The Summer Olympics stand as the pinnacle of global sports, but the road to the podium involves more than just physical training. While we now watch professional athletes break world records, the games previously included poetry, town planning, and even tug-of-war. For instance, the 1904 games featured a marathon runner who took a nap in the middle of the race and still finished fourth. Furthermore, the distance of the modern marathon exists today because of a specific request from the British royal family. Prepare to step onto the track of history.
Summer Olympics
Artists used to win Summer Olympics medals for their work. Between 1912 and 1948, the games included competitions for literature, architecture, music, painting, and sculpture. The International Olympic Committee eventually dropped these categories because they felt professionals had an unfair advantage over amateurs.
The marathon distance exists because of the British royal family. Before 1908, the distance varied for every race. However, for the London Games, officials moved the finish line so the Queen could watch from her box at Windsor Castle. This specific distance of 26.2 miles became the international standard.
The 1900 Games in Paris featured live pigeon shooting. This remains the only time in Olympic history where organizers intentionally killed animals for sport. Contestants killed over 300 birds during the event, which left the field a bloody mess and caused a public outcry.
A marathon runner hitched a ride in a car to the finish line. During the 1904 St. Louis Games, Fred Lorz suffered from cramps and rode in his manager’s car for eleven miles. He then jumped out and crossed the finish line first, but officials disqualified him once the crowd revealed the truth.
Tug-of-war was once an official Olympic sport. It featured in the games from 1900 to 1920 as part of the athletics program. Great Britain dominated the event, often winning medals with teams composed entirely of London police officers.
An Australian rower stopped mid-race to let a family of ducks pass. Henry Pearce paused during his quarter-final at the 1928 Amsterdam Games to avoid hitting a mother duck and her ducklings. Surprisingly, he still managed to win the heat and eventually took home the gold medal.
The first modern Summer Olympics champion won his medal with a hop, skip, and a jump. James Connolly won the triple jump in 1896, becoming the first champion in over 1,500 years. He was a Harvard student who had to drop out because the university refused to give him time off for the trip.
Japan boycotted the 1980 Moscow Games along with 64 other nations. This mass protest followed the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. Consequently, the Soviet Union and its allies retaliated by boycotting the 1984 Los Angeles Games four years later.
Abebe Bikila won the 1960 marathon while running completely barefoot. The Ethiopian runner could not find a pair of shoes that fit him comfortably before the race. He decided to run on the hot pavement of Rome without any footwear and set a new world record.
The Summer Olympics flame first appeared at the 1928 Amsterdam Games. While many believe the torch relay started in ancient times, the tradition actually began as a modern invention. The first relay from Greece to the host city did not occur until the 1936 Berlin Games.
A 72-year-old man once won an Olympic silver medal. Oscar Swahn remains the oldest person to ever win a medal, taking second place in a shooting event at the 1920 Antwerp Games. He also holds the record for the oldest gold medalist at age 64.
The 1932 Los Angeles Games lasted only sixteen days. Previous Olympics often dragged on for months, coinciding with world fairs or festivals. The success of the shorter, concentrated schedule in LA set the standard for the modern two-week format we use today.
Tarzan was actually a five-time Olympic gold medalist. Johnny Weissmuller won five gold medals in swimming during the 1920s before he ever became a Hollywood star. He never lost a race in his entire career and set 67 world records.
The gold medals are actually made mostly of silver. According to official rules, an Olympic gold medal must contain at least six grams of pure gold. The rest of the medal consists of roughly 92% silver, with the gold acting as a heavy plating on the exterior.
Finally, the 2020 Tokyo Games were the first to ever be postponed. Due to the global pandemic, the games moved to 2021, yet they kept the original “2020” name for branding and historical consistency. This marked a historic deviation from the four-year cycle.
