Olympics Photos, Olympic Moments Photos -- National Geographic

Romanian Gymnast
Photograph by Amy Sancetta, AP
Romanian gymnast Marius Daniel Urzica celebrates after his routine on the pommel horse in the gymnastics exhibition gala at the 2004 Olympics in Athens, Greece. Urzica won silver in the pommel horse event and a bronze in the team competition.
Jesse Owens
Photograph by the Associated Press
American track-and-field star Jesse Owens (seen here in a qualifying heat) won four gold medals at the 1936 Olympics in Berlin, including one for the 200-meter run. Owens's dominant performance was an embarrassment to Adolf Hitler, who had hoped to use the Olympics to showcase Aryan supremacy.
Carl Lewis
Photograph by Gary Hershorn, Reuters
American sprinter Carl Lewis celebrates his team's world record-breaking performance in the 4 x 100-meter relay at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics. The win gave Lewis his ninth career Olympic gold medal.
Nadia Comaneci
Photograph by the Associated Press
Romanian Nadia Comaneci, seen here on the balance beam, became the first gymnast ever to earn a perfect ten in Olympic competition. Her amiable demeanor and dominating performance at the 1976 games in Montreal—three gold medals, one silver, and a total of seven perfect scores—earned her international fame and even a popular song, "Nadia's Theme."
Mark Spitz
Photograph by the Associated Press/fls
American swimming phenom Mark Spitz, seen here celebrating with his teammates after winning the 4 x 100-meter medley, was the first athlete ever to win seven gold medals in a single Olympics. His performance at the 1972 games in Munich was utterly dominant, setting world's records in the four individual and three team events he won.
Cassius Clay (Muhammed Ali)
Photograph by the Associated Press/fls
Young American boxer Cassius Clay, better known now as Muhammed Ali, throws a right at an Australian fighter during the 1960 Olympics in Rome. He won the fight and eventually Olympic gold, then moved on to a professional career where he earned fame as one of the most dominant and charismatic fighters in the sport's history.
Women's Backstroke
Photograph by the Associated Press
At the 1988 games in Seoul, East German swimmer Kristin Otto (middle) became the first woman to take home six golds from one Olympics. She won every event she entered, including the 100-meter backstroke, shown here. After the games she retired from the sport.
Swimmer Michael Phelps
Photograph by Getty Images
American swimmer Michael Phelps won the 100-meter butterfly, shown here, and seven other medals (five gold, two bronze) at the 2004 Olympics in Athens. His performance set several world and Olympic records and was one gold short of Mark Spitz's record of seven, set at the 1972 Berlin Games. Phelps followed his dominant performance in Athens with a superhuman one in Beijing in 2008. He entered eight events (five individuals and three relays) and took gold in every one, breaking Spitz's 1972 mark and setting seven world records along the way. He also set a new record for most career Olympic golds with 14.
Bob Beamon
Photograph by Getty Images
American Bob Beamon looks as surprised in the air as everyone else was when he landed, shattering the long jump record by nearly 22 inches (51 centimeters). His jump, aided by high altitude at the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City, spanned 29.2 feet (8.9 meters) and would stand for 23 years.
Olympic High Jump
Photograph by Kai Pfaffenbach, Reuters
Swedish high jumper Stefan Holm earned gold at the 2004 Athens Olympics with a jump of 2.36 meters (7.74) feet.
Mary Lou Retton
Photograph by Getty Images
American gymnast Mary Lou Retton captivated the nation with her spunky, personable performances at the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles. She became the first American woman to take gold in the individual all-around gymnastics competition with a stunning perfect ten on her final vault. A year after the Los Angeles games, Retton became the first gymnast inducted into the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame.
Cathy Freeman
Photograph by Reuters
Australian Cathy Freeman was already a hero in her country when she was chosen to light the Olympic flame at the opening of the 2000 games in Sydney. As an Australian Aborigine, she had been outspoken about her pride in her native culture. Here, after a decisive win in the 400-meter run in Sydney, Freeman waves the Aboriginal and Australian flags in her victory lap.