The unbreakable records

Long before Alex Ovechkin surpassed Wayne Gretzky for the NHL goal-scoring record with 895, Gretzky moved into the top spot ahead of Gordie Howe by putting the puck in the net for the Los Angeles Kings on March 23, 1994.

During the broadcast that day, an announcer breathlessly declared: “A historic moment in sports, compared with Henry Aaron passing Babe Ruth in home runs, with Pete Rose passing Ty Cobb in hits.

“[All] great moments when people thought records would never be broken.

“Mike Powell passing Bob Beamon’s long jump record of 29 feet, two-and-a-half inches (8.90 metres). And Wayne Gretzky, indeed, has records that may never be broken.

“Perhaps this is one.”

Gretzky’s feat has now been bettered – casting a question mark over sport’s other “unbreakable” records.

From legendary feats to dominant streaks, Wide World of Sports looks at the seemingly unbreakable records that continue to stand tall in world sports.