Top 10 Biggest Chokes In Sports History

Taking a break from the sports upsets series, this video looks at 10 of the most infamous examples of sportsmen on the verge of victory only to squander a large lead in the late stages of the event.
The ranking positions being based on the profile of the event in question, the scale of the choke and the drama of the incident itself.

I deliberately set out to try and include as many different sports as possible within the top ten, so there are going to be some high profile absentees, but I hope it provokes some debate and I appreciate any comments.

For those who don't know here is the top ten:
10- JR Hildebrand crashes at the final corner of the 2011 Indy 500
9- Jimmy White's easy missed black in the final frame of the 1994 World Snooker Championship
8- Don Fox's penalty miss in the 1968 Challenge Cup final
7- Ben Stokes' final over of the Twenty20 Cricket World Cup final
6- Roberto Baggio's penalty miss in the 1994 World Cup final
5- Greg Norman loses a six shot lead in the 1996 Masters
4- Jana Novotna blows a 4-1 lead in the deciding set of the 1993 Wimbledon ladies final
3- Lindsey Jacobellis crashes whist leading the Women's snowboard cross final in the 2006 Winter Olympics
2- Jean Van De Velde loses a three shot lead on the final hole of the 1999 Open
1- Devon Loch's slip on the final stretch of the 1956 Grand National

[Buckblacket]

I remember watching Faldo reel Norman in on the last day of The Masters. I was going berserk cheering Faldo on but by the end I was watching in silence because watching Norman fall apart had become a little too uncomfortable.

[legendx]

4:08 when ur horse is ass in red dead 2

[chlillis]

If you would do a cricket choke, then south africa in the world cup in 1999 against australia is a better one, just needed a run, but almost got run out, then next ball run out with 3 balls remaining to lose the semi final

[husseinalsalami]

Biggest choke were the Atlanta Falcons in Super Bowl 51.

[barrymontgomery]

I felt sorry for Jana novotna she was well ahead of Graf in the third and final set but she was so nervous the way she was playing in her service games Graf seized the initiative and punished her opponents mistakes. She did win the Wimbledon ladies singles title in 1998 but her loss in 93 was very painful. R.i.p. Jana you are a great champion whether it's in the ladies doubles or solo.

[errollawrence]

Biggest choke has to be Team New Zealand in the America's Cup 2016. They were 8-1 up against Oracle of USA, first team to 9 wins. They lost the next 8 races in a row... they did 'win' one race at 8-4/5 but racing has a time limit to complete the race and they finished 1-2 seconds outside that time limit so that race was void. Talk about complete capitulation!

[AlMan]

2004 Yankees is the biggest choke in sports history.

[CinemaDemocratica]

There was an all-women's sailing team in the America's Cup a few years ago -- I believe their syndicate was called "Dolphin and Youth, " and they were miles ahead of Dennis Connor in the final race of the challenger series, and choked so badly that they actually sailed upwind for a while on the final downwind leg, to try to make some speed. By heading the *wrong* *way*.

[russpearson]

The horse was hilarious. Maybe he thought there was a jump, but there was no jump .

[YankeeStacking]

Um…1986 World Series between the Boston Red Sox v NY Mets! The baseball going through Bill Buckner’s legs!! Hello!!! Boston Red Sox were ONE STRIKE AWAY from their FIRST WORLD SERIES CHAMPIONSHIP IN 68 YEARS! Now THAT is an epic choke.

[A.C]

Really? A horse is #1?? I don’t think a horse can really choke. lol

[flyingjibberish]

Top 10 chokes not on this list;

10. Justin Gatlin, 2015 World Championships 100m
9. England, 2019 Rugby World Cup
8. Colin Montgomerie, 2005 US open
7. AC Milan, 2005 Champions League.
6. Roberto Duran, 1980 "no mas fight"
5. Scott Hoch, 1989 Masters
4. South Africa, 1999 Cricket World cup
3. Brazil, 2014 Football World Cup
2. Guillermo Coria, 2004 French Open
1. Newcastle United, 1996 English Premiership

[Normie]

The Baggio shot was probably a mafia inspired ckoke

[BLEDSE]

New #1 spot goes to the Falcons in Super Bowl 51

[dubnessIII]

Anyone else not understand what the hell was going on in the cricket one?

[Dalton]

Could've put the 1992 AFC Wild Card game in here, the Houston Oliers blew a 35-3 lead to the Buffalo BIlls

[nandc]

Great video, thanks - although not sure I would agree that Baggio's miss was a choke!

[shipofthesun]

1998 NFC Championship.
Gary Anderson was perfect on field goals all season. He missed, and the Vikes went home. The Falcons played a hell of a game to win it after the miss, and went to the Super Bowl.

[jameshoran]

The first one had Dan Wheldon winning the 2011 Indy 500 because Hildebrand made a mistake. Take away the mistake, and Wheldon doesn't win and later in the year does not get a sponsors exemption to race in Vegas where the promoter staged a stupid stunt offering Wheldon a million if he won the race from last place. He drove recklessly and crashed and died.

[barrymontgomery]

Jimmy white could and should have won the world snooker title but he failed against Steve Davis John Parrott and his biggest nemesis Stephen Hendry. He also bottled it against Alex Higgins in a classic semi final match he should have beaten him that year but it was a lack of experience which cost him a place in the final. 0n his gravestone will be a message it will say greatest player never to have won the world snooker title.