On February 22, 1980, at the Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, New York, the United States men’s hockey team faced off against the tournament favourites, the Soviet Union.

The contrast between the two teams was stark. The Soviet roster featured seasoned, professional-level players, and a record that had dominated international hockey, winning gold medals in five of the six previous Winter Olympic Games. The American team, meanwhile, was made up mainly of amateur players, with just four players possessing any minor-league experience.

Having gone down 3-2 in the second third, the US team made a remarkable comeback in the third and final period, holding on for a 4-3 victory. The moment was immortalised in sports history with sportscaster Al Michaels exclaiming “do you believe in miracles? Yes!”

The US went on to beat Finland 4-2 in their final game, securing the gold medal and cementing one of the most memorable moments in Olympic and sports history.