10 Sports Moments That Will NEVER Happen Again

10 Sports Moments That Will Never Happen Again

Welcome to WatchMojo, and today were counting down our picks for the most unique moments in sporting history that we will likely never see again.

#10: South Africas 1995 Rugby World Cup Win

Any sporting moment that brings a nation a little closer to peace and resolution deserves to be considered on a list like this. In the 1990s, South Africa was still adjusting to its post-apartheid era. Backed by the support of the national icon Nelson Mandela, their president, what seemed like a divided country found common ground in the sport of rugby. And in the 1995 World Cup final, they saw off Jonah Lomu and the All-Blacks by a narrow margin, with Joel Stransky scoring a crucial extra-time drop-goal to unite his nation in applause. It wasnt just a huge moment for South African sport, it was a huge moment for South African history, period.

#9: Nadia Comanecis Perfect Ten

In 1976, the idea of an athlete receiving a perfect ten score in gymnastics was so far-fetched that the official scoreboards werent even calibrated to go higher than a 9.99. But when 14 year old Nadia Comaneci managed to flawlessly execute a number of highly technical maneuvers and the board displayed a one-point-zero-zero the crowd were understandably confused. But when the realisation set in, it became clear that we had just witnessed history. It was one of seven perfect scores she would turn in during the 1976 Olympic Games - setting a brand new standard for gymnastics performance-levels in the process.

#8: Usain Bolt Stuns Athletics

Heading into the 2008 Olympics, there was considerable hype surrounding the fast-rising runner, Usain Bolt. He was clearly a different level of athlete, and the general expectation was that he would truly come into his own on the world-stage. But we didnt realise exactly how successful this man would be. Beijing played host to a truly remarkable display from Bolt - as he broke three separate world-records, taking home gold in the 100m, 200m, and as part of the Jamaican relay team. This run of sheer dominance would carry through to the next two Olympic Games in 2012 and 2016, but 2008 showcased the performances that truly blew the door off its hinges.

#7: The Hand Of God

Only a player as great as Diego Maradona could score two of the most famous goals in the history of football in one match. His first goal in the 1986 World Cup quarter-finals, known as the Hand of God, involved Maradona going up for an aerial-battle with the English-keeper Peter Shilton and clearly using his hand to swat the ball into the open goal. Diego later admitted that he had in fact touched the ball with his hand - but the goal stood. Somehow, he then scored a second goal which was called the Goal of the Century - a run that saw him cover half the field and beat half the English squad before slotting the ball home.

#6: Jesse Owens Debunks the Aryan Superiority Myth

In 1936, the world was on the verge of a major collapse into all-out war, and the years Olympic Games in Berlin served up quite a lot of tension. Adolf Hitlers belief that the Aryan race was superior was about to be ripped apart by U.S. track and field athlete, Jesse Owens. With the German dictator watching on, Owens stormed his way to four different gold medals - taking the top spot in the 100m race, the 200m, the relay, and the long-jump. Hitler was annoyed by Owens performance, as he had planned to use the games as an opportunity to showcase just how much better German athletes were than their rivals. Unfortunately for him, he didnt count on Jesse Owens single-handedly ruining things.

#5: Abebe Bikila Wins 1960 Olympic Marathon

Winning a gold medal under any circumstances is one of the hardest things an athlete can do, but for the Ethiopian marathon runner Abebe Bikila, he well and truly flipped the script. Taking up running at the age of 19 is by no means a good foundation for elite success - and yet, in the 1960 Olympics, at the age of 28 - he stunned the world by taking home a gold medal, becoming the first black African athlete to do so. And to make matters even crazier, he did it all in his bare feet. There were no fancy sneaker endorsements here. No, Bikila ran like a man possessed, and somehow, he replicated his feat in 1964 as well. A truly bizarre but brilliant performance!

#4: Red Sox Overcome 3-0 Deficit

The Red Sox had been fighting off a long-standing drought that left them without a single World Series win in 86-years. But in 2004, momentum seemed to favour them. And with their rivals, the New York Yankees, standing between them and progressing to the finals - they somehow overcame a 3-0 series deficit to turn the tables against the Yankees and seal the win in Game 7. The fact that they went on to win the World Series was impressive, as is. But in overturning what seemed like a certain defeat, they became the first team to ever claw their way back from such a gulf. 2004 was a year that any MLB team would have a hard time besting!

#3: The Miracle on Ice

The Soviet hockey team was a truly dominant force in the 1970s - coming into the 1980 Winter Olympics. In an era where professional players were not able to represent their countries, the Soviets still had a truly stellar team assembled. As for the Americans? Not so much. Their roster was made up of youthful amateurs - and the notion of them finding victory against their rivals was considered laughable. And yet, they managed to edge them out 4-3 by the time the game had ended - leading to a hugely unifying cultural moment within the United States. It was a win that never should have happened - eventually earning the title The Miracle on Ice - and its easy to see why!

#2: Muhammad Ali Defeats George Foreman

Muhammad Ali already told the world he was the greatest, and yet, they still counted him out at the age of 32 when he attempted to win his old title back from the younger and more powerful George Foreman. Big George had KOd Ken Norton, he had mauled Joe Frazier, and as Ali walked out to meet him in a packed Zaire area, it was almost as if the commentary team were writing his obituary. But Ali had a plan. And with the famed rope-a-dope approach, he let the big man punch himself out for seven rounds before nailing him in the eighth. It was the more unlikely and utterly enthralling career comeback - and from there, it became near-impossible to doubt him ever again.

#1: Leicester City Win the Premier League

Anything with 5000-to-1 odds of happening is supposed to be a novelty bet. Its like saying Tom Cruise will win the 2028 U.S. Presidential Election. But for Leicester City, predictions that they might not even be in the Premier League the following season made their 2015-16 title-run even more unbelievable. At first, it just seemed like these underdogs were simply finding some healthy early-season form, but when the New Year came and went and people were forced to take them seriously, football fans across the world could not believe what they were witnessing. When they eventually sealed the league title, it was instantly declared to be the most shocking and unlikely achievement in English football history by a long margin.

But did we miss any other truly shocking sporting moments? Be sure to let us know your favourites in the comments!