40 Dramatic Elite Athlete Moments That We Just Can’t Stop Watching

Athletes, whether they’re competing in summer or winter events, are supposed to represent the pinnacle of poise, grace and coordination. But they’re not entirely immune to the kind of epic fails you’d usually expect to see on America’s Funniest Home Videos. Here’s a look at 40 funny sporting moments worthy of winning a gold medal — for embarrassment...

41. Rachel Dawson slips on hockey field

Rachel Dawson can certainly vouch for Britain’s reputation as a rainy nation. The astroturf pitch upon which Team USA and New Zealand competed during the 2012 London Olympics got so wet that it started to resemble a paddling pool. And as a result the American ended up slipping rather ungracefully as she battled for the ball with Anita Punt.

40. Orawan Paranang gets hit in face by ping-pong ball

If you’re going to get hit squarely in the face by a moving object, then a ping-pong ball is probably the projectile you’d choose. But we can still imagine that it stung a little when Orawan Paranang was struck during her women’s table tennis encounter at Tokyo 2020. The Thailand native was competing in a third-round match against Japan’s Kasumi Ishikawa at the time.

39. Heather Dorniden falls on her face in the 600m

This is a sporting “fail” with a sting in the tail. Heather Dorniden looked to have blown her chances of winning the Big 10 Indoor Track Championships’ 600m in 2008 when she fell face-first onto the track in her final lap. But proving that top athletes are made of sterner stuff than us mere mortals, the runner dusted herself off and, against all odds, still managed to cross the finish line first!

38. Anais Morand crashes on the ice rink

Few other Olympic sports witness more tumbles and falls than figure skating. But Anais Morand of Switzerland still managed to stand out from the slippy with her impressive, if ultimately unsuccessful, attempt to steady herself at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Games. To make matters even more awkward, the skater was performing as a pair with Antoine Dorsaz.

37. Allyson Felix drops the baton

The 4x100m track relay sprint event is always full of drama. And the first-round heat involving Team USA at the Rio 2016 Olympics was no exception. You can probably tell from Allyson Felix’s grimace that she failed to pass the baton to teammate English Gardner after a collision with a Brazilian athlete knocked it out of her hands.

36. Morgan Uceny falls in the 1500m

Team USA’s Morgan Uceny chose the worst possible time to get a case of the wobbles. The 1,500m athlete fell during the final of her chosen event at the 2012 London Olympics. Uceny spent what seemed like an eternity lying down on the athletics track before making that long walk back down the tunnel. Her coach Terrence Mahon later told newspaper USA Today, “[It’s] hard to handle when you do everything right and something like this happens to you.”

35. Nuria Garcia impersonates a fish

Synchronized swimmers Nuria Garcia and Isabel Plancarte certainly made quite the impression when they competed in the Women’s Duets preliminary event at London 2012. But it wasn’t for their moves under the water. During one particular part of their routine when they came up for air, Plancarte squeezed her partner’s cheeks, unleashing a fountain of water from Garcia’s mouth in the process. We’re still not sure whether this was on purpose or by accident.

34. Clarisse Cruz nearly gets trampled in the steeplechase

Spare a thought for poor Clarisse Cruz. The Portuguese athlete was leading the pack of her Women’s 3,000m Steeplechase heat at the 2012 London Olympics when she tripped over one of its pesky large hurdles. Cruz managed to get herself back on her feet but ended up finishing all the way back in 11th position.

33. Olivia Vivian falls off the balance beam

Olivia Vivian was no doubt left wishing she’d stuck to her preferred event, the uneven bars, following her dramatic fall off the beam at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. As her face clearly expresses in the well-timed picture, the gymnast lost her balance at the crucial moment while competing for her native Australia. Somehow, Vivian still managed to place fifth in the final of the Women’s All-Around. 

32. Alexandra Yevstyunina takes a cannonball dive into sandpit

Alexandra Yevstyunina appeared to have mistaken the sandpit for a swimming pool when she competed at the 30th Russian Winter track and field competition in 2021. The field athlete practically made a cannonball entry upon landing in one of her jumps at the CSKA Sports Complex. Yevstyunina’s wincing face says it all.

31. Torri Edwards drops the 4x100m baton

The 4x100m track relay event lived up to its reputation as a magnet for mistakes at Beijing 2008, and Team USA was once again the guilty party. On this occasion, it was a misunderstanding between Torri Edwards and Lauryn Williams in a first-round heat that caused the dropping of the baton and destroyed all chances of an expected medal.

30. Rattikan Gulnoi falls while weightlifting

Staying upright is pretty pivotal when it comes to one of the Olympic Games’ most strenuous events. But Thai weightlifter Rattikan Gulnoi ended up horizontal after one particularly tough round at the 2012 Games in London. Still, following the disqualification of a Ukrainian competitor, the visibly worn-out athlete ended up grabbing an unexpected bronze medal.

29. Nastia Liukin falls off uneven bars

Nastia Liukin had spent two years away from the gymnastics world before trying out for London 2012. And the American no doubt wished she hadn’t returned following her comeback performance at the Olympic trials. Liukin was actually faring pretty well on the uneven bars before she slipped and spectacularly fell onto the mat beneath face first.

28. Jennifer Pinches slips from balance beam

Chalk is supposed to be a professional gymnast’s best friend whenever they take to their chosen apparatus. But when mixed with a little too much sweat it can turn into something of an enemy. Jennifer Pinches found that out to her cost when she slipped off the balance beam at the London 2012 Olympics.

27. Sarah McCarthy makes an ungraceful landing

It’s hard for even the most gifted long jumper to make leaping several meters into a sandpit look graceful. But Sarah McCarthy’s attempt at the Irish Life Health Elite Athlete Indoor Micro Meet in 2021 still looked particularly clumsy. The athlete no doubt swallowed a mouthful of sand at the moment of impact, too.

26. Aslan Karatsev hangs wrong medal around teammate’s neck

Nice try, Aslan Karatsev. The Team ROC member had won silver with Elena Vesnina at Tokyo 2020 in the tennis mixed doubles. But during the medal ceremony, Karatsev initially tried to place a gold medal around his teammate’s neck. An honest mistake or a sneaky attempt to bring home the main Olympic prize?

25. Kohl Horton falls into water

Cook Islands natives no doubt felt a huge sense of pride when kayaker Kohl Horton reached the quarterfinals of the men’s K-1 200m sprint at Tokyo 2020. After all, the tiny nation only sent six competitors to the Games and have never picked up a medal of any color. Sadly, Kohl didn’t even complete the race after an erratic launch resulted in him falling overboard.

24. Kieran Woolley collides with cameraman

Let’s hope that the cameraman covering the preliminary rounds of the men’s skateboarding at Tokyo 2020 was paid some danger money. The operator ended up in a collision with competitor Kieran Woolley after the Australian lost control in his routine. Luckily, no grudges were held. The pair even gave each other a fist bump after they had both returned to their feet. 

23. Alex Wolf saves Team USA with his head

It seems fair to say that Alex Wolf knew little about his vital water polo penalty save at the 2020 Tokyo Games. The Team USA goalkeeper thwarted the Italian opposition not with his hands but with his forehead. Still, they all count, and the unorthodox save helped the Americans run out 7-6 winners.

22. Darya Klishina falls flat

Whoosh! Things would definitely have gone wrong for Darya Klishina in this freeze-frame if she was a runner. Fortunately, she’s actually a long jumper, and this landing — seen at the 2020 Tokyo Games — looks just like it should. Nevertheless, someone might need to make sure that the long jump pit gets filled up again!

21. Enzo Lefort drops his phone

This is certainly a novel Olympic gaffe and one that could have only happened in modern times, too. During one particular fencing bout at the Rio Games in 2016, a strange object flew out of Frenchman Enzo Lefort’s pocket. And on further inspection, it was revealed to be his cell!

20. Ara Abrahamian spits his dummy out

Nobody likes a sore loser. Sweden’s Ara Abrahamian had headed to Beijing in 2008 with the sole intention of winning the Men’s Greco-Roman 84kg gold. And a bronze certainly didn’t appear to be a consolation. In fact, the wrestler returned his medal to the mat as soon as he received it on the famous Olympic podium. 

19. Jeffrey Julmis falls at first hurdle

Jeffrey Julmis seemed to fancy himself as a Usain Bolt-esque showboater judging by all the attention-seeking antics just before his 110m hurdles semi-final at Rio 2016. But unlike his Jamaican inspiration, he didn’t exactly cross the line in style. In fact, Jeffrey didn’t cross the line anywhere near his competitors. Yes, no doubt much to his chagrin, the Haitian fell at the opening hurdle.

18. Sun Yang proves throwing isn’t his strong point

There’s a reason why Sun Yang was competing at the 2016 Rio Olympics as a swimmer rather than a field athlete. After picking up a 200m men’s freestyle gold medal, the Chinese sportsman tried to celebrate by tossing his swimming cap into the crowd. Unfortunately for Sun, this gesture embarrassingly backfired when the item traveled in the entirely opposite direction and into the pool. He spent the next few minutes trying to fish it back out again!

17. Lisa De Vanna gets confused by water bottle

Lisa De Vanna certainly embarrassed herself while playing for Australia’s women’s soccer team at Rio 2016, but not because of anything that happened with the ball. The Olympian looked completely baffled about how to open a particular water bottle while trying to quench her thirst during a break in play. Thankfully, her fellow Aussie Elise Kellond-Knight came to the rescue, albeit in a very sassy manner.

16. Ryan Lochte’s hair turns green

Ryan Lochte got more than he bargained for when he helped Team USA pick up a gold medal in the men’s 4x200m freestyle competition. When the swimmer lifted off his cap his bleached blonde locks had turned green! Thankfully, Lochte saw the funny side of the accidental hair dye, which had been caused by the pool’s chlorine.

15. Italo Ferreira’s surfboard breaks in two

Italo Ferreira’s chances of Olympic glory looked to have been shattered, literally, when his surfboard broke into two. The Brazilian was competing for gold in Tokyo 2020 when he found himself stranded in the sea without anything to ride. Luckily, Ferreira’s coach quickly provided him with a new board and he went on to emerge victorious against Kanoa Igarashi.

14. Skateboarder Angelo Narvaez gets hit where it hurts

One of the most wince-inducing moments of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics occurred when skateboarder Angelo Narvaez got hit where it truly hurts. The Peruvian was attempting to land a dazzling move when he fell into a rail during the men’s street preliminary round. Much-fancied Narvaez managed to get back on his board and complete his routine but could only finish in fifth place.

13. Pamela Ware scores a 0.0 dive

It’s very rare the average Olympics viewer can say “I’d do better” and not be too far from the truth. But poor Pamela Ware made everyone who’s belly-flopped into a swimming pool feel better with one of her dives at Tokyo 2020. The Canadian scored a humiliating 0.0 after her misjudged springboard approach saw her enter the pool feet first. Ware later said, “It could have happened to anybody, but it happened to me at the wrong time.”

12. Norway capsize in the lightweight double skulls

Are Strandli and Kristoffer Brun were tipped to grab a medal in the men’s double sculls at Tokyo 2020 having bagged a bronze the previous Games. But the Norwegians failed to make it out of their semi-final when their boat embarrassingly capsized. To their credit, Strandli and Brun decided to complete the race after several minutes in the water. But their time was more than six minutes behind victors Germany.

11. Lydia Jacobs misplaces her goggles

Lydia Jacobs’ task in the swimming pool for the mixed 4x100m medley relay final at Tokyo 2020 was already mountainous. She was competing on the same second leg as Olympic powerhouse Adam Peaty. But the teenager was further hampered when her goggles moved down to her mouth at the start of her two lengths. Jacobs was in pole position at the time, but by the time she made way for Tori Huske she was in sixth!

10. Gracie Gold makes record-breaking fall

Gracie Gold’s dramatic fall at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi didn’t just put paid to her own ambitions. It also ensured that Team USA finished without a medal in the individual women’s figure skating for the first time in 78 years! Little wonder, then, that the ironically named Gold looks so crestfallen.

9. Motorboat disrupts triathlon

This particular epic fail is the fault of the organizers behind the Olympics rather than any athletes. At the Tokyo 2020 Games the men’s individual triathlon started in comical, and slightly dangerous, fashion when a motorboat got too close to the starting line. As a result, all the competitors who’d already entered the water had to get back out again, and the race was restarted.

8. Maggie MacNeil struggles to see she won gold

Maggie MacNeil’s fans found out which medal she had won at the 2020 Olympics several seconds before the swimmer could herself. The Canadian picked up a gold in the women’s 100m butterfly final at the Tokyo Aquatics Centre. But as her vision is slightly impaired when she doesn’t have her glasses on, MacNeil took a while to see where she had placed on the scoreboard.

7. Annemiek Van Vleuten wrongly celebrates victory

You have to feel sorry for poor Annemiek Van Vleuten. The Dutch cyclist believed she’d been the first to cross the finish line of the women’s road cycling race at Tokyo 2020 and celebrated accordingly. But agonizingly, Austrian competitor Anna Keisenhofer had already picked up the gold 75 seconds before.

6. Jessie Knight falls at first hurdle

Falling at the first hurdle may be a relatively common occurrence in the 110m event. Less so in the 400m version. That’s why the dramatic tumble of Team GB’s Jessie Knight in her Tokyo 2020 heat was so humiliating. To make matters worse, the clumsy athlete had quit her job as a teacher at primary school to chase her Olympic ambitions. 

5. Maya Khromykh falls on her derriere

Maya Khromykh’s pride was no doubt more wounded than her actual body when she slipped at a vital moment on the ice rink. The Russian skater landed firmly on her derriere while trying to execute one particular move. And unsurprisingly, Khromykh failed to get sixes all round for her efforts.

4. Lázaro Borges’ pole snaps

Lázaro Borges faced every pole vaulter’s worst nightmare at the 2012 London Olympics. His pole broke apart halfway through one of his jumps when he was more than five meters high. Thankfully, Borges somehow remained unscathed but the fall at the Olympic Stadium did put paid to his ambitions of making it through to the final. 

3. Angel Valodia Matos kicks the referee

Cuban +80kg taekwondo hopeful Angel Matos was sent home in shame from the 2008 Beijing Olympics after he lashed out at the referee who’d disqualified him over a lengthy time out. Swedish official Chakir Chelbat was kicked by the hot-headed athlete following the bronze medal bout against Kazakhstan’s Arman Chilmanov. Matos later told website the Havana Times, “It’s something I still regret until this very day because I didn’t want my sports career to end this way.”

2. Kristian Blummenfelt reveals a little too much

Kristian Blummenfelt’s outfit at the start of his individual triathlon at Tokyo 2020 might not have looked anything out of the ordinary. But by the time the Norwegian crossed the finish line in first place it had left little to the imagination. Yes, Blummenfelt’s choice of attire ended up almost entirely see-through thanks to the humidity of the Japanese weather.

1. Gillian Cooke

Have you ever split your trousers at the worst moment possible? Well, if so you have something in common with Great Britain’s Gillian Cooke. As the bobsledder was preparing to push off for a race, her spandex suit tore in comic fashion, revealing her backside. At least she was wearing underwear at the time! Olympic outfit fails, it seems, are a whole different ball game. And there’s plenty more where that came from...

Henrik Harlaut

Let’s be honest here – we’ve all had to pull up a loose pair of pants at some point in time right? Unfortunately for Henrik Harlaut, though, he experienced slippage at the worst moment possible. Yes, the Swedish athlete was skiing at the Winter Olympics in 2014 when his trousers started to drop. Thank goodness he was wearing underwear!

Team USA at 2014 Winter Olympics

When the American team were introduced to the crowd during the opening ceremony of the 2014 winter games, all eyes darted towards their outfits. What was going on here? That knitwear brings back memories of the bad jumpers you’d get for Christmas from your grandparents. Sorry Grandma, but it’s true! No amount of medals could improve those things.

Team Canada at 1972 Olympics

The Olympics’ opening ceremony is no doubt a special moment for the competing athletes, as they take part in the “Parade of Nations.” Mind you, we wouldn’t blame any members of Team Canada for feeling a little hesitant back at the 1972 event. Just look at that get-up! From the hats to the dotted white shirts, it’s an outfit that stands out for all the wrong reasons.

Shaun White

No, that’s not a fan who’s made his way on to the slopes. It’s snowboarder Shaun White, sporting one of the strangest outfits to grace the Winter Olympics in 2010. The jeans are actually specialized trousers designed to look that way, capped off by a questionable coat. It was described as an “anti-uniform” at the time. We can think of a few other names.

Team Australia at 2012 Olympics

Green isn’t always the easiest of colors to pull off, but it’s possible with the right design. Unfortunately for Team Australia, though, they had no such luck at the 2012 games. The athletes look like holiday reps in those blazers. And don’t get us started on the white trousers and skirts. A fashion misfire if there ever was one.

Zola Budd

When Zola Budd took to the track at the 1984 Olympics, nothing seemed out of the ordinary at first. Yet that quickly changed as soon as the race began. Can you see it? The runner wasn’t wearing any shoes! As it turned out, that was Budd’s preference – she practiced without them, too. One less thing to pack, right?

Yura Min

We can only imagine how awesome it must be for athletes who get to compete at an Olympics in their home country. It’s an event they’ll never forget. But for Yura Min, the 2018 winter games almost ended in disaster. The ice skater’s red dress came very close to falling apart thanks to a loosened latch. Thankfully, though, Min managed to hold it all in place. Phew!

The snow globes at 1992 Winter Olympics

Boy, would we like to know who thought this was a good idea. At the 1992 winter games, the Parade of Nations took a pretty bizarre turn. Yes, all of the competing countries were led out by someone in a snow globe costume. It really was as bad as it sounds. What a weird way to kick things off.

Sergei Ponomarenko

Figure skating tends to be among the most elegant events at the Winter Olympics, boasting some beautiful performances down the years. In Sergei Ponomarenko’s case, though, his display at the 1984 event is remembered for a very different reason. Following his routine, his shirt malfunctioned and revealed a pair of tighty-whities – a sight no one asked for.

Dick Button

First things first: what an incredible name. He could’ve easily gone with Richard! Anyway, Dick Button wasn’t afforded the type of outfit that athletes wear today back in 1948. Instead, he had to compete at that year’s winter games in nothing but a pair of pants and an ugly jumper. Imagine a modern competitor in that get-up.

Team Germany at 2014 Winter Olympics

There’s no denying the fact that a cool outfit gets the fans talking during the Parade of Nations. Then again, bad costumes are just as capable of creating a buzz. That was certainly the case with Team Germany at the 2014 Winter Olympics. This nightmarish rainbow design will leave your eyes begging for mercy.

Michela Moioli

We know what you’re thinking – when did Mr. Smee take up skiing? Captain Hook will be surprised! In all seriousness, that’s actually Michela Moioli of Italy reaching the end of a race at the 2018 Winter Olympics. Maybe the designers were inspired by Disney’s Peter Pan in the early stages of development?

Team Hungary at 2008 Olympics

Did the women in Team Hungary walk through a butchers’ store to get to the Parade of Nations in 2008? What a bizarre get-up. Especially when compared to their male counterparts’ plain white blazers. Thankfully, Zsuzsanna Jakabos’ beauty managed to steal some of the attention away from this horror-show in China. Just about.

Team Spain at 2012 Olympics

When did Team McDonald’s earn a spot at the Olympics? Wait, that’s Spain? Oh dear. Yes, athletes from the Iberian nation sported this unfortunate number throughout the 2012 games. A yellow and red monstrosity that’ll live with them forever. Surely there was a better alternative? Ronald McDonald probably loved it, though!

Norway’s curling team at 2018 Winter Olympics

While it mightn’t be the most glamorous of sports, curling is a really entertaining event at the Winter Olympics. Mind you, the Norwegian team threatened to overshadow the entire competition with their eye-popping trousers in 2018. It’s like looking at wallpaper from a house in the 1970s. And no, that’s not a compliment.

Michael Johnson

For a runner, choosing the right pair of sneakers is absolutely vital. In Michael Johnson’s case, though, he opted for some very flashy footwear at the 1996 Olympics. Yes, they’re gold. That decision bagged Johnson one of the great sporting monikers: “The Man With the Golden Shoes.”

Team USA at 1964 Olympics

Yee-haw! If you had any doubts that Team USA were looking for a rooting-tooting good time at the 1964 Olympics, the Parade of Nations squashed that notion. Yes, the male athletes were all decked out in white cowboy hats, along with dark blue blazers. Their female counterparts missed out on the headwear, though. Lucky them.

Canada’s synchronized swimming team at 2004 Olympics

If you’re looking to swoon over glamorous outfits during the Olympic Games, then you can’t go wrong with the synchronized swimming event. Mind you, the Canadian team made a pretty big misstep in 2004. On that occasion, the ladies wore bathing suits with the Queen of Hearts sewn into the front. At least it wasn’t the Joker!

Edgar Grospiron

All eyes were on France’s Edgar Grospiron as he took to the slopes at the 1992 winter games. But part of him was watching the crowd, too! Creepily, his knee-pads had a pair of peepers printed on them. Maybe it was to help distract attention from that truly awful pattern on his sweater?

Katarina Witt (1988)

How about this for an Olympic legacy? Back at the 1988 winter games, Katarina Witt took to the ice in an outfit smothered with feathers. But that wasn’t the biggest distraction for the International Skating Union – it was the lack of a skirt. From there, the “Katarina rule” was put in place to ensure that it didn’t happen again.

Pita Taufatofua

As Team Tonga made their entrance at the 2018 Winter Olympics, the crowd were immediately drawn to the flag-bearer. We wonder why? Anyway, his name’s Pita Taufatofua, and he braved the cold conditions to wear nothing but a tribal skirt. Oh, and some baby oil. Jumpers and tracksuits be damned!

Gabriella Papadakis and Guillaume Cizeron

Wardrobe malfunctions can be cruel at the best of times, but poor Gabriella Papadakis experienced the mother of all mishaps during the 2018 winter games. While skating with her partner Guillaume Cizeron, Papadakis’ outfit came loose at the straps. So the French competitor spent part of the performance holding her top together. We feel her pain.

Team China at 2012 Olympics

We don’t know about you, but we’re getting major cabin crew vibes from these suits. Alas, Team China just had to grin and bear it when they joined the Parade of Nations in 2012, strolling around in bright red blazers and yellow ties. The white pants didn’t help, either. They have our sympathy!

American cycling team at 2012 Olympics

Stylish cycling outfits at the Olympics are a rare breed. A very rare breed. Yet even so, there can’t be any excuses for Team USA’s costume at the 2012 games in London, England. What an absolute disaster that was. Why would anyone design the crotch like that? It boggles the mind!

Team Malaysia at 2012 Olympics

Not all bright suits are automatically terrible. In fact, with the right design, they can be pretty impressive. Unfortunately for Team Malaysia, though, their 2012 effort doesn’t fall into that category. We’ll be honest – it’s the pants. And those hats. Tiger print at the Olympics should never be a thing.

Aliya Garayeva

When rhythmic gymnasts get into full flow, it’s a truly incredible sight. Mind you, Aliya Garayeva threatened to overwhelm everyone’s senses with her costume at the 2012 games. Did the designer’s coloring pens explode all over the garment? There are different shades everywhere! Garayeva looked like a dancing bag of Skittles.

Team Australia at 2016 Olympics

Ahead of the 2016 Olympics, the designers of Team Australia’s suits decided to go for a retro theme. Specifically, they wanted to create an outfit that harked back to the 1924 games. Too bad this was the result. White shorts and green pinstripe blazers is a combination we all could’ve done without seeing.

Team Russia at 1992 Winter Olympics

G-men at the Winter Olympics? How did we miss this? Well, it’s actually Team Russia at the Parade of Nations in 1992. Instead of wielding Tommy guns to go along with the long coats and hats, they’re waving small flags. These guys would look great as extras in a period crime movie!

Team Hong Kong at 2012 Olympics

White’s a pretty easy color to implement into a stylish outfit, wouldn’t you say? Well, Team Hong Kong proved otherwise at the 2012 Olympics. During the Parade of Nations, the athletes were decked out in pale suits that screamed “flight attendant” all the way. And no, the hats didn’t help.

Team Japan at 2004 Olympics

Flowery designs can be touch and go at the best of times, but Team Japan really pushed the boat out at the 2004 games. For the Parade of Nations, they all wore white costumes with flower heads peppering the background. In truth, the competitors look like a group of over-enthusiastic botanists at a convention.

Olga Graf

Unlike most Olympic wardrobe malfunctions, this one didn’t happen in the middle of a performance or parade. Instead, Olga Graf was the unwitting instigator, as she pulled down the zipper on her speed skater outfit following a race in 2014. Now this wouldn’t normally be a problem, but Graf didn’t have any underwear on. Oof! Thankfully for her, nothing got exposed.

Christopher Spring

Ah spandex, perhaps the most unforgiving of all materials. Unless you’re a superhero, this fabric is sure to cause you no end of problems. Christopher Spring found that out first-hand in 2014, as his stomach popped out of his bobsledding outfit. At least it happened in the Canadian’s hotel room ahead of the big race.

Katarina Witt (1984)

When Katarina Witt took to the ice at the 1984 Winter Olympics, her choice of outfit raised a few eyebrows. It looks like a dress belonging to a china doll, doesn’t it? But despite her questionable garb, Witt went on to win gold at that event for East Germany. It’s burned into the history books, whether you like it or not.

Team USA at 1984 Winter Olympics

As Team USA joined the Parade of Nations at the winter games in 1984, you couldn’t help but be drawn to their jackets. Sheepskin? Really? This is the Olympics, not a trip to the wilderness! And what’s with the cowboy hats? You could write a book on everything that’s wrong with this get-up.

Brazil’s synchronized swimming team at 2012 Olympics

During the synchronized swimming event at the 2012 Olympics, the crowd caught sight of a truly mind-boggling outfit. The Brazilian team were decked out in x-ray suits, with rib cages and hearts sewn into the fabric. Plus, the headwear was designed to look like brains. Could they double as Halloween costumes?

Team Russia at 2012 Olympics

Creative costume designs at the Olympics will always get noticed, and Team Russia’s effort in 2012 was no exception. That’s not a good thing in this case, though. The athletes wore red and white jackets covered in horrible swirly lines, only broken up by the text across the chest. Bleurgh!

Team South Korea at 1992 Winter Olympics

Imagine this: you’re a South Korean athlete who’s excited about the Winter Olympics. You’ve trained hard, and you can’t wait to get going. Then, you’re handed what’s perhaps the ugliest jacket in sporting history. That’s pretty much what happened in 1992, as the team wore a sickening, yellowish-green coat. And don’t get us started on the pattern. It’s so 1990s it hurts.

Team France at 1976 Olympics

If you were tasked with associating a color with France, the answer would be simple. Blue, right? But a darker shade. Anyway, the French team at the 1976 Olympics went for something a little different. And it was horrible! Yes, the competitors wore an anemic blue for the Parade of Nations, along with some questionable hats.

Team Australia at 1992 Olympics

Well... where do we start with this? The safari-theme might’ve been understandable if the 1992 Olympics were being held on the African continent. But they weren’t. Barcelona has a very different vibe. So Team Australia were left with a bamboozling outfit as they participated in the Parade of Nations. The shirt was something else, too. Our poor eyes!