The Olympic Games in History
A brief look at humankind's most enduring sports spectacle
The Ancient Olympic Games
The Olympic Games were celebrated 320 times -- every four
years -- in the sacred stadium at Olympia, Greece, beginning in 776
B.C. Though boxing and wrestling were added later, the first Olympic
event was a sprint. The prize was an olive leaf and deification by
poets, as well as recognition as a hero forever.
The Modern Olympic Games
In 1892, French educator Baron Pierre de Coubertin proposes a
renaissance of ancient Greek competition. In 1896, his dream is
realized as England, Greece, Italy, Russia, Spain, Sweden and the
United States open Games. James B. Connolly wins triple jump (the
first medal in modern Olympic history); American flag is raised and
Star Spangled Banner played, beginning tradition of honoring victor
and his/her country.
Games opened to women. First female winner: Charlotte Cooper of
Great Britain in singles tennis. Margaret Abbot of Chicago wins a gold
medal in golf. Alvin Kraenzlein of U.S becomes first to win 4 gold
St. Louis 1904
Staged as part of St. Louis World's Fair, Games are reduced to
exhibition because many European athletes refuse to travel to
American Midwest. Boxing staged for time, U. S. wins all 7 weight
2,000 athletes compete, Britain dominates with 141 medals.
Marathon -- 26 miles to Olympic stadium and 365 yards inside it -- is
run for the first time at its current length.
First use of electronic timing devices and a public address system.
Jim Thorpe, an American Indian, wins both pentathlon and
decathlon -- a feat that remains unmatched.
Games not celebrated because of World War I.
Defeated in WWI, Austria, Bulgaria, Germany, Hungary and Turkey
are not allowed to participate. Olympic flag unfurled for first time; its
five colored rings (black, blue, yellow, green and red) incorporate at
least one color found in flag of every nation on earth.
44 nations send 3,000 competitors. Scotland's Eric Liddell wins 400-meter
race, England's Harold Abrahams wins 100-meter. Their story
becomes 1981 movie Chariots of Fire.
Slow-motion film techniques used to judge close finishes; women's
track and field competitions held for first time. Mikio Oda wins men's
triple jump to become Japan's first gold medalist. Johnny Weismuller
of U.S. defends his 100-meter freestyle title.
Los Angeles 1932
16 world records and 33 Olympic records set -- 105,000 attend
opening opening ceremonies, 65,000 go per day. Eddie Tolan of U.S.
becomes first African-American to win Olympic gold.
Before 100,000 spectators, Jesse Owens wins 4 gold medals, he is one
of six African-American stars on team that captures 12 gold medals.
Olympic torch run is established -- more than 3,000 runners carry the
flame between Olympia, Greece, and Berlin.
Games not celebrated because of World War II.
Games not celebrated because of World War II.
Fanny Blankers-Koen of Netherlands is first woman to win 4 gold
medals in a single Games. Bob Mathias of U.S., age 17, becomes
youngest American Olympic decathlon champion.
Soviet Union rejoins Games after 40-year absence. Mathias wins his
second decathlon gold.
11 world records, 36 Olympic records; Australian swimmers capture
8 of 13 golds in sweeping men's and women's freestyle events.
83 nations, 5,000 athletes. Abebe Bikila of Ethiopia shatters world
mark in marathon. Cassius Clay wins boxing title with soon-to-be
Japan invests $3 billion in preparation. Opening ceremonies
broadcast via satellite to U. S. for first time. Larissa Latynina of
Soviet Union dominates women's gymnastics. Native-American Billy
Miles wins 10,000 meter run.
Mexico City 1968
American Bob Beamon leaps 29-feet-21/2 inches, shattering previous
long jump record by almost two feet. Vera Caslavska of
Czechoslovakia is first woman to win 4 individual golds in a Summer
Worldwide TV audience:1 billion. Mark Spitz wins 7 gold medals in
swimming and sets 7 world records. Olga Korbut of Soviet Union wins
3 gold medals in gymnastics, Soviet Union defeates U.S. in basketball.
But stunning tragedy overshadows games: Arab terrorists assassinate
9 athletes from Israeli team.
4'11", 88 pound Nadia Comanici becomes first Olympic gymnast to
score a perfect 10 in competition; her 7 perfect scores result in 3
golds, 1 silver, 1 bronze. Edwin Moses of U. S. wins gold in 400
hurdles; American Bruce Jenner wins decathlon; Sugar Ray Leonard
takes light welterweight boxing championship.
U.S. leads 50-nation boycott to protest Soviet invasion of
Afghanistan. USSR gymnast Alexander Dityatin wins record 8 medals.
Los Angeles 1984
Despite Soviet boycott, record number of athletes and nations, 6
million spectators, and largest TV audience in history. American Joan
Benoit wins first women's Olympic marathon. Carl Lewis wins 4 golds
in track and field, matching Jesse Owens' long-standing record.
9,600 athletes, including American Florence Griffith Joyner, who
captures 3 golds. Anthony Nesty of Surinam sets Olympic 100-meter
butterfly record, the first Black swimming champion and Surinam's
first medalist. Ben Johnson of Canada and 10 other competitors
disqualified for using performance-enhancing drugs. Matt Biondi
wins 7 gold medals in swimming; Greg Louganis earns golds in
platform and springboard diving.
More than 15,000 athletes, coaches and officials from 165 countries,
including South Africa's first integrated team. Lithuania, Estonia and
Latvia celebrate independence by competing for first time. U.S.
"Dream Team," with Larry Bird and Magic Johnson, easily dominates
basketball. Carl Lewis takes two more golds in track and field.
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Last updated: 28 May 1996