The 90s were some of the best years in history for sports. From basketball to the Olympics, it was a decade filled with unforgettable sports moments. It’s hard to narrow down so many memorable athletic feats, but here are the top ten:

The ’94 Winter Olympics

 

The Olympics feature some of the world’s most intense competitors, and in 1994, figure skater Tonya Harding let that competitive spirit get the best of her. Harding’s ex-husband hired an assailant to attack her rival, Nancy Kerrigan, prior to the U.S. Figure Skating Championships. The attack quickly became international tabloid news, eventually ending Harding’s career and pushing Kerrigan into the spotlight. Kerrigan quickly recovered from the attack, and went on to win a silver medal in the Olympics.

The ‘99 Tour de France

Lance Armstrong was a symbol of courage and hope when he won his first Tour de France in 1999. The cyclist completed his cancer treatments in 1997, then jumped back into a strict training routine in order to be able to compete again. When he won, it seemed like proof that anyone could overcome their struggles through hard work and determination. Of course, now it is well known that Armstrong needed a little help from a doping regiment as well – but back in the 90s, this was one of the single biggest moments in sports.

Yankees Win the World Series

The Yankees have plenty of World Series Championships, but the 1996 series was especially important. It was Derek Jeter’s first full season with the team, and he helped lead the team to the Championship status. Jeter also won Rookie of the Year in the process, becoming the Yankees’ starting shortstop. The Yankees had two more World Series wins in the 90s, but none were more important than this one.

Tiger Woods Wins His First Masters

Golf isn’t the most exciting spot, but Tiger Woods made people actually want to tune into tournaments. Woods spent the latter half of the 90s setting records and making a name for himself on the PGA Tour. Most notably, this included winning his first major, the Masters, in 1997. This made him the youngest-ever winner of that tournament, at just 21 years old. From there, his career took off and he quickly became the most feared opponent in the PGA world.

The Home Run Chase

In the 90s, Major League Baseball players were in the midst of the steroid era. Although no one knew then, steroids played a role in one of the greatest sports moments in history: the home run chase of 1998, between St. Louis Cardinals slugger Mark McGwire and the Chicago Cubs’ Sammy Sosa. Both were on pace to break the MLB record of 61 homers, set by Roger Maris in 1961, and both did. McGwire slugged 70 home runs, while Sosa hit 66. Of course, both were later found to have taken performance-enhancing drugs, but it was still one of the most mesmerizing events of the decade.

Scott Norwood’s Missed Field Goal

“No good…wide right!” is the phrase that made Scott Norwood infamous. With eight seconds remaining in Superbowl XXV, the Buffalo Bills needed Norwood to make a 47-yard field goal. He did not, as the ball sailed just slightly right of the goal post. To be fair, this was hardly his fault – the Bills had no other options, and knew it was at the very limit of field goal range for their kicker. This would go on to be the first of four consecutive Super Bowl losses for the Bills, so to say it was the start of a curse might not be that far off.

Tyson vs. Holyfield

Mike Tyson earned a lot of fame by winning fights, but perhaps the most memorable moment of his career came during his rematch with Evander Holyfield in 1997. Tyson had lost to Holyfield just a few months earlier in Las Vegas, and was looking to repair his reputation. Instead, Tyson bit off the top of Holyfield’s right ear and spit it into the ring. Despite this, referee Mills Lane kept the fight going before finally disqualifying Tyson after he went after Holyfield’s other ear. As a consequence, Tyson’s boxing license was temporarily revoked and he was heavily fined.

Ripken’s Consecutive Game Streak

It was September 6, 1995 when Orioles infielder Cal Ripken did the impossible: he beat Lou Gerhig’s record of 2,130 consecutive games played. Orioles fans gave Ripken a 22 minute ovation as he did a lap around the ballpark, high-fiving and shaking hands with spectators. The affair was such a big deal that even President Bill Clinton and Vice President Al Gore attended the game. Ripken would go on to play 2,632 consecutive games altogether, earning himself the nickname “The Iron Man”. For comparison’s sake, today’s players rarely 160 consecutive games, so Ripken’s feat is almost certainly the last of its kind.

Kerri Strug’s Broken Ankle

Kerri Strug is the most well-known of the Magnificent Seven gymnastics dream-team that represented the U.S. in the Olympics in 1996. After being told by her coach that the U.S team’s chance for gold came down to her performance, Strug ignored a serious ankle injury to land her vault on both feet. The U.S. won the gold, and after being carried to the podium to receive her medal with her teammates, Strug was immediately taken to the hospital for treatment. Her determination will always be one of the defining moments of the 90s.

Michael Jordan’s Championship Jumper

Michael Jordan gave sports fans a wide range of spectacular moments to choose from, but perhaps none was better than in Game 6 of the 1998 NBA Finals. With just 5.2 seconds left in the game, Jordan made a jump shot to give the Chicago Bulls the lead. The Utah Jazz missed their final shot, and the Bulls won the NBA Championship with a final score of 86-87. To make things even sweeter, it was Jordan’s final shot with the Chicago Bulls. For Jordan, Bulls fans, and everyone who loves a happy ending, this jump shot is one of the greatest moments in sports history.