Amazing Olympic Facts

Spirit of Olympics

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At the age of 4 "Wilma Rudolph" had the disease of polio. Due to her determination and her mothers perseverance Wilma was able to fight out of polio. She first qualified for the 1956 Melbourne olympics where she won her first bronze medal in the 400 meters relay. Then in 1960 Rome Olympics she set a world record in 200 meters race and won the gold for the same. In the same games she also won the gold medal for 100 meters race.

26 Miles and 385 Yards

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In 1908, the marathon standard had been set at exactly 26 miles. During Olympic marathon in London, it was decided that the royal family needed a better view of the finish line so organizers added an extra 385 yards to the race so the finish line would be in front of the royal box. From then on the distance of the Marathon remains to be "26 miles and 385 yards".

8 Gold Medals

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Swimmer "Michael Phelps" of USA won 8 Gold medals in the 2008 Beijing Olympics. It is the highest number of gold medals ever own by a single person in a single olympics game. The previous record was held by his fellow country man Mark Spitz who had won 7 gold medals in a single olympic game and in the same sport of swimming.

Bare Foot

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"Abebe Bikila" of Ethopia won the marathon in 1960 Rome Olympics by registering a record time of 2hrs 15mins and 16.2 secs. He ran this marathon bare footed. He also become the first african to win an olympic gold medal.

Sad But True

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During "1972, Munich" Olympics several of the Isreal Team members were made prisoners by a palestinian group and later killed by the same group.

First TV Broadcast

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"Berlin Olympics" held in 1936 were the first Olympic games ever to be broadcast on television.

Canceled Olympics

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The following 3 Olympics have been canceled so far :
1916 Summer Olympics (Berlin, Germany) - Canceled due to 1st World War
1940 Summer Olympics (Helsinki, Finland) - Canceled due to 2nd World War
1944 Summer Olympics (london, England) - Canceled due to 2nd World War

First Perfect 10

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Romanian "Nadia Comaneci" was the first gymnast to score a perfect 10 seven times in a row. She achieved this feat in the 1976 Montreal Games.

Oldest Olympian (Female)

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"Hilda Lorna Johnstone" of Great Britain is the oldest women to have ever participated in olympics till date. She was 70 years old when she participated in 1972 games. She was an Equestrian.

No Women Olympics

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There were "no women" participants in the Athens olympics which were held in 1896. First time the women were allowed to participate was in the year 1900 summer olympics held in Paris.

First Champion (Women)

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"Charlotte Cooper" was the first women to win gold medal in the olympics. She won it in the sport of tennis, during the 2nd olympics held in Paris in the year 1900. It was the first olympics in which women participated.

Oldest Olympian (Male)

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"Oscar Swahn" of Sweden is the oldest olympian to have participated in any of the olympic events so far. He was a shooter who participated at the 1920 Antwerp Games at the age of 72 years.

Youngest Olympian

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"Dimitrios Loundras" was the youngest olympian ever to participate in modern olympics. He was a Greek gymnast, who competed in the 1896 Athens Olympics. He was 10 years and 218 days old. He remains to be the youngest medallist and competitor in any of the olympics till date.

First Champion (Male)

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"James Connolly" of USA was the first person to win a medal in the first modern olympics held in athens 1896. The winners were given a silver medal and olive leaf.

First Modern Olympics

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"Baron Pierre De Coubertin" of France is known as the father of the modern olympics.
The very first modern olympics were held in Athens, Greece 1896.