The oldest Olympic medalist was Oscar Swahn of Sweden. In 1908 and 1912 he won three gold and two bronze medals, respectively, in shooting competitions. In the 1920 Games in Antwerp, he received a silver medal at age 72.
The oldest Olympic medalist was Oscar Swahn of Sweden. In 1908 and 1912 he won three gold and two bronze medals, respectively, in shooting competitions. In the 1920 Games in Antwerp, he received a silver medal at age 72.
The ancient Greek philosopher Plato became a two-time Olympic champion in the most severe form of competition - pankration.
The tradition of the Olympic Games was revived by Baron Pierre de Coubertin (1863-1937) of France. In 1894, he proposed the Olympic motto “Citius, Altius, Fortius” (“Faster, higher, stronger”), a creation of his friend, Dominican priest Henri Dido. However, this motto only received official status in 1924.
Since 1924, the Winter Games have been held separately from the Summer Games. Until 1992 they were both held in the same year.
Spectators at the events could normally only be free, law-abiding Greek males.
The threat of death forbade women to attend the competitions. The only exception was given to the priestesses of the goddess Demeter, for whom a marble throne was built as a place of honour at the stadium.
The modern marathon distance of 42,195 km was established at the 1908 Olympic Games in London. At the request of the British royal family, arrangements for the marathon were changed several times in order for it to start from the Royal Palace.
The Italian marathon runner Dorando Pietri was the first to cross the finish line on that occasion. At the very end of the race, exhausted from the sweltering heat, he was forced to seek medical help. After much debate, the panel of judges disqualified him for taking outside assistance and American Johnny Hayes was declared Olympic champion. However, at the suggestion of celebrated novelist Arthur Conan Doyle, Queen Alexandra awarded Pietri an honorary gold-plated cup.
A year before the Melbourne Olympic Games in 1956, it was found that it would be impossible to hold equestrian sport competitions in Australia because the country had a ban on animal imports. As a result, equestrian events were held in Sweden. This is the only instance where the Olympic Games have been held in two different countries.
The first modern Olympic Games were held in Athens in 1896. A Greek athlete who took third place in the marathon was deprived of his award after it turned out that he had ridden in a cart for part of the way.
At the III Olympiad in 1904 in St. Louis, after having run about 14 km, American marathon runner Fred Lorts got into a car that was waiting for him. Two km from the finish, he re-entered onto the track and finished first. His cheating was discovered only after he received a gold medal.