February 22, 1980: The biggest upset in Olympic history? (more) Today in History—February 22: A Cold War Showdown on Ice Written by Amy Tikkanen Amy Tikkanen is Managing Editor at Encyclopaedia Britannica. Amy Tikkanen Fact-checked by Britannica Editors Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree.... Britannica Editors Last updated Feb. 19, 2026 •History February 22, 1980: The biggest upset in Olympic history?© Focus on Sport/Getty Images; Photo Illustration Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. On this day in 1980, the impossible happened at the Lake Placid Winter Games: A ragtag U.S. hockey team of college players beat the Soviet Union’s “Red Machine.” In the game’s waning seconds, broadcaster Al Michaels asked, “Do you believe in miracles? Yes!” Thanks to those words, the upset became known as the “Miracle on Ice,”...

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