8. Julie Moss / Triathlete
In February of 1982, Julie Moss was a 23-year-old wildcard entrant in the Ironman Triathlon World Championship, featuring a 2.4-mile sea swim, a 112-mile bike ride, and a 26.2-mile foot race. She had entered the grueling contest merely as part of her thesis submission on physiology and training, but with only less than a mile to the finish line, she shockingly found herself ahead of the field. Unfortunately, just ten yards from the end, her legs gave way, and so did her muscle control, causing her to empty the contents of her bowels. As Wide World of Sports aired the unfolding drama, another racer flew past Moss, who, although on her knees, still managed to crawl across the finish line for a second-place finish. Yes, she may have lost the top prize and control of her bodily functions, but the moment is nevertheless remembered as one of the most moving and inspiring scenes in sporting history.
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