New Zealand Girl Reacts to the MIRACLE - THE GREATEST AMERICAN SPORTS MOMENT OF ALL TIME 

They were college kids because USA played by the rules that said no professional athletes could compete in the olympics

They were college kids because at that time, America did not allow professional athletes to represent the U.S. in the Olympic Games. Watching this gives me goosebumps. Watching the game as it happened, was so amazing. We were jumping up and down in our living rooms, yelling “USA,” and we stood and sang our national anthem with tears running down our faces. This game gave us some of our American pride back, which unified us in a non-political way. Those college boys, and their amazing coach, became our heroes that day, and they will always be our heroes. It was called “The Miracle Game” because the American college boys beat the professional Russian team. But the true miracle was how that game made a positive change for Americans and America.

I don't know what it means, or how it feels, to be a citizen of any other nation than my own. I can, however, tell you how it feels to me to be a U.S. citizen. I watched this event when it happened and I just re-watched it because of you. The effect has not lessened in the least. I'm not ashamed to say there were tears watching this video. Some will say, yes, but it was a different time, a different era, and it was. But that's what it means, how it feels, to love my country so much. 40 years later, I'm just an old man. And I'm an old man who deeply loves his nation. They can heap as much negativity as they want on my country and it means nothing to me. I've served this nation and I love this nation. And I always will. Thanks for posting this video! Now I need a kleenex, there seems to be some pollen or dust in the air around here. ;)

The 2004 movie "Miracle" show a lot about how Herb Brooks managed the team.

A bunch of college kids lifted the spirits of an entire nation. It's hard to overestimate what this game meant to the US.

I remember watching this game as a 9 year old back during the 1980 Winter Olympics. A lot of younger people under the age of 35-40 don't understand the geopolitical situation back in those days. We were in the middle of the Cold War with the former USSR. We lived every day with the specter of that Cold War potentially turning into a hot nuclear war. Add on top of the fact that the Pahlavi monarchy in Iran was overthrown and the Islamic Republic of Iran was holding the US embassy hostages for 444 days. The Soviets were gearing up for an invasion of Afghanistan and Iran and Iraq were about to go to war with each other. Also during this time, the US just got through with the disaster of the Vietnam War. To say that the US was in some serious nihilist doldrums is an understatement. This game was between the US and the hated Soviets. The reason the US squad was comprised by a bunch of college kids is because the Olympics didn't allow professionals back then. The Soviets got around this by making their players as part of the Red Army and paying them as soldiers while they played hockey. The US on the other hand couldn't get anyone older than 18-21 years old to play for Team USA because they they would rather play professionally in the NHL instead of playing for free for their country. As a kid growing up in the warm southern US, I didn't even know that hockey was a sport until the Olympics. I also remember that the US wasn't even expected to medal in this Olympics. It was supposed to be a given that the Russians were going to win gold. Everyone else was battling to see who was going to win silver and bronze. You have some very good and powerful countries like Canada, Sweden, Finland, and Czechoslovakia that was expected to win silver or bronze. During the round robin play, the US started surprising everyone by beating Czechoslovakia and going undefeated to advance to the medal round. This sets up the Miracle game with the Soviets. Only a month before, the US team got throttled by the Soviets in an exhibition game 13-3 at Madison Square Garden. Everyone thought the US was going to get throttled again. As I watched this game, I did not sit for the duration of the game. I remember being on pins and needles as the game went back and forth. When Mike Eruzione wrist shot the go-ahead goal with 10 minutes left in the game to make it 4-3, I remember screaming in excitement at the top of my lungs. Those last 10 minutes of that game seemed like 10 hours. The Russians were applying offensive pressure. Jim Craig stood on his head in goal and stopped everything and the kitchen sink. When the final 10 seconds was counting down and Al Micheals asked loudly, "Do you believe in miracles?.......yes!!!!" , me and my dad were dancing around the living room like we won a million dollars. It has been 40 years since that game was played and when I see replay of this game, it still brings a tear to my eye and adrenaline rush. Been a hockey fan since that glorious day.

In those days, The Olympics was amateur athletes only, hence college kids v "soldiers". (Whose only job was to play hockey)

They made a movie about this as well called Miracle with Kurt Russell as U.S.A's coach.

Courtney, i was 14 when that match happened. I cried then, and i still cry. The USA played by the rules and only had college kids, versus a team that could defeat any NHL team. The USA was a helluva mess at that time, and that one moment united us in optimism. Eleven years later, the USSR was gone. Related to this video, check out Kurt Russell's speech as Herb Brooks in the movie "Miracle". Best sports movie speech ever. Thank you for this. Made my week!

I wasn't even born then but still get goosebumps watching this.

Courtney, it’s impossible to describe the impact this had in the states. I’m 63, and it is, without a doubt, by leaps and bounds, the greatest sports moment of my lifetime.

I would highly recommend you watch the documentary on this event: "Do You Believe in Miracles? The 1980 US Hockey Team" to really get the full impact and import of what happened. I was eighteen at the time and a senior in high school. It sucked to be an American then and even after all these years I struggle to put into words what those boys did meant to myself and everyone I knew. Just an amazing feeling; I still get emotional just thinking about it.

You need to watch the movie Miracle

I'm crying over here reacting to this video. We need another miracle on ice today

Courtney, I saw every game our guys played in Lake Placid and even after 40 years the”miracle on ice” still brings tears to my eyes👍.

I was a kid when this game happened. I remember sitting there watching it with my parents. When the US won that game we went crazy! This game was one of the greatest moments in sports history. Still chokes me up watching these kids perform a miracle.

The Soviets had beaten the U.S. team 10-3, in an exhibition game, a few days before the Olympics began. Also, this game was not for the GOLD medal. A couple of days later, team USA defeated Finland 4-2, to capture the gold.

41 years ago.... still gives me chills. I remember watching this with the family..... still brings tears to my eyes...... "do you believe in miracles?.....YES!"

I remember being woke up by my father to watch this greatest moment with my dad ever

I lived this moment as a kid and it was the most amazing experience!! The feelings experienced were undescribable.

I'm Canadian and I wasn't even born back than... HOWEVER, the miracle on ice brings me to tears in a good way.

New sub...and as a Canadian I am glad the U.S. had this moment when they needed it...even if it was our game... 🥅🏒 🇺🇸🇨🇦 Edit: they cut the song “Tom Sawyer” for copyright reasons, I think... (Another Canadian contribution)

"Do you believe in Miracles? Yes!" Has to be the greatest moment in sports commentary history

that was the beginning of the end of the Cold War. Reagan was elected and history is history. Always Proud American here! I watched this live on TV. I was 16 years old.

I still shed a tear when Michaels counts down the final seconds !!!! EVERY TIME !!! USA USA USA

I remember my mom crying after the final buzzer. Everyone cried

I was in middle school at the time and at edge of my seat for the entire 3rd period. The game was actually on tape delay but I didn’t know and thought I was watching it live.

I recall a sports commentator at the time saying that this was like your high school football team taking on the Steelers. And winning.

The best 5 seconds in american sport EVER!!!!!!

Words can NOT describe how GREAT that was !!!!!!!! 👍🇺🇸👍🇺🇸👍

A cheap wine drinking, attractive, sports fan, that cusses like a sailor (adorable) she's a keeper

I'm not American but this was an absolute great moment in sports history for sure..

I remember watching that. I almost cry every time I watch it now. It was a proud moment for every down to earth American and still is. God bless the U. S. A.

I teared up just watching the end of this. I was a twenty year old when this happened and it did galvanize the country here.

I remember watching this game as a child and I was in tears

It was the first time in my life, as a HS student, that the chants USA, USA, USA...were ringing out...and how much American pride our nation had. being underdogs and came out winning...the fighting spirit that make US America!! Indeed, one of our greatest sports moment!

Watched the game the night NBC aired it and I still get chills hearing Al Michaels saying "Do you believe in miracles?"

I'm from Detroit and back when i was a kid a few of the guys from Russia played for the Redwings. It was pretty cool to see that after everything they teamed up.

That brief moment of silence was America realizing they could win so they decided to give it everything they had. Both teams are nothing but warriors. But I represent the home team 🇺🇸. Our patriotism its blood deep. It was more than just a game.

This very likely IS the greatest moment in US sports history. A team made up of college kids going against Russian professionals, and no one gave the US team any chance of winning! Truly amazing! I'm not even a hockey fan, but I remember this brought me to tears.

"Do you believe in miracles? Yes!"... Al Michaels

I was nine years old. My dad was a career USAF officer, and we were living at Loring AFB, Maine. Loring was a SAC base with nuclear alert B-52s and their tankers. We hadn't heard who won, just that we needed to watch the game (it was not shown live; it was tape-delayed to that night). It's impossible to describe how exciting that game was, and how pumped up everyone was the next day.

There is a movie made about this story called well "Miracle." It showed all of us what those players went through to get to the Olympics. The tryouts for the team. The months of extremely hard practicing. Herb Brooks, their coach drove those guys very, very hard. Nobody knew that Mr. Brooks was the last guy cut off the team for the 1960 Olympic hockey team who also beat the USSR for the gold. Could you imagine you were the last guy cut from a team that went on to win the gold medal? That has to be something that would eat at you like nothing else. For ever and ever. But luckily for Mr. Brooks, it only lasted 20 years because as you can see, he got his gold medal. Anyway it is a great movie. Kurt Russell plays Brooks. It was great to see what those young players had to go through in the months leading up to the games. Obviously you could see why they were able to play so hard and never gave up. Like I said it is a very good movie and like always, Al Michaels "Do you believe in miracles" gave me huge goose pimples and tears in each eye. Check it out.

They made two movies about this game, Miracle on Ice(1981) with Steve Guttenberg; followed by Miracle(2004) with Kurt Russell. I think I saw both but I remember Miracle a lot better, it was an awesome movie!

I wasn't alive for this game. But as an American The last ten seconds give me goosebumps every time

I remember watching this game on my small b & w tv. I was living at the YWCA and attending college at that time. FYI: Mark Johnson who was a Universally of Wisconsin hockey player that was on the USA team then is now the head coach of the University of Wisconsin women’s hockey team.. He is one of the winningest coaches in UW history and NCAA history.

"I'm tired of hearing..." and "tonight we skate" quotes were both Kurt Russell from the movie, "Miracle on Ice".

Those were ICBM's (Inter Continental Ballistic Missiles) at the beginning. In other words, nuclear missiles.

Oh Boy I remember this,,,, thanks for your reaction,, I still get chills

I was 24 yrs old ....and wept! That game was the beginning of America getting her strut back. Everyone my age knows who almost made this Beautiful Lady fall. But I'm leaving the politics aside. The hockey players are my heroes that year!

I remember this like it was yesterday, watching it live with my family and we went wild. We were crying and cheering USA, USA!!!!

I was in my 20s back then. I'll never forget it!!! Proud to be an American!!!

Goosebumps...my favorite sporting memory of my childhood!!

The Miracle with Kurt Russel as the coach was a fantastic movie. One of the young actors in it actually played his father.

Courtney, re. the slam against the "boards" at 3:54, that's as much a part of the game of hockey as the ice and the puck. I remember watching that game on TV. What a night!

I love watching you experience this! I remember when this happened and it brings tears to my eyes every time!💕

The Cold War kicked up immediately after World War II. It was a decades-long arms race that ended when the Soviet Union collapsed.

Thanks for that. It brought back good vibes from when I watched it live.

I grew up in northern Minnesota and watched a lot of these kids play when they were playing college hockey, before the Olympics. So many familiar faces on that U.S. team.

One of the greatest moments in the pantheon of all sports!

Even though I was an 8 year old swedish kid at the time, I got me a new idol in Jim Craig at that time. This really bring back memories.

I was a nine year old kid at the time. I can remember the sheer joy when our team defeated the Russians. Grown men including my father a career marine broke down in tears. It was such an amazing event for our country.

STILL makes me cry to watch this after all these years. :)

I remember listening to this game live on the radio on my way to Lisbon, NY for a high school basketball playoff game between my high school and Lisbon Central School. I didn't see this until the next day. But everyone had to know that once that happened, I was going to watch the US go for the gold medal against Finland. The US came from behind to win 4-2. And all this took place in Lake Placid, NY. Only 2 hours from my hometown.

I feel extra Patriotism just from being a Minnesotan.

I was 18 when this happened. Born and raised in Louisiana and knowing nothing about the winter sport of hockey. But it didn't matter. This was HUGE!!!

I'm watching this in February of 2021. Obviously I knew the outcome, (I was 30 years old when it happened.)yet it still brought tears to my eyes. FU FACT: They didn't win the gold medal that night after beating the Soviet team. They still had to beat Finland in the medal game, and they did.

Half of my college was built for this olympics. At least 3 dorm room buildings. Paul Smith's College. I didn't know until I got there in 1989. Lake Placid is still going strong for winter sports.

The 1980 US Hockey lived up to the official music of 1980 winter olympic games "GIVE IT ALL YOU GOT" by Chuck Mangione

I remember watching this and it made me want to go from playing in the NHL When I grew up to wanting to play for Team USA in the 1988 Olympics! This was the longest 10 minutes I ever remember!!!

This was a proud Olympics for we Wisconsinites. Not only were several of the hockey players from our University of Wisconsin team but the only other gold medals won by the USA were the 5 won by Eric Heiden in speed skating.

Al Michaels's call was so awesome that it was reused at the 2000 summer Olympics when American wrestler Rulon Gardner pulled off a historic upset of his own. Coincidentally against a Soviet athlete

This was an absolute David versus Goliath story. I was a junior in high school and all we could talk about the next day at school was....WE BEAT THE RUSSIANS!!! It was incredible!

The part where the sound cut out was almost certainly deliberate, because it contained music that is, of course, under copyright. ("Tom Sawyer" by Rush, if anyone's curious.)

There's a movie called the miracle starring Kurt Russell as the coach of the American hockey team playing against all the other International teams. it's a great movie. The original coach of the American hockey team died only weeks before the movie was released.

This moment is always crazy for Detroiters since Fetisov (Who plays for the USSR during the Miracle on Ice) went on to be a prominent member of the Detroit Red Wings. He was a member of the Russian Five, the first all Russian five-man hockey unit. He went on to win I think two Stanley Cups with Detroit. Ok if you want to see really good hockey look up "Fight Night at the Joe Louis Arena".

I still remember where I was at when I heard the news. The game was going to be shown on a delayed basis in the United States. I was a senior in high school and working at my Dad's restaurant when a customer, who was a hockey fan was listening the game on the radio and said the U.S. won. I made sure to watch the tape delay on ABC when I got off of work. And it wasn't even for the gold medal.

It is impossible to overstate how big this game was for us. It changed everything we thought about ourselves. The college kids made us believe in ourselves again.⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

There is a movie with Kurt Russell as coach Herb Brooks, The Coach. This Movie is Like a Documentary. There is also a Documentary about this game and with the both of them, you'll understand everything that went on including getting the Students together from Different Colleges and Training them.

I watched the game live so many years ago and then I joined the army and went places most never got to see it was sometimes scary very scary but you get past it and keep moving forward and so I love this country being from Canada originally I was naturalized and became a US citizen at nine years old and I've never looked back I love your videos and think you are a wonderful person keep these going thank you

Courtney Coulston, the biggest thing to remember about this game is that it was for the opportunity to play for the gold medal, which the US won. A lot of people think this game was the gold medal game, but it relegated the Russians to play for the bronze, instead.

I was on a bus, going home after going with a group to a Blues game in St. Louis, MO. A couple of people had radios and we listened to this game on the trip home. It was amazing! A few months later, I was introduced to Mike Eruzione. He was one of the nicest guys I have ever met. A true gentleman.

I was 13 when the Miracle on Ice was played. Al Michaels said it best in the documentary, this wasn't just a hockey game. It was freedom vs. communism. It was good vs. evil. After the oil embargo and the energy crisis, losing Vietnam, the Iranian hostages, America was a country who felt like it lost its purpose. That we had lost our way. The Soviets cam in and was beating our professional NHL teams. And then this game, on top of everything being played in Lake Placid, New York. We were going to get our butts handed to us again, on our home turf. Then this happened. It helped being a decade of rebirth, of pride in being American again. And before the decade was over, the Soviet Union was GONE!!!!! I was about to comment that the greatest moment in American sports history was the final out in game 7 of the 2016 World Series. But as soon as I saw you were covering the 1980 USA/USSR Olympic Hockey game, I knew your header was correct.

This is considered to be the single biggest upset in sports history.

This was without a doubt, one of the greatest several weeks of American history. I am not a hockey fan and was lucky to turn in on the USA vs Sweden game early in the games. We fought back hard to earn a tie. I thought wow those guys are pretty good. So I made sure to watch the next game. I can't remember who it was but we beat them and our young hockey guys worked their asses off and I was impress. I was in high school back then and the was some talk going around about the hockey team. Then the next game they won again and there was more talk around school and every where else. Then came the game against USSR. Everybody was talking about it. Just 3 weeks before this game, the USSR destroyed us 10 - 0 in a exhibition game. Everybody who knows anything about hockey, getting beat 10 - 0 is a down right ass kicking. Well back to the game in the Olympics against them. Nobody thought we stood a chance. Including me but something inside told me these kids are special. They already showed in the previous games what kind of heart this team had. I lived in a townhome at the time that had a little park out front that was surrounded by other townhomes. As the game started and things started happening, I could hear it coming from other homes in the circle. During a commerical I went out and walked around the little park. Out of the 25 homes that surrounded this little park, I counted 18 of them with the game on. Wow that doesn't even happen during a Superbowl. Well as the game went on when the USSR scored the first goal moans could be heard all around the park. When the USA scored a pretty loud roar shook the little park. Back and forth the game went and, I am getting goose pimples as I am writing this. When the USA scored the go ahead goal people came running out of their homes, myself included, yelling and screaming like they were at the game. USA, USA, USA echoed through the neighborhood. It was at that point I noticed this little hockey party wasn't just around our little park. It was going on all over the neighborhood. Like nothing I have ever experienced before. Like I said not even during a Superbowl. Realizing there was still a very long time to go still we all rushed back in our homes to finish watching the game. As you could see the remainder the game was incredibly exciting. I can remember the USSR players were taking one shot after another but our goalie Jim Craig went off like nothing I have ever seen before. He blocked shot after shot after shot. A real human brick wall he was those last 6 minutes. It seemed that the last 6 minutes were all spent on the USA side and the USSR players were doing nothing but taking shots. The neighborhood echoed with, ooowww ahhhhh shit, oh no and yeah go Craig. Those last 6 minutes felt like 6 hours. But as time kept clicking off the clock. The tension and excitement was getting so high, you felt when it went, all the roofs in the area would go flying off. As you can see in the video when Al Michaels made his very famous, " Do you believe in miracles" comment, the neighborhood erupted like nothing I have ever experienced before or since. People again came flying out of their homes yelling and screaming even louder than before. There was so much excitement flowing right through everybody. Neigbors who never got along before were laughing and celebrating with each other. Turned into a block party on every block around. At the time this happened, our country wasn't feeling very good about itself. i don't know why it happened but those young hockey players did something to this country that we needed so very much. They gave us our pride back and filled the whole country with patriotism like never before. Funny thing is, although hockey is a professional sport here, it is the least popular or the 4 big ones. Like I said, I wasn't a hockey fan. None of my friends were hockey fans. But for some reason those young hockey players showed the rest of us what made and makes the USA the greatest country in the world. Their never give up attitude. Their ability to be unselfish and help each other as a team. The heart that team showed the rest of us was unbelievable. To go up against Goliath and be brave and kick his ass. It is hard to describe what it did to our country and the way it made me feel. Like I mentioned earlier, it never fails to give me goose pimples to this very day when seeing something about it. Those were truely a couple of very special and unforgetable weeks back in the 1980 winter Olympics. Something that will always have a very special spot in my heart and a life time of thanks to all those great USA hockey players. Now, do you believe in miracles?

There is an ESPN 30 for 30 documentary a few years ago about the Soviet team and their history heading into that Olympics. They interviewed a few of the old players from that team about the game and that Olympics. I don't know why this sticks out to me but I thought it was cool, one player and his daughter took a trip to the town and the arena where the game took place. This took place a few years ago. They even went into the locker room where the Soviets got ready before the game. They were looking around for a bit and then the daughter sat down on a bench in front of one locker. Her dad noticed this and started to laugh. He looked to the camera man and said something like "I told you she and I have a special connection." They asked him why he said that, he pointed at his daughter and said "that was my locker in 1980, that she just sat in front of."

This is truly symbolizes what makes sports so special. WOW 🇺🇸

Courtney, I know you're from New Zealand, but you are a true American! Thank you! Respectfully, Steve

Courtney, you are THE BOMB! Your boyfriend is the LUCKIEST GUY IN THE WORLD! So sorry you were not able to move to America! We would have welcomed you with open arms! I HOPE YOU ARE WELL AND SAFE WHEREVER YOU ARE! GOD BLESS YOU YOUNG LADY!

For another one like this check out the Vancouver Olympics Canada's golden goal.

I am 66 years old, and lived it, that one game pulled a country together. We need somthing like that now, our country is so divided right now.

In April 1995, Mike Ramsey(American 1980 gold medalist) became teammates with defenseman Viacheslav Fetisov when Detroit acquired the latter in a trade with the New Jersey Devils; Fetisov had played for the Soviets during the 1980 Olympics. Eventually the Detroit Redwings would acquire up to five soviet players and be nick named "the Russian five". They would go on to dominate the NHL and win four Stanley cups in just a little over a decade. They are now one of the top 3 most winningest NHL franchises in the leagues history right behind the Toronto Maple Leafs and Montreal Canadiens. How ironic.

For a bit of perspective, consider that the Soviet team had won every meaningful international competition for the last 16 years. Soviet teams came over and routinely beat NHL (professional ALL STAR teams) and they won games by truly ridiculous double digit scores. The idea that genuine amateur athletes, college kids, could compete with the Soviets was unthinkable. Imagine a team of school kids taking on the New Zealand national rugby team. This was truly an upset of David and Goliath proportions. That it took place at perhaps one of the darkest hours of the Cold War, made it all the more riveting.

To those claiming to have watched this game live on TV, you’re memory is a bit foggy- this game was shown at night on tape delay, having been played earlier in the day.

The best hockey game of all time. American college kids who had just come together as a team a few months earlier versus Russian pro players who had played together for many years. NOBODY gave the American team any chance at all. At that time, the Olympics were supposed to be nothing but amateurs, although a lot of other countries used pro players in the team sports. I still remember watching this game live and the huge eruption that exploded in my house at the end of them game (my family were from Wisconsin and were huge hockey fans, I was the first generation from Texas and really wasn't, but became one after this game). If you get a chance, watch the movie "Miracle" starring Kurt Russell as Coach Brooks, a really good movie that tells the story of this game and the preparation leading up to it.

After the US tied the game 3-3, the Americans remember their teammate, backup goaltender Steve Janaszak, saying something along the lines of “If we score another, we’ll blow the roof off this place.” Only had to wait 81 seconds after. I also recommend looking into the Soviet Union’s perspective on hockey and their national team program. Very interesting stuff and it helps bring this game into a new light as well.

The movie "Miracle" is a great one, I think. Herbie Brooks was played by Kurt Russell, I think. BTW, We here in Wisconsin hated Brooks in the 70s because we had a darn good hockey team (UW-Madison), but Brooks always seemed to beat us. We would chant "Herbie, Herbie..." in derision. P.S. Mark Johnson on the USA team (son of the coach in UW) was our stand-out player. Brooks picked him for his USA team, despite the rivalry. Oh, Brooks was the coach for Minnesota.

to me the greatest game ever in any sport. this was historic!!!

One of the key moments in the Game was Mark Johnson's Goal that tied the game at the very end of the first period. The starting Russian Goalie, Vladislav Tretiak was one of the greatest goalies in the history of the game. And after Johnson scored the goal, the Russian Coach pulled Tretiak and put in his backup. Also for Hockey documentary recommendations, I would recommend checking out "The Russian 5", which talks about how The Detroit Red Wings managed to get several Russian Players to defect and come and play for them in the NHL and how their contributions opened the door for other Russians to come to the NHL.

as a 7 year old boy it was one of the greatest moments of my young life, Americans were almost trained to hate Russia, our ways of life was polar opposites of each other, we were an open society while they were closed off these people who controlled 1/3 0f the planet with an Iron fist, we had probable had the worst 20 year period in our history, the Vietnam War almost killed our moral also 4 major Assassinations of major people, in the 60's it was a very dark time, this event seemed to change all of that, it was a turning point for the two countries, btw at that point no professional players were allowed to compete in the Olympics starting with that game we soared and they went into Afghanistan and 9 years later communism was dead so to that little boy it was one of the greatest moments in his history