Olympic Sports, WHA-ĆWI
Olympic Games, athletic festival that originated in ancient Greece and was revived in the late 19th century. Before the 1970s the Games were officially limited to competitors with amateur status, but in the 1980s many events were opened to professional athletes. Currently, the Games are open to all, even the top professional athletes in basketball and football (soccer).
Olympic Sports Encyclopedia Articles By Title
Whatâs the Difference Between Rhythmic and Artistic Gymnastics?
The Olympic Games features dozens of sports in its competitive lineup, including multiple disciplines of singular......
When Representing Your Country Becomes Political
When it comes to sporting events, there is perhaps nothing more stirring than the sight of victorious athletes......
Which Countries Have Participated in the Winter Olympics?
Since the Winter Olympics made their debut in 1924, thousands of athletes representing scores of countries have......
Which Country Has Won the Most Olympic Medals?
For athletes, winning an Olympic medal of any kind represents a reward for years (and sometimes decades) of hard......
Which Winter Sport Is the Fastest?
With competitors regularly reaching speeds over 120 miles (195 km) per hour, speed skiing is the fastest winter......
Whitaker, Pernell
Pernell Whitaker was an American professional boxer, world lightweight (135 pounds), junior welterweight (140 pounds),......
White, Al
Al White was an American athlete, the first diver to win Olympic gold medals in both the platform and springboard......
White, Dana
Dana White is the public face and CEO of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), the leading mixed martial arts......
White, Shaun
Shaun White is an American snowboarder who was one of the most dominant and influential figures in the sport in......
Whitfield, Mal
Mal Whitfield was an American middle-distance runner, world-record holder for the 880-yard race (1950â54), for......
Whitworth, Kathy
Kathy Whitworth was an American athlete who was one of the great players of womenâs professional golf. Whitworth......
Who Has Won the Career Grand Slam in Golf?
In modern menâs professional golf, the four major tournaments are the Masters, PGA Championship, U.S. Open, and......
Who Has Won the Most Masters Tournaments?
The Masters is one of golfâs four major tournaments and ranks among the most prestigious events in sports. Since......
Who Pays for the Olympics?
The Olympic Games are a costly celebration of sport paid for by both private and public resources. A portion of......
Why are gymnasts so short?
The average female gymnast is about 5 feet (1.5 meters) tall. That is about 4 inches (10 cm) less than the average......
Why are rip currents dangerous?
Rip currents are dangerous primarily because they are often more powerful than they initially seem and move quickly,......
Why are the Olympics held every four years?
The Olympic Games are held every four years to honor their origins and maintain a tradition that dates back to......
Why Do Tennis Players Wear White at Wimbledon?
The Wimbledon Championships are the oldest and most prestigious of the four tennis Grand Slam tournaments. (The......
Why is a marathon 26.2 miles?
The marathonâs origin traces back to ancient Greece, where a legendary Greek soldier ran from Marathon to Athens,......
Wickenheiser, Hayley
Hayley Wickenheiser is a Canadian ice hockey player who is widely considered the greatest female hockey player......
Wiggins, Bradley
Bradley Wiggins is a Belgian-born British cyclist who was the first rider from the United Kingdom to win the Tour......
Wightman Cup
Wightman Cup, trophy awarded the winner of womenâs tennis matches held annually from 1923 to 1989 between British......
Wightman, Hazel Hotchkiss
Hazel Hotchkiss Wightman was an American tennis player who dominated womenâs competition before World War I. Known......
wild-water racing
wild-water racing, competitive canoe or kayak racing down swift-flowing, turbulent streams called wild water (often......
Wilde, Jimmy
Jimmy Wilde was a Welsh professional boxer, world flyweight (112 pounds) champion from 1916 to 1923. (Read Gene......
Wilkins, Mac
Mac Wilkins is an American world-record-holding discus thrower (1976â78). He was the first man ever to break the......
Willard, Jess
Jess Willard was an American prizefighter, world heavyweight boxing champion from April 5, 1915, when he knocked......
Williams, Esther
Esther Williams was an American swimming champion who became one of the most popular and profitable Hollywood movie......
Williams, Percy
Percy Williams was a Canadian sprinter, winner of two upset gold medals at the 1928 Olympic Games in Amsterdam.......
Williams, Serena
Serena Williams is an American tennis player who revolutionized womenâs tennis with her powerful style of play......
Williams, Venus
Venus Williams is an American tennis player whoâalong with her younger sister Serenaâredefined the sport with her......
Wills, Helen
Helen Wills was an outstanding American tennis player who was the top female competitor in the world for eight......
Wilma Rudolph: The Chattanooga Choo Choo
Wilma Rudolph was not a newcomer to Olympic competition, having won a bronze medal in the 4 Ă 100-metre relay at......
Wimbledon Championships
Wimbledon Championships, major international tennis tournament played annually at Wimbledon, a neighborhood in......
windsurfing
windsurfing, sport that combines aspects of sailing and surfing on a one-person craft called a sailboard. The earliest......
Winkler, Hans GĂŒnter
Hans GĂŒnter Winkler was a German equestrian champion who was the most decorated Olympic show jumper of all time,......
Winter Olympic Games
Once a quieter counterpart to the Summer Olympics, the Winter Olympic Games have grown into a sporting powerhouse,......
Witt, Katarina
Katarina Witt is a German former figure skater who was the first woman to win consecutive Olympic gold medals (1984......
Womenâs British Open
Womenâs British Open, golf tournament conducted annually that is recognized by the Ladies Professional Golf Association......
Wood, Gar
Garfield Arthur Wood was a U.S. driver and builder of racing motorboats, also credited with devising the small,......
Woods, Tiger
Tiger Woods is an American golfer who dominated professional golf in the late 1990s and early 2000s, becoming the......
World Athletics
World Athletics, organization of track-and-field federations representing more than 200 countries and territories.......
World Cup
World Cup, in golf, trophy awarded to the winner of an annual competition for two-man professional teams representing......
World Cup
World Cup, in skiing, trophy awarded annually since 1967 to the top male and female Alpine skiers. In World Cup......
Wottle, Dave
Dave Wottle is an American runner and education administrator who won a gold medal at the 1972 Olympics in Munich.......
wrestling
wrestling, sport practiced in various styles by two competitors, involving forcing an opponent to touch the ground......
Wright, Mickey
Mickey Wright was an American golfer who is widely considered the sportâs greatest female competitor, known for......
Wu Minxia
Wu Minxia is the most-decorated female athlete in the history of diving and became the most-decorated Chinese athlete......
WĂŒst, Ireen
Ireen WĂŒst is a Dutch former speed skater whose 13 Olympic medals, including 6 gold, have made her the most-decorated......
Yamaguchi, Kristi
Kristi Yamaguchi, who would become known to America and the world for her ethereal grace and superior athleticism......
Yang Yang
Yang Yang is a renowned Chinese short-track speed skater who at the 2002 Winter Olympic Games in Salt Lake City,......
Yashin, Lev Ivanovich
Lev Ivanovich Yashin was a Russian football (soccer) player considered by many to be the greatest goalkeeper in......
Ye Shiwen
Ye Shiwen is a Chinese swimmer, who specialized in the 200-meter and 400-meter individual medley (IM). In IMs the......
Yegorova, Lyubov
Lyubov Yegorova is a Russian cross-country skier who was one of the two most decorated performers at the 1994 Olympic......
Yzerman, Steve
Steve Yzerman is a Canadian American former professional ice hockey player whoâas one of the longest-serving captains......
Zaharias, Babe Didrikson
Babe Didrikson Zaharias was an American sportswoman who was one of the greatest athletes of the 20th century, achieving......
Zale, Tony
Tony Zale was an American professional boxer, world middleweight (160 pounds) champion during the 1940s. (Read......
Zdarsky, Matthias
Matthias Zdarsky was a ski instructor who was considered the father of Alpine skiing and who was probably the first......
Zhabotinsky, Leonid Ivanovich
Leonid Ivanovich Zhabotinsky was a Soviet weightlifter who won gold medals in the heavyweight class (+90 kg [+198......
Zika at the Rio Olympics: Is the Risk Real?
In January 2016 the World Health Organization (WHO) declared Zika virus a Public Health Emergency of International......
Zimyatov, Nikolay
Nikolay Zimyatov is a Soviet cross-country skier who was the first man in the sport to win three gold medals at......
Zybina, Galina
Galina Zybina was a Soviet shot-putter and javelin thrower who set eight consecutive world records in the shot......
ZĂĄtopek, Emil
Emil ZĂĄtopek was a Czech athlete who is considered one of the greatest long-distance runners in the history of......
Zöggeler, Armin
Armin Zöggeler is an Italian luger, winner of two Olympic gold medals (2002 and 2006). He was the first competitor......
Ălvarez, Canelo
Canelo Ălvarez is a Mexican professional boxer who has won world championships in four weight classes. Considered......
ÄĂĄslavskĂĄ, VÄra
VÄra ÄĂĄslavskĂĄ was a Czech gymnast who won a total of 34 medals, including 22 golds, at the Olympic Games and at......
ĆwiÄ
tek, Iga
Iga ĆwiÄ
tek is a professional tennis player from Poland who first came to the attention of the tennis world in......