There is nothing like spectator sports for fun and enjoyment. Watching one’s favourite athlete in action is incredibly thrilling and exciting. And this experience gets even better if you have the sports betting option as well as all the information you need for that with online bookmakers site.
And if we are discussing sports, then it won’t do to omit the hugely popular Olympics – the major international multi-sport event that is held once every four years.
1- Tony Harding vs Nancy Kerrigan
The rivalry between Tonya Harding and Nancy Kerrigan turned nasty before the 1994 Winter Olympics. Kerrigan was attacked by a man named Shane Stant, who clubbed her knee. It was later discovered that Harding’s then-husband Jeff Gillooly and her bodyguard Shawn Eckhardt were involved.
Kerrigan missed the US National Championship, but she went on to win silver in Lillehammer while her rival Harding came in eighth. After Harding’s involvement in the attack was proved, the United States Figure Skating Association banned her for life.
2- Ross Rebagliati
The 1998 Winter Olympics saw the introduction of snowboarding. Ross Rebagliati earned the distinction of winning gold for Canada. However, it was soon taken away from him when it was found that he had been using marijuana.
But since marijuana wasn’t a banned substance, the Canadian snowboarder was given his gold back. Snowboarding got the stoner reputation after this incident.
3- Tragedy hit US skating team
In 1961, something very tragic happened in the world of sport. Some of the most talented figure skating athletes of the United States were travelling to participate in the World Figure Skating Championships in Prague, and their plane crashed on their way. All the athletes, coaches, and even some of their family members died in that terrible incident. Onboard the plane was nine-time US Ladies Champion Maribel Vinson-Owen as well as her two daughters, who were also very talented skaters.
The news of this tragic incident rocked the whole world, but it was felt the hardest in the United States. The US would be ranked 7th in 1964, and they would fail to land an Olympic gold in the sport until Peggy Fleming would claim the honour for her country in 1968.
4- Nodar Kumaritashvili
Ahead of the 2010 Winter Olympics, something very tragic happened. Georgian luger Nodar Kumaritashvili met a tragic incident during the trial run. He was moving at an incredible speed when he slid off the course while rounding a corner. Nodar died in a hospital before the opening ceremony.
5- Ortrun Enderlein
There have been far fewer cheating incidents in the Winter Olympics than in the Summer Olympics. However, the Winter Olympics has also witnessed several notorious occurrences. One of the biggest scandals involved East German luger Ortrun Enderlein and her two teammates.
The defending luge champion Enderlein and her two teammates caused suspicion by arriving just before the race and then leaving immediately. Ortrun won the gold while the other two grabbed third and fourth spots. It was later discovered that their sleds had been heated before the race for increasing their speeds. All three East German luge players were disqualified after this discovery.
Minor cheating goes on in every sport. Even the most famous footballers and best strikers in Premier League history don’t seem to be completely fair all the time. However, what Enderlein did was very serious, and the punishment didn’t look unfair on her.