This decade was full of breathtaking sports moments that are still remembered to this day. These sports moments are some of the top ten moments of the decade. 

#10) Usain Bolt winning the Olympic Gold (2012)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bVTqySCtzVI 

The fastest short-distance runner in the world is breaking records once again. Usain Bolt won the gold medal in the 200-meter dash, the 4X100 meter relay, and most well known, the 100-meter dash. After setting the Olympic record of 9.69 seconds in the 2008 Olympics, the only thing the fastest runner in the world could do was to beat himself. “He’s faster than fast, quicker than quick,” said Junior Isaac Hinojosa. Finishing with another Olympic record of 9.63 seconds, Bolt won the Gold medal in the fastest Olympic 100m final in history. With seven of the eight runners finishing in under 10 seconds, Bolt showed the world how he was the best of the best.

#9) Ray Allen game-tying three vs Spurs (2013)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tr6XsZVb-ZE

Down by five with 28 seconds left in Game 6 of the NBA finals, the Miami Heat were down to their last thread of string on the attempts to bring a title home. Being able to cut it to a three-point game, Miami needed a three to send Game 6 into overtime. Lebron James was the first to attempt to tie the game, but with a miss, it seemed that all hope was lost. Then, Miami center Chris Bosh pulled in the rebound and quickly got it out to sharpshooter Ray Allen in the corner. With Spurs players trying to do whatever they could to not let him shoot, Allen rose above the defense and buried and three to tie the game 95-95 giving Miami the chance to win the NBA Finals.

#8) UMBC beating Virginia (2018)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m_ioyi_WmJI

0-132. The record of 16 seeds vs 1 seeds in the NCAA Basketball Tournament. Coming into the game, UMBC (University of Maryland Baltimore County) was 20.5 point underdogs to Virginia. Having a 25-11 record, UMBC beat the three-loss Cavaliers by 20 points. After being tied 21-21 at halftime, UMBC came flying out of the gates in the second half winning the game 74-54. For the first time in history, a 16 seed beat a 1 seed changing the all-time record to 1-132.

#7) Simone Biles winning 4 Gold Medals (2016)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aPmh7Pb8DXA

19-year-old Simone Biles showed the world who she was at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. Winning five medals including four Gold medals, Simone Biles took the title for most Gold medals won by an American female gymnast in a single Olympics. Winning the gold in the vault, uneven bars, floor, and all-around competition topping this with a bronze on the beam.

#6) Villanova Buzzer Beater to beat North Carolina (2016)

https://www.ncaa.com/video/basketball-men/2016-04-04/kris-jenkins-game-winning-shot-ncaa-championship-game

March Madness strikes with an unbelievable ending to a crazy tournament. With seconds left, North Carolina guard Marcus Paige hit a three-pointer to tie the game 74-74. With 4.7 seconds left, Villanova called a timeout to draw up the game-winning play. Rushing the ball up the court, Villanova’s point guard Ryan Arcidiacono flipped the ball back to Kris Jenkins looking to shoot. With less than a second on the clock, Jenkins stepped into his shot and nailed it giving Villanova their first National Championship since 1985. “An absolute jaw dropping moment,” said Junior Connor Johnston.

#5) Odell Beckham’s one-handed catch (2014)

https://www.giants.com/video/odell-beckham-jr-highlights-the-catch-14865348

The perfect sports picture of the decade. New York Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham making the catch of a lifetime. Against the Cowboys, Beckham gets caught off balance and reaches as far back as he can with one hand and makes the picture-perfect grab. “If I were to think of one moment the defines the whole decade, the first thing that pops into my head is the catch made by Odell,” said Junior Brandon Kendall. The catch that is still being talked about to this day, the catch that redefined the impossible.

#4) Chicago Cubs Win the World Series (2016)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HOp8w2PgHlM

For the first time in 107 years, the Chicago Cubs won the World Series. Down 3-1 in the series, the Chicago Cubs drought was looking like it was going to go on for another year. Then, the Cubs started to crawl back and tied the series 3-3 forcing a winner take all game in Cleveland. After 9 innings, neither team was willing to give up forcing extra innings with the score ties 6-6. In the top half of the 10th inning, the Cubs set the score to beat scoring two runs and taking an 8-6 lead. With the World Series on the line, Mike Montgomery stepped onto the mound to get the final out of the game. With a count of 0-1 (0 balls and 1 strike), Montgomery threw the pitch and watched as the ball dashed towards the glove of his third baseman Kris Bryant and quickly thrown for the final out of the game. The out to end the drought, the longest drought in MLB history.

#3) Auburn Kick Six (2013)

https://twitter.com/espn/status/1200782669220646916?lang=en

Announcer Rod Bramblett showed everyone’s emotion and surprise with his famous commentary, “Auburn’s gonna win the football game! He ran the missed field goal back! He ran it back 109 yards!” With one second left on the clock of a 28-28 game between 4th ranked Auburn and 1st ranked Alabama, the Alabama kicker was sent out to attempt a 57-yard field goal for the win. The kick went up and was short landing in the hands of Auburn player Chris Davis in the back of the endzone. Then he started running and found a gap on the left side of the field. With a 109 yard return to win the game with zero seconds left on the clock, Bramblett was in disbelief just like the rest of the country. “He ran it back 109 yards! They’re not gonna keep ’em off the field tonight! Holy cow! Oh my God! Auburn wins! Auburn has won the Iron Bowl! Auburn has won the Iron Bowl, in the most unbelievable fashion you will ever see! I cannot believe it; 34-28!”

#2) Tiger Woods Returns and Wins the Masters  (2019)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E67SbFJ802E

After hitting rock bottom with personal scandals and four back surgeries, Tiger Woods came back to win the Masters in 2019. Finishing with a final score of 13 under par, the 43-year-old won his first major in 3,954 days. “Taking his story and his drought and everything that went wrong for him, this has to be one of the best moments of the decade,” said Junior Charlie Taylor. With everything saying that it was time for Woods to put away the clubs, he overcame all of his challenges and won the Masters.

#1) Cavaliers Comeback from 3-1 down vs Warriors (2016)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F1mWjbn6a18 

32 teams had been down 3-1 in an NBA playoff series. Thirty-two teams ended up losing the series. Then came along the 33rd team trying to come back from the deep hole. The Cleveland Cavaliers did the impossible in the NBA Finals against the Golden State Warriors. That year the Warriors finished the regular season with a record-tying 73-9 record looking to finish the year with the NBA championship trophy. After being down 3-1, the Cavaliers quickly fought back to tie the series back to 3-3 with Game 7 in California. Down by one going into the final quarter, the Cavaliers finished the impossible with key plays like Lebron James’ block on Andre Iguodala and a clutch three-pointer by Kyrie Irving to ice the game. For the first time in history, a team came back from 3-1 down and did it on the highest level during the NBA Finals.