11 Unbreakable Sports Records That Were Actually BROKEN

11 Unbreakable Sports Records That Were Actually Broken

Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re looking at ten sports records that seemed like they would stand the test of time… right up until they were broken.

Sabastian Sawe’s Under Two-Hour Marathon

We can barely run a mile in under two hours! Alright, maybe that’s a slight exaggeration. But this record is undoubtedly one of the most impressive athletic feats in recent history. During the 2026 London Marathon, Sawe blew spectators away when he crossed the finish line with a final time of one hour, fifty nine minutes, and thirty seconds. This broke the existing world record, becoming the fastest recorded marathon time in history. His magnificent speed and unbelievable athleticism has been applauded by fans across the globe, but especially in his home country of Kenya, where he was greeted with grand celebrations for his accomplishment.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's NBA Career Scoring Record

The longevity of the great Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was perfectly matched by his incredible consistency. Across his twenty seasons in the league, he managed to score a staggering 38,387 points, enough to make him a nineteen-time All-Star. It was believed that his record would never be matched, and if so, that it could only be done by a generational talent with some incredible staying power. Jump forward to 2023, where this era’s hero, LeBron James, managed to finally do the unthinkable, overtaking the icon’s total. Like Kareem, LeBron is setting a new benchmark for longevity in basketball, leading many to believe that his new record will take even longer to beat. Don’t hold your breath on that one, folks.

Emmitt Smith’s All-Time Rushing Peak

When Walter Payton finished his thirteen-season career in 1987, he had set a new standard for running backs. He managed to rush for at least 1,200 yards in ten out of his thirteen seasons, only failing to do so once in non-lockout-shortened campaigns. “Sweetness” was truly one of the best to ever do it - leaving the sport with a total of 16,726 yards. However, when Emmitt Smith came on the scene in the 90s, it was clear that he was gunning for that title. When the dust eventually settled, he had managed to blow that record out of the water, posting a career total of a staggering 18,355.

Big George Finally Gets Overtaken

For a lesser man, getting beaten by Muhammad Ali back in 1974 would’ve been the peak of his career. George Foreman would eventually prove that he was cut from a different cloth, though, retiring from the sport before eventually mounting a comeback that lasted well into his 40s. At 45 years old, he knocked out the heavily-favoured Michael Moorer to become the oldest champion in boxing history. It seemed like Foreman would hold that title for quite some time, until the great Bernard Hopkins came along and won light-heavyweight gold at 46, and then later at 49. The idea of anyone coming close to Hopkins ever again seems even less likely, but history tells us that any record that can be set can be broken.

Johnny Unitas' Consecutive Games with a Touchdown Pass

In many ways, Johnny Unitas and his golden arm served as a prototype for the modern-day quarterback. It wasn’t just on a surface-level, though. Unitas certainly had the numbers to back it all up. In a period of time between 1956 and 1960, he set the record for consecutive games in which he threw a touchdown pass with 47. This was considered an unbreakable record for the next half-century, right up until Drew Brees hit a hot streak that left him with 54 games. A feat like this needs a combination of elite talent, consistency, and durability to even come within touching distance. Brees was fortunate enough to be blessed with all of these traits.

Pelé's Brazil Men's International Goal Record

The actual amount of goals that the mighty Pelé scored during his career has been a source of debate for years. Some say he scored over a thousand, others say it’s a bit lower. It’s unanimously agreed that he scored a lot, though, make no mistake. His international goal tally of 77 was seen as a benchmark for international scoring for decades, especially during an era where less games were played. Jumping forward to 2023, the modern superstar Neymar finally rose up and broke the record, cementing his position as a Brazilian international legend. Sure, there are many who claim that Neymar’s career underdelivered in some ways, but nobody can take this slice of history away from him.

Martina Navratilova's Grand Slam Titles Record

We could’ve gone with Pete Sampas’ Grand Slam record and the man who eventually surpassed it, but for our money, our final pick edges it out. The run that led to Martina Navratilova’s Grand Slam title tally of eighteen singles titles made her a legend ten times over. Her dominance in the 1980s, built on fitness, serve-and-volley tactics, and professionalism, set a new standard for athletic preparation in women’s tennis. When Serena Williams eventually climbed up and beat her record, she did so as a representative of the modern era, taking her own total to nineteen. These two occupy a place in tennis history that only a handful of players will ever reach.

Jesse Owens' Men's Long Jump World Record

No list of the greatest athletes of all-time would be complete without a mention for the track-and-field superstar Jesse Owens. He was a trailblazing force in the 1930s, who left an incredible mark on the culture of twentieth century sports. His legendary long-jump record of 8.13m in 1935 was considered to be utterly impenetrable after it was set. That ended up being the case for the next twenty five years until Ralph Boston managed to pull off a leap of 8.21m. The limits of long-jumping have since pushed the record agonisingly close to the 9 metre mark, but Owens’ original impact cannot be understated.

Babe Ruth's Career Home Run Record

Although Cal Ripken Jr’s breaking of Lou Gehrig’s Iron Horse streak was in contention, we eventually decided to go down a different route. Over the course of his iconic career, Babe Ruth managed to post 714 career home runs, changing the game in the process, allowing it to move closer to its modern iteration. It took nearly 40 years for Hank Aaron to move within touching distance of Ruth’s total. When he did, it was an almighty achievement. To this day, the only players who have scored more home runs than Ruth are Aaron and Barry Bonds, and it doesn’t look like their exclusive club will get a new member anytime soon.

Roger Bannister's Four-Minute Mile

The idea of someone breaking the four-minute mile was more of a psychological barrier to charge through than a true record. After a strong showing in the 1952 Olympics, Roger Bannister decided to commit himself to doing that which was considered impossible. Just two years later, he made the attempt that would ultimately leave him with a time of 3 minutes and 59.4 seconds. Although his own record stood for just 46 days, the fact that he made that push and achieved the unthinkable allowed him to open the door for the many others who have since achieved a sub-four-minute time.

Mark Spitz's Seven Olympic Gold Medals in a Single Games

The 1972 Olympic Games saw Mark Spitz put on, not just one of the most dominant displays in Olympic history, but in all of modern sport, period. His seven gold medal haul was unlike anything we had seen before, and in the eyes of most people, an outlier event that would never come close to being surpassed. Thankfully, the 2008 Olympics in Beijing served as a legacy-defining tournament for the great Michael Phelps. He came into this campaign with some insane momentum, following through on it to pick up a staggering eight gold medals. Sure, Phelps benefitted from advancements in modern sports science and recovery protocols, but even among his own generation, he was a freakishly talented athlete.

But what current record do you believe will still be intact 100 years from now? Let us know in the comments below.