10 Tragic Olympic Stories That Had Happy Endings

10 Tragic Olympic Stories That Had Happy Endings

Welcome to MsMojo, and today we’re looking at Olympians who rose from tragedy to triumph.

Hermann Maier Wins An Upslope Battle

This Austrian won two gold medals in alpine skiing at the 1998 Winter Olympics. This feat was awe-inspiring knowing that Maier had endured a downhill crash days earlier. While Maier quickly rebounded from that accident, he faced an even more serious crash on August 24, 2001. In this case, Maier wasn’t skiing, but riding a custom-made motorcycle home from training when a car hit him. Maier’s right leg was severely wounded with the doctors believing they may have to remove everything from the knee down. While Maier’s leg was surgically repaired, experts thought he’d be lucky to walk again. Racing was seemingly out of the question, but after sitting out the 2002 season, Maier returned to the 2006 Games where he won silver and bronze.

Kerri Strug’s Team Stands By Her

At the 1996 Summer Olympics, the U.S. women’s gymnastics team was on the verge of their first gold medal. Everything came down to Arizona native Kerri Strug. Although Strug injured her ankle while performing a vault, coach Béla Károlyi encouraged her to pull off another to ensure the gold. Strug not only pushed through the pain with a forced grin, but her second vault received a 9.712. While it turns out they would’ve won regardless, nobody could deny Strug had taken one for the team, as her injuries prevented her from competing individually. Being nicknamed the Magnificent Seven, Strug’s six teammates refused to leave her behind at the medal podium. Károlyi thus assisted Strug in a genuine moment of team admiration.

Erica Sullivan Swims Through Mental Health Barriers

You could say swimming flows through Erica Sullivan’s veins, seeing how her father swam for the University of Wisconsin. Not long after being diagnosed with esophageal cancer, John died when Erica was 16. Erica made the national team four weeks later, but loss loomed over this achievement. Throughout the following years, Sullivan dealt with depression, anxiety attacks, and PTSD. Sullivan’s mental health affected her performance in the pool. Through therapy, Erica saw gradual yet significant improvement, qualifying for the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo. Being Japanese on her mother’s side, family was on Sullivan’s mind as she swam toward a silver medal in the 1500-meter freestyle. As the first openly gay U.S. Olympic swimmer, Sullivan has used her platform to spread mental health awareness.

Glory Alozie Outraces Heartbreak

Sharing a mutual passion for running, Glory Alozie and her fiance Hyginus Anugo were both bound for the 2000 Summer Olympics. Win or lose, the couple was prepared to start a new chapter following the Games. Several days before the opening ceremony, though, Anugo died in Sydney after being struck by a car. Alozie, who was competing in Japan at the time, contemplated abandoning her Olympic dreams. Feeling “encouraged by God,” Alozie was compelled to run, winning silver in the 100 m hurdles. Alozie expressed how important this medal was to her, saying, “Nobody can understand what I’ve passed through… I’d enjoy it more if my fiance Hyginus was still here.” While still coping with her sudden loss, Alozie managed to find glory amid grief.

Betty Robinson Recovers From Plane Crash

At age 16, Betty Robinson not only became the first gold medalist in the women’s 100-meter dash. She remains the competition’s youngest winner nearly a century later. This arguably wasn’t even Robinson’s greatest accomplishment. In 1931, Robinson was left with severe injuries following a plane crash. Making an astounding recovery, Robinson could get out of her wheelchair after six months. Within two years, she fully regained the ability to walk. Missing the 1932 Games, Robinson returned to the Olympics in 1936. Although doctors once said her racing career was over, Robinson helped her team win a gold medal in the Women’s 4 × 100 metres relay. Retiring shortly after, Robinson maintained the heart of an Olympian, coming back to carry the torch in 1996.

Matthias Steiner Lifts Emotional Weight

Nothing weighs a person down like grief. Austrian-German weightlifter Matthias Steiner felt an enormous loss in 2007 when a car accident claimed his wife Susann’s life. A year later, Steiner arrived at the Beijing Summer Olympics. Steiner had previously competed in the 2004 Games, but this time, he had a promise to fulfill. After falling short on multiple attempts, Steiner ultimately persevered with a clean jerk of 258 kg. Bringing his total to 461 kg, Steiner emerged as a gold medalist. On the podium, the teary-eyed Steiner kissed a photo of his wife, saying, “I managed to lift it because I had this strong, innermost urge. I’m not the superstitious type. I don’t believe in higher powers, but I hope she saw me. I wish.”

Harry Jerome Gets Back on Track

Canadian Harry Jerome had already set multiple world records and competed in the 1960 Summer Olympics when an injury seemingly brought his track and field days to an abrupt halt. Participating in the 1962 British Empire and Commonwealth Games, Jerome tore his right leg’s quadriceps tendon. Undergoing four hours of surgery, few believed Jerome would make it to the Tokyo Olympics two years later. Proving the doubters wrong, Jerome reached the pinnacle of his Olympic career with a bronze medal. Although Jerome never won silver or gold, he more than went the distance. His achievements didn’t end with the Olympics either. By the early 70s, Jerome entered Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame and British Columbia named him Athlete of the Century.

Sebastian Coe Defends His Title

Sebastian Coe ran away with the gold at the 1980 Summer Olympics, competing in the 1,500-metre run. The British athlete was on track for another round at the 1984 Games, although this was called into question as his health declined. Initially diagnosed with glandular fever, doctors eventually realized that Coe had a rare infection called toxoplasmosis. Coe found himself going in and out of hospitals, but he made it to the Los Angeles Olympics. Despite his previous victory, the odds were against Coe. He shattered expectations, becoming the only person to win gold twice in the men’s 1500 metres. Adding another silver medal to his collection as well, Coe couldn’t help but proudly ask the press box, “Who says I’m finished now?”

Gail Devers vs. Graves’ Disease

There are no shortcuts to Olympic gold, but Gail Devers’ journey was especially arduous. Devers seemed like the epitome of good health when she qualified for the 1988 Summer Games. Upon arriving, Devers grew ill as her hair fell out, her fingernails stopped growing, and she lost significant weight. Devers’ performance suffered, finishing 8th in the 100 metres hurdles. After two years, Devers was diagnosed with Graves’ disease and underwent radiation. This led to further issues as Devers struggled to walk and risked losing her feet. Devers pulled through and continued training in time for the 1992 Olympics. On her second trip, Devers prevailed with the gold. Devers returned in 1996, winning two more gold medals in 100 metres and 4 × 100 metres relay.

Ana Quirot Runs Again

Five months after Ana Fidelia Quirot won bronze at the 1992 Summer Olympics, an accident involving a kerosene cooker left more than 38% of her body engulfed in third-degree burns. The Cuban athlete’s misfortune didn’t end there, as she was pregnant. She had recently broken up with her boyfriend and the father of her child, high jumper Javier Sotomayor. Although Quirot gave birth prematurely, her daughter didn’t survive. Doctors weren’t sure if Quirot would live either. When Quirot came to, Fidel Castro was reportedly by her bed in a surgical mask. Quirot proclaimed then and there, “I’m going to run again.” Quirot was true to her word, going on to win several championships and taking home a silver medal from the 1996 Summer Olympics.

If you have any Olympic stories, feel free to share them in the comments.