1

2008 Beijing Olympic Games - Michael Phelps

Image: Thomas Park

Winning a gold medal in the Olympic Games is, by itself, a huge achievement and a dream come true for any elite athlete. Repeating this feat is something that very few have achieved, and doing so has elevated these individuals to legendary status.

Now, imagine winning not one, not two, but eight gold medals in a single edition of the Olympic Games . This unimaginable feat was accomplished by the now-famous swimmer Michael Phelps. This remains the greatest individual achievement in one edition of the Olympic Games by any Team USA athlete.

2

1936 Munich Olympic Games - Jesse Owens

Image: Braden Collum

Another legendary Olympic moment took place many years before Michael Phelps was even born, when Jesse Owens, a Black athlete, won four gold medals in the 1936 Munich Olympic Games.

Despite competing on very controversial ground at the time, Owens blazed his way to Olympic glory and secured his place in the pantheon of the greatest American athletes.

3

Cuba to Florida Swim - Diana Nyad

Image: Matt Hardy

If you see the distance between Miami and Havana on a map, it doesn’t seem all that far. That is until you start approaching and realize that there are 110 miles between these two places. Believe it or not, this journey has been swum three times. The first two crossings involved a shark cage and several short rests.

The third person to achieve this milestone was Diana Nyad, who completed the swim on her fifth attempt at age 64 in 2013 . Nyad used a protective jellyfish suit, shark divers, and electronic shark-repellent devices to achieve an "unassisted" swim.

4

50 Marathons in 50 Days

Image: Pietro Rampazzo

Running a marathon is an impressive feat of endurance and strength for almost any human being. Running two marathons in two consecutive days is nearly impossible for anyone. Now, imagine running 50 marathons across 50 American states in 50 consecutive days.

That incredible accomplishment was achieved by Los Angeles native Dean Karnazes , beginning with the Lewis and Clark Marathon in St. Louis on September 17, 2006 , and finishing with the New York City Marathon on November 5 . A bit too much, maybe?

5

1968 Mexico City Olympic Games - Bob Beamon

Image: Gabriel Sanchez

On the rarest of occasions, humans are capable of physical achievements that defy what the human body is capable of doing. During the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City, Bob Beamon broke the world record for men’slong jump with an incredible jump of 29 feet, 2.25 inches . Yes, that is almost 30 feet.

There was a delay in posting the distance, and Beamon didn’t know what the metric figure that finally appeared on the board equated to in feet and inches. When a teammate told him he had jumped over 29 feet, he collapsed on the track from the realization of what he had accomplished.

6

2017 Australian US Open - Serena Williams

Image: Kelly Sikkema

Winning a world tennis championship is a significant achievement for any tennis player. That is, unless you are a tennis player so accomplished that winning these tournaments is as regular as anything. The list of people who do that is very short, and the names on it are all very well known.

One of those names is, without a doubt, Serena Williams. Possibly the greatest female tennis player ever, she won the 2017 Australian Open . This fact alone may not seem out of place for such an athlete. But what sets it apart is the fact that she did so while pregnant .

7

17 minutes without breathing - David Blaine

Image: Jakob Owens

How long can you hold your breath underwater? Trained individuals can achieve very impressive results in this field, but one feat that stands out is the one accomplished by American illusionist David Blaine, who, on September 8, 2008, set a world record for static apnoea, by holding his breath underwater inside a tank for 17 minutes and 4.5 seconds.

Blaine is best known for his high-profile feats of endurance and has set and broken several world records. These include standing for 35 hours on a 100-foot-high pillar only 22 inches wide in 2002 and sitting in a clear Perspex box for 44 days in 2003 without eating and drinking only water.

8

900 spin - Tony Hawk

Image: Devin Avery

In the world of skating, a 360 is the name given to a stunt performed by executing a mid-air spin on the board. This is a complicated trick, achieved only by very experienced skaters. A 720 is a stunt performed by doing not one, but two mid-air spins on the board. As one can imagine, this is exponentially more difficult than a 360, and very few people can pull off this stunt.

Now, if we mention a 900, you might guess where we are going. This involves not one, not two, but two and a half mid-air spins on the board. This insanely difficult stunt was first performed (at least publicly) by Tony Hawk, the skateboard champion, at the 1999 X Games, cementing his status as a skateboarding legend.

9

2008 U.S. Open - Tiger Woods

Image: Will Porada

Tiger Woods is a familiar name in the sports world. He has won 14 major golf championships and achieved a level of superstardom seldom seen in the game. However, the one we are choosing to highlight today displays an extraordinary amount of tolerance to pain in the face of competition.

During the 2008 U.S. Open, he played a total of 91 holes with a torn ACL and double stress fractures in his left leg . With a course set up to give players the toughest test of golf imaginable, the U.S. Open is hard enough as it is. Add in debilitating leg injuries, plus 19 extra holes (thanks to a playoff with Rocco Mediate), and you have one of the greatest showings of pain tolerance in the history of tournament golf.

10

El Capitan Free Solo Climb - Alex Honnold

Image: Jessica Tuttle

Imagine climbing a huge stone wall approximately 3,000 feet high in less than four hours. Now imagine doing that, without any kind of ropes or safety equipment. That is exactly what Alex Honnold did on June 3, 2017, when he made the first-ever free solo ascent of El Capitan by completing Alex Huber's 2,900-foot big wall route, Freerider, in 3 hours and 56 minutes.

The climb, described as "one of the great athletic feats of any kind, ever," was documented by climber and photographer Jimmy Chin and documentary filmmaker E. Chai Vasarhelyi, as the subject of the documentary Free Solo which, among other awards, won the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature in 2018.

1

The Stanley Hotel - Estes Park, Colorado

Image: Fern M. Lomibao

The majestic Rocky Mountains of Colorado, surrounded by towering peaks and crisp mountain air already set a specific scenario, don’t they? Now, in that already eerie landscape emerges The Stanley Hotel . If the name doesn’t ring a bell already, you can probably recognize it as the one in the novel-based movie "The Shining." But let us tell you, the real-life tales of this place are even more hair-raising than anything King could dream up.

Built by F.O. Stanley, a man with a penchant for the paranormal, the Stanley Hotel is dripping with history and intrigue.

Only a few steps inside it and you’ll feel it, an otherworldly vibe that sends shivers down your spine . Some say it’s the owner’s ghost lingering around. Others swear they’ve encountered apparitions wandering the corridors, lost souls searching for peace. Whatever it is, only the boldest souls will dare to find out, are you one of those?

2

Eastern State Penitentiary - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Image: Lance Anderson

Philadelphia is full of spots that witnessed the history of the country’s Independence. Amidst the cobblestone alleyways and colonial charm lies a place shrouded in darkness: Eastern State Penitentiary.

Once hailed as a revolutionary institution for its innovative approach to incineration, the Eastern State now stands as a crumbling relic of the past. But don’t let its dilapidated facade fool you, this place is teeming with ghostly energy.

Step through the iron gates, and you’ll feel it immediately, a sense of unease you can’t just shake. They say the spirits of former inmates still haunt these crumbling halls , trapped between this world and the next.

Eastern State Penitentiary is a playground for the paranormal enthusiast. But beware, for not all who enter emerge unscathed. Are you brave enough to confront the ghosts of the Eastern State? Yours is the choice!

3

The Myrtles Plantation - St. Francisville, Louisiana

Image: David Hertle

In the heart of the south, you will find sprawling plantations and moss-draped oak trees. It is a picture-perfect scene straight out of a Southern Gothic novel. But, within the beauty lies a dark secret: The Myrtles Plantation.

At plain sight, this place seems like something out of a fairytale , it has stately columns and picturesque gardens. But that is not all, this place has a sinister side as well and the feeling you are not alone is always there.

But perhaps the most chilling part of all is the infamous "mirror room," where the spirits of the dead are said to be trapped for all eternity . If you are craving a taste of Southern hospitality with a side of spine-tingling thrills, the Myrtles Plantation awaits.

4

The Queen Mary - Long Beach, California

Image: Bradley Pisney

The history behind RMS Queen Mary takes different turns, from luxurious to creepy in just one lifetime. Initially, this ship served in the war, and it later transitioned to its opulent role, welcoming esteemed passengers across the vast seas. This first part of its story is not free of tragedy and mystery. For example, one incident involves a sailor who met his end crushed by a door in the engine room , while others recount the loss of children in the ship’s pool.

As of 1967, the Queen Mary belongs to Long Beach which acquired it and transformed it into a hotel that continues to charm guests to this da y. Yet, along with its hospitality, the ship harbors whispers of spectral inhabitants, ghostly remnants of its tumultuous past.

However, they have used it to its favor since the ship offers a visit and guided tours to explore the place around, ghosts and everything!

5

Alcatraz Island - San Francisco, California

Image: Rodrigo Soares

The San Francisco Bay, the iconic Golden Bridge, PIER 39, San Francisco is filled with marvelous places to visit . Just as marvelous is the fact that one of the scariest spots, not to mention haunted, is located there as well. Just the name is creepy enough, don’t you think so?

Alcatraz was once the prison where America’s most notorious criminals were sent. And, today, it is home to a thousand ghostly anecdotes. According to them, Alcatraz is haunted by the ghosts of its former inmates, who weren’t necessarily meek as lambs!

The curious thing is that it’s not just the prisoners who refuse to leave, or at least that’s what one can assume. Visitors and park rangers alike have reported eerie encounters with unexplained phenomena, especially inexplicable sounds echoing through the empty corridors.

6

The Whaley House - San Diego, California

Image: Phil Hearing

In 1857, against the backdrop of San Diego’s burgeoning landscape, Thomas Whaley built up his family house on the historic ground of the city’s original public gallows. Now, legend has it that as soon as they settled into their new abode, Whaley began to experience mysterious phenomena , to say the least. He reported hearing the echoing footsteps of "Yankee" Jim Robinson, a notorious drifter, who met his end at the very site four years prior to the construction of the house.

However, the haunting tales did not cease with Robinson’s spectral presence. Tragedy seemed to shadow the Whaley family, with a series of untimely deaths and suicides befalling several members of the family inside the house. To this day, whispers persist of apparitions roaming the halls, often accompanied by the unmistakable scent of cigar smoke and heavy perfume.

7

San Fernando Cathedral - San Antonio, Texas

Image: Priscilla Fraire

San Fernando Cathedral stands as the oldest church in the state, it hosts the unique El Mariachi Mass every Sunday. Its Gothic Revival architecture is a sight to behold. However, as darkness falls, the atmosphere around it takes on a creepy aura and only the bravest souls are willing to venture onto its myth-laden grounds.

In 1936, during structural renovations, construction workers made a chilling discovery near the altar: bones, nails, and tattered military uniforms, believed by some to have belonged to three soldiers of the Alamo.

Since the unsettling event, reports of shadowy futures and orbs appearing in photographs have circulated among visitors, along with sightings of ghosts within the church itself. Among these spectral sightings are accounts of mysterious men dressed in black and hooded figures reminiscent of monks, adding to the cathedral’s mystique.

8

Sheffield Island Lighthouse - Norwalk, Connecticut

Image: Randy Laybourne

This lighthouse was erected in 1868 and it served as a beacon for ships navigating the waters to reach Sheffield Island , a mere 45-minute ferry journey from South Norwalk. This historic landmark harbors a somber history.

In 1972, tragedy struck when the lighthouse’s original keeper passed away under mysterious circumstances while scanning the horizon with a spyglass, his demise shrouded in unanswered questions. Nearly two decades later, in 1991, an archaeologist conducting preservation work on the site uncovered unsettling occurrences. Eerie melodies, distant pleas for assistance, and the unmistakable sound of a foghorn.

Legend has it these phenomena are attributed to the relentless spirit of Captain Robert Sheffield, the enigmatic figure who acquired the islands in the early 1800s and reputedly possessed a penchant for peculiar musical instruments, adding an aura of mystique to this maritime marvel.

9

Winchester Mystery House - San Jose, California

Image: Kelly Zhang

The Winchester Mystery House stands as a testament to Sarah Winchester's unique response to tragedy. After losing her husband and child, Sarah was convinced by a seer that her family's demise was orchestrated by vengeful spirits seeking retribution for deaths caused by Winchester rifles.

Intending to keep these spirits at bay, she embarked on an elaborate construction project that resulted in the eerie mansion known today . Among its unsettling features are staircases leading to nowhere, doors opening onto solid walls, and windows revealing hidden passages, all perpetuating the house's mystique and intrigue.

Exploring this enigmatic abode offers a glimpse into Sarah Winchester's profound grief and her quest for solace among the paranormal.

10

Emily’s Bridge - Stowe, Vermont

Image: Xiaocong Yan

In picturesque Stowe, Vermont, located among the charming covered bridges that dot New England’s landscape, there is one that harbors a chilling tale: Emily’s Bridge.

It is only 50 feet long, but this bridge has become synonymous with a tragic legend dating back to the mid-1800s.

As the story goes, a young woman named Emily was meant to rendezvous with her lover there for an elopement, but he never arrived . Devastated Emily took her own life, by hanging herself from the rafters. Yet, her spirit is said to linger, casting a sinister presence over the bridge. Locals tell Emily’s ghost allegedly torments passersby by clawing at their cars and leaving behind scary scratches.

Among the tales of spectral hauntings, sightings of a ghostly figure in white and inexplicable sounds echoing from the tunnel only add to the bridge’s macabre mystique.

1

"Phone home"

Who wants to phone home…? That’s E.T., of course! In E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982) , an iconic Steven Spielberg masterpiece, Elliott (Henry Thomas) and his siblings help the sweetest alien in cinematic history contact his own kind, who accidentally left him behind.

Pat Welsh was the actress who lent her voice to the character. And "E.T… phone home" is the unforgettable line the little guy manages to utter.

2

"I’m gonna make him an offer he can’t refuse"

You can imagine the line in a whisper, for better context. But you probably don’t need it. Most viewers will remember this legendary threat, which belongs to The Godfather (1972), directed by Francis Ford Coppola and anchored by Marlon Brando’s unforgettable turn as Vito Corleone.

3

"I see dead people"

A movie no one could watch only once! This line, permanently etched into pop culture, comes from the chilling The Sixth Sense , written and directed by M. Night Shyamalan, and delivered with eerie calm by Haley Joel Osment to his costar Bruce Willis.

4

"Life is like a box of chocolates"

Whose mama always said that life was "like a box of chocolates: you never know what you’re gonna get?" It was Forrest Gump’s, of course!

The unforgettable 1994 movie was directed by Robert Zemeckis and carried by Tom Hanks’ Oscar-winning performance. Spoken on a park bench, the quote summarizes the film’s philosophy: life is unpredictable, but somehow that’s okay.

5

"I’ll have what she’s having"

A little clue: This line is delivered inside a deli. Katz’s Delicatessen, on the Lower East Side of New York, to be specific. But you probably don’t need the clue if you’re a fan of classic rom-coms –or if you’ve watched the infamous scene endlessly shared on the internet.

It is taken, of course, from When Harry Met Sally , directed by Rob Reiner and written by Nora Ephron. And, did you know? The lady who says the legendary line was played by none other than Estelle Reiner, Rob’s mom, after Sally (Meg Ryan) fakes an orgasm to prove a point to her pal Harry (Billy Crystal).

6

"Frankly, my dear, I don’t give a damn"

Few lines have ever closed a film with such perfect indifference. This famously unapologetic farewell comes from 1939’s Gone with the Wind , delivered by Clark Gable as Rhett Butler opposite Vivien Leigh’s unforgettable Scarlett O’Hara.

7

"Are you not entertained?"

A booming challenge, roared from a scene filled with blood and sand… Of course, it belongs to none other than Ridley Scott’s Gladiator (2000), starring Russell Crowe in his Oscar-winning performance as Maximus.

8

"You’re going to need a bigger boat"

Dun-dun… This line comes from 1975’s Jaws , Steven Spielberg’s classic, a masterclass in suspense and suggestion. Spoken by Roy Scheider’s police chief Brody, the quote arrives at the exact moment the audience finally sees what’s been stalking them.

9

"I’m the king of the world!"

And speaking of boats… Can you figure out which film this line is from? Kudos if you guessed it: It’s the signature line Leonardo DiCaprio yells from the bow of the Titanic . That’s in the first third of the 1997 movie, while things are still looking sunny and, well, optimistic, for everyone.

10

"I’ll be back"

Threatening, short, and flat. This line comes from 1984’s The Terminator , directed by James Cameron and delivered with robotic calm by Arnold Schwarzenegger in the role that defined his career. And yes, he did come back. Many times. Hollywood made sure of it.

11

"It was Beauty killed the Beast"

This is a closing line from a classic. Have you guessed it? It’s from 1933’s King Kong , directed by Merian C. Cooper and Ernest B. Schoedsack. The film gave audiences groundbreaking special effects, a towering ape with unexpected vulnerability, and a surprisingly heartbreaking ending.

That’s a wrap! How many of the movies could you identify? Did you get a perfect score?