8 biggest Olympic rivalries: From Tonya Harding vs Nancy Kerrigan to Simone Biles vs MyKayla Skinner

8 Olympic showdowns: The fiercest rivalries in the game's history

Rivalries are the heartbeat of sports, and nowhere are these clashes more passionately waged than at the Olympic Games. The intensity of competition often divides fans, garners media frenzy, and creates unforgettable narratives. From bitter animosities to respectful competitions, these Olympic rivalries have left an indelible mark on the Games' history. Here's a look at eight of the most intense Olympic showdowns that captivated the world.

1. Katarina Witt vs Debi Thomas

The 1988 Winter Olympics saw a unique rivalry in figure skating between Katarina Witt of East Germany and Debi Thomas of the United States, famously dubbed 'The Battle of the Carmens'. Both skaters chose Bizet's opera 'Carmen' for their routines, setting the stage for an epic showdown. Thomas led after the short program, but both athletes faltered in their free skates. Witt's more polished performance secured her the gold, while Thomas, marred by mistakes on three jumps, settled for bronze.

2. Tonya Harding vs Nancy Kerrigan

The Harding-Kerrigan rivalry is perhaps the most infamous in Olympic history. The two American figure skaters began competing against each other in the early 90s, with Harding winning the US Figure Skating Championship in 1991 and Kerrigan taking bronze at the 1992 Winter Olympics. The tension peaked ahead of the 1994 Winter Olympics when Kerrigan was attacked by a hitman hired by Harding's ex-husband and bodyguard. Despite the injury, Kerrigan recovered to compete in Norway, winning silver while Harding finished eighth. The aftermath saw Harding banned from US figure skating and stripped of her national title following her guilty plea to conspiracy charges.

3. Oksana Grishuk & Sasha Platov vs Maia Usova & Alexander Zhulin

The 1994 Winter Olympics were rife with drama, not just on the ice but off it as well. Russian ice dancers Maia Usova and Alexander Zhulin, a married couple, competed against Oksana Grishuk and Sasha Platov. Grishuk and Platov won the gold, while Usova and Zhulin took silver. The real drama unfolded behind the scenes, with rumors of an affair between Zhulin and Grishuk. Usova allegedly discovered the pair on a date, leading to her eventual divorce from Zhulin. Despite the personal turmoil, Usova and Zhulin continued as skating partners until 1997.

4. Gary Hall Jr vs Alexander Popov

Long before their Olympic clash, American swimmer Gary Hall Jr and Russian Alexander Popov were already at odds, having first met at the 1994 World Championships. Popov bested Hall Jr in Atlanta during the 1996 Olympics, despite a heated exchange of words in the press. "This is going to be a rivalry that will last for a long time," Hall Jr predicted, as quoted by the Tampa Bay Times. After a suspension for marijuana use in 1998, Hall Jr made a triumphant return at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, winning gold in the 50m freestyle while Popov placed sixth.

5. Michael Phelps vs Milorad Cavic

Michael Phelps and Milorad Cavic's rivalry was a study in sportsmanship and competition. Ahead of the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Cavic stirred controversy by suggesting it would be good for the sport if Phelps lost. Phelps, however, didn't respond publicly and went on to clinch eight gold medals, including a dramatic win in the 100m butterfly over Cavic by just 0.01 seconds. The race was so close that it sparked debate over whether Cavic had actually touched the wall first. Reflecting on the event years later, Cavic expressed doubts about the outcome but acknowledged Phelps's dominance.

6. Lilly King vs Yulia Efimova

At the 2016 Rio Olympics, Lilly King and Yulia Efimova's rivalry lit up the swimming pool. The animosity began in the semifinals of the 100m breaststroke when King saw Efimova celebrating on a monitor and responded with a finger wave, a gesture widely interpreted as taunting. King backed up her bravado by winning gold in the event. Despite the tension, the two shared a moment of mutual respect at the 2019 World Championships. King later reflected on the rivalry, acknowledging their maturity and growth since the 2016 incident.

7. Mack Horton vs Sun Yang

The 2016 Rio Olympics also witnessed a contentious rivalry between Australian swimmer Mack Horton and China's Sun Yang. After Horton accused Yang of doping, referring to him as a "drug cheat," the rivalry escalated. Horton won gold in the 400m freestyle, with Yang taking silver. Their feud continued at the 2019 World Championships, where Horton refused to share the podium with Yang, who later received an eight-year ban (later reduced to four years) for refusing a doping test. Yang, however, maintained his innocence, insisting he was wrongly accused.

8. Simone Biles vs MyKayla Skinner

The lead-up to the 2024 Paris Olympics saw unexpected tension within Team USA, sparked by comments from former team member MyKayla Skinner. In a YouTube video, Skinner criticized the work ethic of the current team, excluding Simone Biles. Biles responded subtly on Threads, hinting at her disagreement with Skinner's remarks. After Biles and her teammates secured the gold medal in Paris, Biles posted a celebratory message seemingly addressing Skinner's comments. Skinner later apologized and expressed support for the team, highlighting the complex dynamics within elite sports.