Sporting Witness

Just ten weeks before the Barcelona Olympics Silken Laumann, a Canadian rower, suffered a horrific leg injury. After six weeks she got back on the water. "Here I was still using a wheelchair, a massive skin graft on my leg. I could not walk without pain. I got into that boat with some help, there were a few adjustments to take some of the strain off my broken ankle."After four operations, she managed to make it to the final and win a bronze medal, becoming a national hero in Canada. This programme was first broadcast in March 2014. Picture: Silken Laumann, Credit: Shaun Botterill/Getty Images Sport.

In February 1964, Muhammad Ali and Sonny Liston fought the first of two of the most controversial boxing bouts in history. The 22-year-old Ali - then still known as Cassius Clay - was the young pretender taking on a veteran with a reputation for knockouts. He became world champion in circumstances that are still disputed to this day. Witness speaks to an American sportswriter with a ringside seat.PHOTO: Hulton Archive/Getty Images.

In 1984, the British ice skaters Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean entranced the world with their performance of Ravel's Bolero at the Winter Olympics. Torvill and Dean scored a row of perfect 6s and stormed to Olympic gold. They speak to Alex Collins about their world record performance.(Photo: Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean. Credit: Getty Images)

In 1976, the legendary Austrian skier won one of the most exciting Olympic downhill races of all time. Franz Klammer 'The Kaiser' was the overwhelming favourite, but he had to take massive risks to claim gold in front of his home crowd at Innsbruck. Klammer talks to Sporting Witness.Picture: Franz Klammer, Credit: AFP/Getty Images.

In 1964, Britain won its only Olympic bobsleigh gold medal in an event that became famous for an act of sportsmanship by Eugenio Monti of Italy. Sporting Witness talks to the British team.(Photo: Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

At the 1980 Winter Olympics, the USA faced the USSR in a Cold War ice hockey showdown. Witness speaks to an American and a Soviet player about one of the biggest upsets in sporting history.PHOTO: Getty Images

In 1998, a Kenyan farmer called Philip Boit became one of the first Africans to compete in the Winter Olympics. In the 10-kilometre cross-country skiing final he faced the legendary Norwegian, Bjorn Daehlie. It was a race that would unite the two athletes and inspire future Winter Olympians across Africa.PHOTO: Getty Images.

In 1988, the American speedskater was told on the day of the Olympic final that his sister had died of cancer. Stricken by grief, he then fell during his race. It took Dan Jansen another six years - and five more Olympic races - before he finally won gold.(Photo: Dan Jansen. Credit: Getty Images Sport)

In 1988, the glamorous East German skater, Katarina Witt, and her American rival, Debbi Thomas, both chose to dance the role of Carmen in the final of the Olympics. For Sporting Witness, Witt recalls a contest that became known as the "Battle of the Carmens".PHOTO:

Fred Dove presents the highlights from Sporting Witness, the series which reveals the inside story of key moments in sporting history. It's packed with stories of endurance, personal triumph and injustices, and we hear from Martina Navratilova about the personal cost of her defection, learn how Dick Fosbury came up with his revolutionary way of high-jumping and discover why the French team turned up at the 1948 Olympics in London with a train full of wine.PHOTO: Hassiba Boulmerka of Algeria, winner of the women's 1500 metres at the 1992 Olympics. (Getty Images)

The Ethiopian distance-runner Haile Gebrselassie defeated his greatest rival Paul Tergat of Kenya in one of the narrowest victories ever in the 10,000m event. He entered athletics history at the Sydney Olympics in 2000 by successfully defending his 10,000 metre title and beating Tergat by less than one second. Presented by Fred Dove. This programme was first broadcast in July 2012.Picture: Ethiopian athlete Haile Gebrselassie and Paul Tergat of Kenya at the end of the 10,000 metres at the Sydney Olympics, Credit: Adam Pretty/Getty Images

In 1968, the American athlete Bob Beamon, made a jump that many thought would never be bettered."As I struck that lightboard, I went up over six feet... and then I'd landed at this distance that was described as a freak."In a single leap at the Mexico City Olympics, he improved the world record by more than half a metre. His new world record for long jump was 8.90m.Sporting Witness speaks to Bob Beamon and to Lynn Davies, a Welsh long-jumper who saw the feat.This programme was first broadcast in July 2012.Picture: Bob Beamon's long jump at the Mexico City Olympics in 1968, Credit: Douglas Miller/Keystone/Getty Images

In 1978, Martina Navratilova won her first ever Grand Slam championship at Wimbledon.Navratilova's victory followed her dramatic defection from Czechoslovakia and signalled the start of her domination of women's tennis.Martina Navratilova talks to Sporting Witness.PHOTO: BBC

In 1992, the British 400-metre runner Derek Redmond, popped his hamstring in the Olympic semi-final.Instead of giving up, Redmond hobbled in agony to the finish line - determined to complete his race.Half-way round, Redmond's father, Jim, ran on to the track to help his son home.It's an Olympic story that's inspired millions of people around the world.Derek Redmond talks to Sporting Witness.PHOTO: Getty Images

At the Seoul Olympics in 1988, the American sprinter Florence Griffith-Joyner was the first American woman to win four medals in a single games - golds for the 100m, the 200m and the women's 4×100m relay, and a silver for the women's 4×400m relay. She achieved world records in both her 100m and 200m which still stand to this day. Flo-Jo, as she was nicknamed, was also famous for her flamboyant nails and unique dress sense.In a rare interview, Flo-Jo's husband Al Joyner, remembers her achievements and premature death in 1998.This programme broadcast in June 2012. Picture: Florence Griffith-Joyner, Credit: Getty Images Sport.

In 1986, Argentina striker Diego Maradona scored two goals against England which have gone down in World Cup history.The first goal is now known as the "hand of God" and the second as the "goal of the century".England frontman Gary Lineker saw both goals go in and shares his memories with Sporting Witness.(Image: Argentina's Diego Maradona scoring his side's first goal past English goalkeeper Peter Shilton by use of his hand, Maradona later claimed that the goal was scored by "the hand of God". Credit: BONGARTS/Getty Images)

In 1954, Sir Roger Bannister became the first athlete to run a mile in less than four minutes. At the time this was one of the greatest prizes in athletics.He tells his story to Rob Walker.(Photo: Roger Bannister winning the AAA Championships Mile race in 1954. Hulton Archive/Getty Images.)

A few days after Queen Elizabeth II was crowned, she had her best chance of owning the winner of the derby, but first the horse would have to beat the British public's favourite jockey. Peter O'Sullevan - the BBC's voice of racing - talks to Julian Bedford.(Image: Champion jockey Gordon Richards being led in after winning the Coronation Derby on 'Pinza'. Credit: Photo by Fox Photos/Getty Images)

The American diver Greg Louganis talks about hitting his head on the diving board at the 1988 Olympic Games at Seoul, South Korea.At the time, only he and his coach Ron O'Brien knew he was HIV positive and he had to decide whether to tell officials about the possible health risk.This programme was broadcast in May 2012. Picture: Greg Louganis of the US bangs his head against the board after mistiming his dive during the Olympic competition. Credit: Getty Images

In the 1972 Olympics he broke the 10,000 metre world record despite falling over during the race.Hear from Lasse Viren, and one of his fellow competitors.Photo: Lasse Viren celebrating his win. Associated Press.