Florence Griffith Joyner, Mark Spitz and Nadia Comaneci are only a few of the Olympic legends who have captivated the world with their larger-than-life feats. Walk back in TIME as we pause to remember the most spectacular competitors in Olympic history.
PHOTO CREDITS: Florence Griffith Joyner by Lennox McLendon/AP,
Michael Johnson by Doug Mills/AP,
Jackie Joyner-Kersee by Eric Risberg/AP,
Kerri Strug by Ed Reinke/AP,
Graeme Smith by Hans Deryk/AP
