Ten iconic Olympic moments

Ahead of the opening ceremony of Rio 2016, we take a look back at the most dramatic, emotional and inspirational moments in the history of the Olympic Games.

  • Berlin 1936: Jesse Owens wins gold

Jesse Owens' success in Berlin transcended sport.

The African-American won four gold medals at the 1936 Olympics in Berlin - in the 100m, 200m, long jump and 4x100m relay - to shatter Adolf Hitler's ambition of using the Games as an example of the "new Aryan man".

Owens also befriended German long-jumper Luz Long, and their lap of honour became a longstanding symbol of sportsmanship over Nazi ideology.

  • Rome 1960: Adebe Bikila wins marathon in bare feet

A barefooted Abebe Bikila of Ethiopia leads eventual silver medallist Rhadi Ben Abdesselam of Morocco. Credit: PA

Marathon runner Adebe Bikila was a late addition to the Ethiopian team.

He complained about his new shoes after his old pair fell apart in training, so he ran the whole marathon barefooted.

Bikila famously pulled away from the pack at the city's obelisk of Axum - a monument taken from Ethiopia to Rome by Italian troops.

He became the country's first gold medallist.

  • Mexico 1968: Bob Beamon

USA's Bob Beamon leaps to create a new world record in Mexico, 1968. Credit: PA

Bob Beamon stunned the world with a record-breaking long jump in Mexico.

The US athlete broke the previous record by a staggering 55cm to record a jump of 8.90 meters.

To this day, world records that are broken by a significant margin are often referred to as being "Beamonesque".

  • Montreal 1976: Nadia Comaneci's perfect 10

Romania's Nadia Comaneci scores a perfect ten but the scoreboard is unable to display it. Credit: PA

Nadia Comaneci's performance at the Montreal Olympic Games in 1976 defines absolute perfection.

The Romanian, aged just 14, was awarded a perfect 10.0 score by judges on the uneven bars.

If that wasn't enough, she recorded seven 10.0 scores in Canada - three on the balance beam and four on the uneven bars - and recorded two perfect scores in Moscow four years later.

  • Barcelona 1992: Derek Redmond's collapse

Derek Redmond is aided by his father as he limps to the finish line. Credit: PA

Derek Redmond's performance for Team GB in the 400m semi-final in Barcelona embodied the spirit of the Games.

Shortly after the starting gun was fired, Redmond's hamstring snapped and he fell to the ground in agony. The race was over.

Distraught but determined, he stood up and limped along on one leg to the finish. His father ran on to the track to join him, pushing aside race stewards in the process.

The whole stadium cheered as they crossed the line together.

  • Barcelona 1992: USA's 'Dream Team'

'Magic Johnson' celebrates his gold medal in the final of the 1992 Barcelona Olympics. Credit: PA

Despite being the favourites for the Seoul Olympics in 1988, the men's USA basketball team were left humiliated after a shock defeat to USSR in the final.

By 1992, the Soviet Union no longer existed and the rule to ban professional basketball players from the Olympics had been lifted.

Determined to win gold, Team USA formed arguably one of the greatest teams ever assembled in any sport.

Their roster included a raft of NBA Hall of Fame stars including Michael Jordan, Charles Barkley and Patrick Ewing, and were appropriately nicknamed the 'Dream Team'.

They won all of their eight games on their way to the final, where they beat Croatia 117-85.

The score remains the largest winning margin in Olympic finals history.

  • Atlanta 1996: Muhammad Ali lights the Olympic flame

Muhammad Ali officially opens the Atlanta Olympic Games in 1996. Credit: PA

Despite struggling with Parkinson's disease, the Olympic gold medalist and heavyweight champion lit the flame to start the centenary of the Games on a highly emotional evening.

  • Sydney 2000: North and South Korea unite

North and South Korea walk side-by-side in Sydney. Credit: PA

In a sign of solidarity, North and South Korea marched side-by-side for the first time at the Opening Ceremony of the Olympic Games in 2000.

Wearing identical uniforms, the competing teams walked into Stadium Australia under a white and blue 'unification flag' of Korea.

  • Beijing 2004: Phelps wins eighth gold medal

Michael Phelps, on his way to winning gold in the 200m butterfly. Credit: PA

Like Usain Bolt, the Beijing Olympic Games in 2004 made US swimmer Michael Phelps an international star.

Phelps won an unprecedented eight gold medals and won his final event, the 4x100m relay, in a world-record time.

He has since become the most decorated Olympian ever with 22 medals.

  • London 2012: Super Saturday

Jessica Ennis celebrates winning the Women's Heptahlon at the Olympic Games in London. Credit: PA

The greatest day for Team GB at any Olympic Games.

In the space of 24-hours, Jessica Ennis won gold in the heptathlon, Greg Rutherford won gold in the long jump and Mo Farah won gold for the 10,000 metres.

The day became known as 'Super Saturday' and sparked wild celebrations around the country.