Inspirational sporting moments
Simple gestures on the sports field have the power to inspire, change thinking and perspective. Jaimie Fuller, CEO of global sportswear company Skins shares his top inspirational sporting moments.
Sportsmanship and Inspiration are all around us. The True Spirit of Competition resonates especially with me and it underlies the values of the Skins brand. From the clap of the opposing team when someone injured walks off the field, to the teams that make guards of honour for each other. We see great moments in sport happening somewhere in the world every day.
Once in a while though we get a glimpse of something that is truly spectacular that make you feel like the whole world isn't in it just for themselves or the cash. When those things happen, we have to celebrate and make sure everyone stands up and notices.
Here are four of my favourite great inspirational moments in sportsmanship – moments that may make you cry, as they have made me.
Andy Roddick: Rome Masters, 2005
It was triple match point in the third and final set of Andy Roddick’s match with Fernando Verdasco. After faulting on his first serve, Verdasco’s second serve was also ruled out, giving Roddick the victory. Not so fast. Roddick challenged the ruling, saying that the ball was in and that Verdasco should’ve been given the point. After a review, Verdasco was awarded the point. Verdasco then rallied to turn the game and set around to defeat Roddick.
Tana Umaga: New Zealand vs. Wales, 2003
In a rugby test match between New Zealand and Wales, Wales captain Colin Charvis was knocked out by a tackle from New Zealand’s Jerry Collins. The hit gave New Zealand possession, putting the All Blacks on the attack. With his team advancing, Tana Umaga stopped playing and ran back to assist Charvis, making sure his mouth guard was out to avoid any choking and placing him in the recovery position to prevent any further damage.
Central Washington softball team; April 26, 2008
In the top of the second inning, Western Oregon senior Sara Tucholsky hit a pitch over the left field fence with two runners on against Central Washington, for whom a loss would mean elimination from a possible NCAA Division II playoff berth. But when Tucholsky rounded first base, she accidentally missed the bag. As she doubled back to touch it, her cleats stuck in the ground and she tore the ACL in her right knee.
While Tucholsky writhed on the ground in pain, the umpires consulted the rulebook and declared that if any of her teammates aided her around the bases, she would be called out. Central Washington's senior first baseman, Mallory Holtman, her school's career leader in homers who was facing her final collegiate game if her team were to lose, had an idea: She would help her opponent round the bases. Holtman locked eyes with fellow shortstop Liz Wallace and the two of them picked up Tucholsky and carried her around the bases, dipping the stricken runner at each base so she could touch the bag and complete the home run that she had rightfully earned.
Lutz Long: Berlin Olympics 1936
Jesse Owens sat despondently on the field watching his Olympic dream slip away. He had fouled his first two attempts at the long jump. He had just one more attempt left and he felt he was about to crash out of the 1936 Berlin Olympic Games. His German opponent, the 19 year old blond Carl Ludwig “Lutz” Long approached him and explained how he could avoid another foul by simply jumping from a point several inches behind the line. Owens had regularly jumped beyond the minimum 7.15 metres required to advance to the next round and he could afford to jump from a few inches short of the line. Long marked the spot for Owens, Owens took the German’s advice and sailed into the next round. In fact, Jesse Owens went on to win the gold medal for the long jump with a mighty leap of 9.06 metres. Although Long came second, he was first over to congratulate Owens.
They were photographed together and they walked arm in arm to the dressing room.
Hitler wanted to use the 1936 games to show the world a ‘resurgent Nazi Germany depicting Aryan racial superiority with inferior ethnic Africans’.
James Cleveland "Jesse" Owens actually went on to win four gold medals at the Berlin 1936 Olympic Games: the 100 metres, the 200 metres, the 4 x 100 metre relay and the long jump (or ‘broad jump’ as it was known then). Hitler stormed out of the stadium.
Jaimie Fuller is the CEO of global sportswear company Skins.
