Not in hockey - it took the "Miracle on Ice" for the US amateurs to beat the Russian Professionals. The Russians were employed by the Russian Army and their MOS was to play hockey.And our US amateurs still beat them on a regular basis. US Olympics used to be for amateurs, not spoiled over paid ballers.
Olga Korbut was a great gymnast and she was also a Captain in the Russian Army and her MOS was to do gymnastics.
This was normal for Russians as well as many other countries that fully supported their best athletes.
Hockey Olympic Gold Medal Winners
Year Country
1964 Russia
1968 Russia
1972 Russia
1976 Russia
1980 USA - The Miracle on Ice
1984 Russia
1988 Russia
1992 Russia (under the name of Unified Team)
Technically USSR - I just put Russia because that is what most of us called them.
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