The United States defeated the Soviet Union in the famous 1980 “Miracle on Ice” game.
The ice hockey match was played on 22 February 1980 at the Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, New York. The United States team, made up largely of college players, beat the heavily favored Soviet team 4–3 in the medal-round game.
The Soviet Union had won the previous four Olympic ice hockey tournaments and included many experienced professionals. The American victory was therefore regarded as one of the biggest upsets in sports history. The result also carried Cold War significance because the two countries were major political rivals.
The United States still needed to defeat Finland in its next game to secure the gold medal. The Soviet Union won the silver medal, while Sweden took bronze. The phrase “Miracle on Ice” refers specifically to the U.S.–Soviet game, not the later gold-medal match.