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LeBron James cemented his legacy by winning that elusive championship he so desperately sought for the Cleveland Cavaliers. Down 3-1, no one expected the Cavs to win. However, James’ determination and will made the impossible happen. In his triumph, we see how sports can captivate a community and inspire a nation. Triumph doesn’t always end in victory. Sometimes the greatest losses are the moments that matter most. For in those moments, we see the true heart of a champion and how they continue to rise despite their defeats. Check out these 4 athletes who found a way to triumph after suffering from great loss.
Shaun Livingston shouldn’t be walking right now after suffering a gruesome knee injury in 2007. However, Shaun continued to fight and is now an NBA Champion and an integral part to the Golden State Warriors.
Mia Hamm is one of the greatest women soccer players of our time. During her college days at University of North Carolina, she would suffer only one loss her entire four years there — to the University of Connecticut. Her team would go undefeated after that loss and defeat the same University of Connecticut in the National Championship 6-0.
LeBron James is the best player in the NBA. However, after losing the NBA Finals to the Dallas Mavericks in 2011 he was ridiculed and villainized by NBA fans and the media. In 2012, he put that all behind him to win his first of three NBA Championships.
Arnold Palmer was known for being one of the greatest sports figure in golf. However, as much as he won big he also lost big. In 1966 with a 7-shot lead in the final round of the US Open, he would blow it and lose. Despite this heartbreaking loss, Palmer accumulated 95 professional wins in his career, including seven major championships.
