A curated chronicle of the most shocking and unexpected outcomes in Winter Olympic competition, highlighting moments where underdogs defeated heavily favored contenders. This list explores the drama and unpredictability inherent in snow, ice, and cold-weather sports.
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An American long-distance skier who was not considered a top contender in the ski jumping portion managed to secure a bronze medal. His performance in Salt Lake City defied expectations and remains one of the most significant achievements in U.S. Nordic combined history.
The first African American man to win an individual gold medal at the Winter Olympics, Davis defeated the dominant American pair of Shani and Chad Hedrick. His victory in the 1000m event was a massive upset given the depth of American talent in speed skating.
Although a favorite, Witt's victory was complicated by political tensions and judging controversies, making it feel like an upset to many observers. She secured the gold in Calgary despite intense pressure, marking a pivotal moment in East German sports history.
While not an upset in terms of result, their performance created a unique category of Olympic magic. Their 12s for artistic impression were never awarded again, making their win a statistical anomaly that shifted how figure skating was judged globally.
In his debut Olympics, the young American defeated heavily favored South Korean and Canadian skaters in a chaotic final. His victory was considered a major upset due to the dominance of Asian teams in short track speed skating and his relative youth.
The first American woman to reach the Olympic luge podium since 1932, Hamlin secured a historic bronze in Sochi. Her success was an upset given the traditional dominance of Germany and Austria in the sport and the lack of recent U.S. female luge success.
The U.S. women's bobsled team secured a historic bronze in Beijing, beating established powers like Germany and Canada. This marked a significant shift in the balance of power for the women's two-person bobsled event after decades of German dominance.
The South Korean skater captured the silver medal in Vancouver, finishing behind Elvis Stojko and Evan Lysacek. His performance was seen as an upset because he was not considered a medal contender against the European and American heavyweights.
Following a highly publicized attack on her knee, Kerrigan returned to the Olympics to win silver. While not an upset in winning a medal, her podium finish after the scandal was seen as miraculous and defied all prior predictions of her participation.
In the debut of skeleton at the 1992 Alberts Games, the American won gold, beating Canadian and European favorites. His victory was a major upset as skeleton was a niche sport, and he was not considered the top contender by most experts.
Despite being the reigning world champion, Hedrick finished second to Shani Davis in the 1000m. This sibling rivalry upset was significant as it prevented Davis from winning multiple golds and highlighted the competitive depth within the U.S. team.
The Austrian skier won gold in Innsbruck, defeating strong competitors from Italy and France. His victory was unexpected as he was not the clear favorite in a deeply competitive European field, marking a breakthrough for Austrian skiing in that specific discipline.
Although primarily a summer Olympian, her participation in mixed events has drawn attention. However, focusing on Winter sports, her equivalent in skiing would be similar upsets. A better example is Hilde Gerg's 1994 Super-G Gold.
The German skier won gold in Lillehammer, defeating more experienced veterans in the super-G discipline. Her win was an upset as she was not the pre-race favorite, showcasing the unpredictable nature of downhill skiing weather conditions.
The Norwegian skier won his first individual gold in Nagano, beating favorites like Hermann Maier. This victory was an upset as Maier was considered the dominant force in alpine skiing, and Aamodt's win signaled a shift in momentum.
In a sport dominated by Americans and Europeans, Glick's silver was a surprise. He outperformed several seasoned competitors, highlighting the growing depth of U.S. skeleton programs and catching top-tier athletes off guard.
As a teenager, Shiffrin won bronze in Sochi, defeating more experienced skiers. While she became a dominant force later, her initial medal was an upset considering her age and the veteran-heavy field in alpine skiing.
The American skier won silver in PyeongChang, beating many European favorites in the super-G discipline. His performance was an upset as he was not considered a medal contender prior to the race, marking a breakthrough for U.S. men's alpine skiing.
The American speed skater won bronze in the 500m, defeating more experienced competitors. This was an upset as the Dutch and Canadian teams were heavily favored, and Bowe's rise to the podium signaled a change in the sport's power structure.
In her debut Olympics, the American skater won bronze in the 500m, surprising many experts. Her victory was an upset as she was not considered a top contender against the reigning world champions and veterans from Asia and Canada.