The Olympics is a special event that we only get every few years. It's where the best of the best go toe-to-toe to bring honor to their home country. Most of the year, I don't really care about competitive diving, but once the Summer Olympics come around, I suddenly become the biggest cheerleader of the U.S. athletes.

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The 2021 Summer Olympics was back on our television screens this past month, After the coronavirus, pandemic forced Olympic officials to postpone the games a year, everyone was thrilled to see one of the biggest global shows of athleticism.

Karissa Schweizer is an Urbandale native who went to the University of Missouri. She was a part of their track and cross-country team.

Schweizer is only the second Iowa woman to double qualify for the Olympics. She qualified for both the women's 5K and 10K, so she headed to Tokyo with two goals on her mind.

The Urbandale native placed twelfth in the women's 10,000 meters and eleventh in the women's 5,000 meters.

Another Iowa native who competed in Tokyo is Thomas Gilman. He is an alumnus of the University of Iowa, so he is a Hawkeye at heart. He is originally from Council Bluffs Iowa and was one of the top wrestlers in the NCAA and Big Ten during his college days. Gilman is a three-time All-American and a World Silver Metalist.

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The Hawkeye competed in Freestyle Wrestling on Team USA in Tokyo this month. After his battle against Reza Atrinagharch of Iran, Gilman was able to bring home the bronze for men's 57kg freestyle.

LOOK: 50 images of winning moments from sports history

Sometimes images are the best way to honor the figures we've lost. When tragedy swiftly reminds us that sports are far from the most consequential thing in life, we can still look back on an athlete's winning moment that felt larger than life, remaining grateful for their sacrifice on the court and bringing joy to millions.

Read on to explore the full collection of 50 images Stacker compiled showcasing various iconic winning moments in sports history. Covering achievements from a multitude of sports, these images represent stunning personal achievements, team championships, and athletic perseverance.

Iowa Born Sports Stars

What do each of these stellar athletes have in common? They all hail from the Hawkeye State.

 

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