Olympic Festival. She went on to compete in four FIFA World Cups, helping the U.S. win titles in 1991 and 1999. She also won gold at the Olympic Games in 1996 and 2004, and silver in 2000. She tallied 158 international goals. Hamm helped women's soccer move to the forefront of women's sports while inspiring countless girls nationwide.
Owens was a pioneer for so many reasons, not only for being a Black athlete representing the U.S. in the Olympics in the 1930s, but for staring down Adolf Hitler in Nazi Germany's capital of Berlin while winning four gold medals. As ESPN put it, Owens single-handedly crushed Hitler's myth of Aryan supremacy. Owens won gold medals in the 100 meters, long jump, 200 meters, and 4 × 100-meter relay, setting Olympic records in each event.
In the unthinkable, the U.S. saw two overtime "Golden Goals" in the same week as both the men's and women's hockey teams won gold medals at the 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Milan, Italy.
Megan Keller scored her "Golden Goal" on Thursday, Feb. 19, as the United States women's hockey team won gold by defeating Canada 2-1 in overtime. It was their third gold medal in hockey, having won it in both 1998 and 2018.
Just three days later, Jack Hughes scored the "Golden Goal" 1:41 into overtime, giving Team USA's men a 2-1 overtime win, also against Team Canada. It is the United States’ first gold medal in men’s hockey since the aforementioned Miracle on Ice in 1980.
Scoring an overtime "Golden Goal" was so nice, the U.S. did it twice.
Phelps is the most accomplished Olympic athlete, having won 28 total medals. He qualified for the 2000 Summer Olympics at the age of 15, as he became the youngest male to make a U.S. Olympic swim team since 1932. While he did not win a medal, he did make the finals and finished fifth in the 200-meter butterfly. He then went on his record medal run beginning in 2004, continuing on in 2008, 2012 and 2016. He won a total of 23 gold medals, also a record. Among his many accolades, the Baltimore, Maryland, native received the United States Sports Academy Male Athlete of the Year in both 2003 and 2008.
Robinson chose to stay in the Naval Academy even though he had the option to leave before being obligated to serve active duty. He was drafted by the San Antonio Spurs in the 1987 NBA Draft, but his career couldn't begin until 1989 after his two-year service ended. Because of his dedication to the Navy, he earned the nickname "The Admiral" and was one of the most respected NBA players of his era. He won two Olympic gold medals, the first with the original Dream Team in 1992, and the second in 1996. He also collected two NBA titles, in 1999 and 2003.
Retton grabbed the nation's attention in the 1984 Summer Games in Los Angeles, winning a gold medal in the individual all-around competition, as well as two silver medals and two bronze medals. Her gold medal win was historic as Retton was the first American woman to win the all-around gold medal in Olympic gymnastics. Retton earned the Sports Illustrated Sportswoman of the Year award. She appeared on a Wheaties box, and became the cereal's first official spokeswoman.
Monday was an outfielder who had a solid 19-year career. He played for the A's for the first 6 years of his career, followed by five with the Chicago Cubs and eight with the Los Angeles Dodgers. It was during his final year with the Cubs in 1976 that he made his patriotic mark. During a game in Los Angeles, two protestors ran onto the field and began to douse an America flag in lighter fluid. Monday raced over and seized the flag before the duo could set the flag on fire. When Monday came to bat in the next inning, the Dodger Stadium scoreboard displayed the message: “Rick Monday… You made a great play”. Monday later said, "If you're going to burn the flag, don't do it around me."
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: On 250th birthday of U.S., these athletes define the American spirit
Continue reading...
Whether it be an Olympian winning gold or an athlete serving their country, the country has had some amazing stories of triumph and patriotism.
Here are 10 athletes or teams that stand out when it comes to Old Glory and the country it represents.
The 1980 U.S. Men's Olympic Hockey Team
This team made the country believe in miracles. On Feb. 22, 1980, the United States faced a Soviet team that had won the previous four Olympic gold medals. Coached by Herb Brooks, the roster was the youngest in the tournament and made up entirely of amateur and collegiate players. Despite trailing in the game, the U.S. rallied and won when team captain Mike Eruzione scored the winning goal to secure a 4–3 victory. The win was not the gold medal game, but a semifinal matchup, which propelled the Americans into the finals. The team went on to defeat Finland 4–2 two days later to claim the gold medal.
Ted Williams, Boston Red Sox, 1939-1960
Ted Williams won the Triple Crown in 1942. The following year he was flying missions for the U.S. Navy during World War II. Williams missed three seasons from 1943-45 fighting for his country. It didn't end there: Williams was called back into service during the Korean War in 1952. His MLB season lasted just six games. Williams flew 39 combat missions in Korea, earning the Air Medal with two Gold Stars. He was back on the field in 1953, where he was able to play in 37 games. His career had seven years after his service ended, but how much better could his stats have been had nearly fice full seasons not been taken away from him.
Pat Tillman, Arizona Cardinals, 1998-2001
Following the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, Tillman left his NFL career to join the U.S. Army. He turned down a three-year, $3.6 million contract offer by the Arizona Cardinals to serve his country. He eventually became an Army Ranger and was killed by so-called friendly fire in Afghanistan. He was 27 years old. He posthumously received the Silver Star and Purple Heart medals.
Mia Hamm, U.S. Women's National Soccer Team, 1987-2004
Hamm made her debut for the United States Women's National Soccer Team at age 15 at the 1987 U.S. Olympic Festival. She went on to compete in four FIFA World Cups, helping the U.S. win titles in 1991 and 1999. She also won gold at the Olympic Games in 1996 and 2004, and silver in 2000. She tallied 158 international goals. Hamm helped women's soccer move to the forefront of women's sports while inspiring countless girls nationwide.
Jesse Owens, 1936 Olympics
Owens was a pioneer for so many reasons, not only for being a Black athlete representing the U.S. in the Olympics in the 1930s, but for staring down Adolf Hitler in Nazi Germany's capital of Berlin while winning four gold medals. As ESPN put it, Owens single-handedly crushed Hitler's myth of Aryan supremacy. Owens won gold medals in the 100 meters, long jump, 200 meters, and 4 × 100-meter relay, setting Olympic records in each event.
Megan Keller and Jack Hughes, 2026 U.S. women's and men's hockey
In the unthinkable, the U.S. saw two overtime "Golden Goals" in the same week as both the men's and women's hockey teams won gold medals at the 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Milan, Italy.
Megan Keller scored her "Golden Goal" on Thursday, Feb. 19, as the United States women's hockey team won gold by defeating Canada 2-1 in overtime. It was their third gold medal in hockey, having won it in both 1998 and 2018.
Just three days later, Jack Hughes scored the "Golden Goal" 1:41 into overtime, giving Team USA's men a 2-1 overtime win, also against Team Canada. It is the United States’ first gold medal in men’s hockey since the aforementioned Miracle on Ice in 1980.
Scoring an overtime "Golden Goal" was so nice, the U.S. did it twice.
Michael Phelps, Olympic swimmer, medal record holder
Phelps is the most accomplished Olympic athlete, having won 28 total medals. He qualified for the 2000 Summer Olympics at the age of 15, as he became the youngest male to make a U.S. Olympic swim team since 1932. While he did not win a medal, he did make the finals and finished fifth in the 200-meter butterfly. He then went on his record medal run beginning in 2004, continuing on in 2008, 2012 and 2016. He won a total of 23 gold medals, also a record. Among his many accolades, the Baltimore, Maryland, native received the United States Sports Academy Male Athlete of the Year in both 2003 and 2008.
David Robinson, San Antonio Spurs, 1989-2003
Robinson chose to stay in the Naval Academy even though he had the option to leave before being obligated to serve active duty. He was drafted by the San Antonio Spurs in the 1987 NBA Draft, but his career couldn't begin until 1989 after his two-year service ended. Because of his dedication to the Navy, he earned the nickname "The Admiral" and was one of the most respected NBA players of his era. He won two Olympic gold medals, the first with the original Dream Team in 1992, and the second in 1996. He also collected two NBA titles, in 1999 and 2003.
Mary Lou Retton, 1984 Olympic gymnast
Retton grabbed the nation's attention in the 1984 Summer Games in Los Angeles, winning a gold medal in the individual all-around competition, as well as two silver medals and two bronze medals. Her gold medal win was historic as Retton was the first American woman to win the all-around gold medal in Olympic gymnastics. Retton earned the Sports Illustrated Sportswoman of the Year award. She appeared on a Wheaties box, and became the cereal's first official spokeswoman.
Rick Monday, 1966-84, Major League Baseball
Monday was an outfielder who had a solid 19-year career. He played for the A's for the first 6 years of his career, followed by five with the Chicago Cubs and eight with the Los Angeles Dodgers. It was during his final year with the Cubs in 1976 that he made his patriotic mark. During a game in Los Angeles, two protestors ran onto the field and began to douse an America flag in lighter fluid. Monday raced over and seized the flag before the duo could set the flag on fire. When Monday came to bat in the next inning, the Dodger Stadium scoreboard displayed the message: “Rick Monday… You made a great play”. Monday later said, "If you're going to burn the flag, don't do it around me."
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: On 250th birthday of U.S., these athletes define the American spirit
Continue reading...
