Think about being a professional NASCAR driver at a time when women were expected to just stay-at-home moms. For Sara Christian, this was not an option. She spent ages working hard to become the world’s first female NASCAR driver. In 1949, she was the first female NASCAR driver who competed in six out of eight events during her first and only full year.
Christian received the United States Drivers Association Woman Driver of the Year award. By 1949, she drove her Ford at the Charlotte Speedway and finished in 13th place. She raced for two years, starting in 1949 and ending her racing career in 1950. Later in 2004, Sara Christian was inducted into the Georgia Automobile Racing Hall of Fame.
Jessie Owens Proves Hitler Wrong
In the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin, Germany, Jessie Owens, a four-time Olympic gold medalist by the end of the competition, was coined "the most successful athlete at the Games." As a black man, Owen was credited with "single-handedly crushing Hitler's myth of Aryan supremacy."
The picture was taken during the era of Nazi Germany, and you can see the members of the German team shamelessly holding the Nazi Salute during the medal ceremony for the winners of the long jump competition. Jessie Owens (U.S.A) team took first place, Luz Long (Germany) took second, and Tajima (Japan). Surprisingly, Long and Owens befriended each other during the Olympic games. Owen once said, "It took a lot of courage for him to befriend me in front of Hitler...".
Post-Apartheid South Africa
The 1995 Rugby World Cup was hosted and won by South Africa. It was the 3rd Rugby World Cup. With South African apartheid ending only a year prior and Nelson Mandela being the country's new president, this photo moment is thought to be one of the most famous finals of any sport.
In the cup's final, held in Johannesburg in June of that year, South Africa defeated New Zealand 15–12. Following South Africa's victory, Nelson Mandela, wearing a Springboks rugby shirt and cap, presented the South African captain François Pienaar with the Webb Ellis Cup.
Float Like A Butterfly... Sting Like Ali!
Talk about the right place at the right time; this image has to be one of sporting history’s finest moments! Neil Leifer, a photographer for "Sports Illustrated" at the time, was THE man to capture the moment Muhammad Ali knocked out Sonny Liston. This image has gone to be plastered over walls, caps, t-shirts, and any other printable memorabilia. As far as sporting images go, this one really does take the championship belt.
It was a story that would make David and Goliath seem like a children’s fable when the 23-year-old Muhammad Ali took on the 34-year-old “Big Bear." In 1964, Ali and Liston had a rematch, and despite a controversial ending, it went for a record 2:12 into the first round. In the iconic shot above, photographer Leifer is recorded to have said, “I was obviously in the right seat…but what matters is I didn’t miss.”
Babe Ruth, 1927
George Herman “Babe” Ruth Jr. is remembered as one of the legends of the game. With a 22-season career, the New York Yankees’ star outfielder began his long career as a wondrous left-handed pitcher. But funnily enough, he actually made his debut with the Boston Red Sox. Pictured here is a rare photo of Ruth with the Red Sox during one of their practices. No one knew at the time what kind of career Ruth would go on to have.
With 714 career home runs, 2,062 bases on balls, and a slugging percentage of .690, there are some stats that even the modern-day greats can’t contest. Regarded as one of the greatest sportsmen in all of American history, Ruth is also considered the best player of all time. He remained a part of American culture and was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom.