It’s been 120 years since the Olympics were modernised and returned to the sporting world. In that time a lot has happened, some of which you may know, and some that you might have forgotten. Here we look at 11 things that you may not have known about the Olympics.
Abebe Bikila
The Ethiopian marathon runner wasn’t even scheduled to be at the 1960 Games in Rome, but he received a late call-up. Whilst trying out shoes for the race, Adidas only had a few pairs left and none of them were comfortable fits for Bikila. He eventually ended up running the race in barefoot and won Olympic gold in a record time of 2 hours and 15 minutes. In doing so, he became the first Sub-Saharan African to win an Olympic gold medal.
Montreal 1976
The Olympic flame is a symbol of the Olympic Games. Originating in Ancient Greece, it commemorates the theft of fire from Zeus by Prometheus. The flame is lit for the entire duration of the Games, however after a rainstorm in Montreal in 1976, it was extinguished. Luckily an Olympic official was on hand and immediately re-ignited the flame using a cigarette lighter.
Live Pigeon Shooting
There have been many bizarre Olympic sports over the year, but live pigeon shooting was an actual event at the 1900 Games. The event was short lived and dropped after it was deemed to be too messy. Elimination occurred when a competitor missed two birds. In total, 300 birds were killed in the event.
Olympics in the same year
Christa Luding-Rothenburger competed in the Winter Olympics in Calgary in 1988 and the Seoul Summer Olympics in the same year. She is the only person to have ever won medals at both the Summer and Winter Olympics in the same year, winning gold in the speed skating at Calgary and silver in track cycling.
Olympic medals
There are many nations who’ve never won an Olympic medal. Bolivia have sent athletes to every Olympic Games since 1964, however Fiji made their debuts in 1956. Fiji’s barren run of no medals could end in Rio 2016 however, as they’re amongst the favourites to win the Rugby Sevens. In contrast, the USA have won more medals (2,189) than any other country.
Greatest Olympian of all time
Michael Phelps is the greatest Olympian of all time. He’s won a total of 22 Olympic medals, 18 of which were gold. Phelps broke Mark Spitz’ record for most first-place finishes in a single Olympics, winning 8 gold medals in 2008.
First Televised Olympics
The first televised Olympics were the Berlin Games of 1936. It was also the first live television coverage of any sporting event in history and coincided with a highly controversial Olympics, due to Germany’s racial policies at the time.
Ancient Olympics
Gold, silver and bronze are awarded for podium finishes in the modern Olympics, but back in Ancient Greece an olive wreath was awarded to the winner.
Cassius Clay
After returning to the USA as an Olympic gold medallist in the light heavyweight boxing division in Rome in 1960, Clay, later known as Muhammed Ali, was refused service in a whites-only restaurant, and threw his gold medal into the Ohio River in protest.
Oldest Olympic winner
Oscar Swahn (1847-1927) is the oldest Olympic medal winner. The Swedish shot won his last medal at the 1920 Olympics, aged 72.
Floyd Mayweather Jr.
Before becoming “Money” and having an unbeaten professional career, Mayweather competed in the 1996 Olympics as an amateur. He won a bronze medal, but lost in a controversial semi-final to Serafim Todorov. This remains his last defeat in a boxing ring.
