Most surprising Olympic winner

[Halfmiler2]

Voula Patoulidou in 1992 in the hurdles immediately came to mind.

For winning a silver, I think of Mike Shine behind Edwin Moses in 1976.

[gh]

I'm sure you're right, Garry. It's just that in 1960 I assumed John Thomas was unbeatable, and Valeri Brumel (who if I remember correctly had jumped an European record 2.18 earlier in the summer) the only challenger.

not to play with words, but the context I was going for is that while Thomas's loss was shocking, the fact that if somebody was going to beat him, for it to be Shav. wasn't a shock, if you get my drift.

[Per Andersen]

Lindy Remigino was who I would choose as the biggest upset

I tend to agree. Art Bragg should have won and Golliday was not even on the team. Other than that I have Snell in '60 and Billy Mills in 1964. More recently, Walcott in the 2012 Javelin.
I ll say that John Winter was a surprise in the '48 HJ and I sure did not have Fosbury favoured in 1968!

[J Rorick]

Forgot about Walcott; certainly belongs in the discussion.

[800-RUNNER]

For most surprising Olympic champion since I first became aware of track and field and the Olympics (which means starting in 1960) I would nominate:
* Abebe Bikila (marathon in 1960) - because he was previously unknown outside Ethiopia and ran a world record 2:15:16.2 in Rome
* Robert Shavlakadze (HJ in 1960) - because John Thomas was such an overwhelming favorite going into Rome
For most surprising Olympic champion in a thrilling finish:
* Billy Mills (10000 in 1964) - because no one expected him to win and because watching video of the last lap of that race still gives me chills ("Look at Mills! Look at Mills")

[Powell]

Voula Patoulidou in 1992 in the hurdles immediately came to mind.

It's hard to beat Patoulidou in the biggest surprise contest. Her pre-OG PB was 13.15, which would put her outside the top 50 on the world list for the season. I mean, the fact she made the final was a huge shock in itself. I don't think any of the others mentioned came from as far down the list of contenders as she did.

[Trickstat]

I think Mills' race is the only one in Olympic T&F history where with 1% of the race distance remaining it seemed very unlikely that the eventual winner would win.

[bambam1729]

I think Mills' race is the only one in Olympic T&F history where with 1% of the race distance remaining it seemed very unlikely that the eventual winner would win.

?Wottle in 1972

[Trickstat]

?Wottle in 1972

I think with 8m to go, Wottle was closing and looked like he might just catch Arzhanov.

[NotDutra5]

I think with 8m to go, Wottle was closing and looked like he might just catch Arzhanov.

In addition to the fact that Wottle was known as a big kicker.

[18.99s]

Overall, 2004 was a really surprising Olympics. Not sure if there was any one hugely massive shocker, but a lot of winners who were sort-of-known yet a really really long way from being the favorite. Nesterenko stands out as the most memorable.

I second Nesterenko in 2004.

[KDFINE]

?Wottle in 1972

Inasmuch as Wottle was already the co-World Record holder I have to disagree.

[gh]

Inasmuch as Wottle was already the co-World Record holder I have to disagree.

go back and check the earlier postss and you'll see that Bam's Wottle comment wasn't regards to the thread's basic question: he answered a sub-question of people who didd't look like winners with 1% of the race left.

[TN1965]

I think with 8m to go, Wottle was closing and looked like he might just catch Arzhanov.

With 8m to go, he was almost even.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OIhnDLPIsow

[bambam1729]

I think with 8m to go, Wottle was closing and looked like he might just catch Arzhanov.

Yeah, I screwed up and was thinking 80 metres, but you're right - 1% of 800 is 8 m from the line and he was right there with Arzhanov by then