Olympic Sports, MAY-OLY
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
May-Treanor, Misty
Misty May-Treanor is an American beach volleyball player who, with her partner, Kerri Walsh Jennings, won Olympic......
Mayweather, Floyd, Jr.
Floyd Mayweather, Jr. is an American boxer whose combination of speed, power, and technical prowess made him one......
Maze, Tina
Tina Maze is a Slovenian Alpine skier whose four Olympic medals (two gold and two silver) made her the most-successful......
McCormick, Pat
Pat McCormick was an American diver who was the first athlete to win gold medals in both the springboard and platform......
McCoy, Kid
Kid McCoy was an American professional boxer whose trickery and cruelty in the ring made him an infamous figure......
McDavid, Connor
Connor McDavid is widely considered one of the greatest ice hockey players of his generation. Known for his exceptional......
McDermott, Terry
Terry McDermott was an American speed skater, nicknamed “The Essexville Rocket,” who won the only U.S. gold medal......
McEnroe, John
John McEnroe is an American tennis player who established himself as a leading competitor in the late 1970s and......
McGovern, Terry
Terry McGovern was an American professional boxer, world bantamweight (118 pounds) champion, 1899–1900, and featherweight......
McGregor, Conor
Conor McGregor is an Irish mixed martial artist who became the most famous name in the sport after winning Ultimate......
McIlroy, Rory
Rory McIlroy is a Northern Irish professional golfer whose meteoric rise made headlines in the sport. By age 25......
McKeon, Emma
Emma McKeon is the most successful Australian athlete in Olympic history, the winner of 12 medals. At the 2020......
Meadows, Earle
Earle Meadows was an American pole-vaulter who, tied with Bill Sefton, set the world record in 1937 of 4.54 m (14......
Meares, Anna
Anna Meares is a former Australian cyclist who competed in sprint track races in the early 21st century. She won......
Medved, Aleksandr
Aleksandr Medved is a Ukrainian-born former Soviet wrestler who is considered one of the greatest freestyle wrestlers......
Melbourne
Melbourne, city, capital of the state of Victoria, Australia. It is located at the head of Port Phillip Bay, on......
Melbourne 1956 Olympic Games
Melbourne 1956 Olympic Games, athletic festival held in Melbourne that took place November 22–December 8, 1956.......
Mendoza, Daniel
Daniel Mendoza was a bareknuckle pugilist, 16th in the succession of English heavyweight champions and the first......
Merckx, Eddy
Eddy Merckx is a Belgian champion bicycle racer, arguably the greatest professional rider ever. In a professional......
Meredith, Ted
Ted Meredith was an American middle-distance runner, a world-record holder in the 800-metre (1912–26), 440-yard......
Messi, Lionel
Lionel Messi is an Argentine-born football (soccer) player who received a record-setting eight Ballon d’Or awards......
Metcalfe, Ralph
Ralph Metcalfe was an American sprinter, member of the American 4 × 100-meter relay team that won a gold medal......
Mexico City
Mexico City, city and capital of Mexico, synonymous with the Federal District (Distrito Federal; D.F.). The term......
Mexico City 1968 Olympic Games
Mexico City 1968 Olympic Games, athletic festival held in Mexico City that took place October 12–27, 1968. The......
Meyer, Debbie
Debbie Meyer is a former American swimmer who was the first woman to win gold medals in three individual swimming......
Michael Gross: The Albatross
West Germany’s Michael Gross went into the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles with a big reputation. The 6-foot 7-inch......
Michael Phelps: Eight-Gold-Medal Man (with a Little Help from His Friends)
When American swimmer Michael Phelps, age 23, won his eighth gold medal at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing—breaking......
Micheline Ostermeyer: Strength and Artistry
Micheline Ostermeyer of France created magic with her hands, both on the track and off. A two-time Olympic gold......
Michelle Smith: Raising Suspicions
Prior to 1996, Irish swimmer Michelle Smith hadn’t had much success in Olympic competition. Although she had made......
Mickelson, Phil
Phil Mickelson is an American professional golfer who became one of the most dominant players on the Professional......
middle-distance running
middle-distance running, in athletics (track and field), races that range in distance from 800 metres (roughly......
Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games
The Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games were an international athletic competition that took place in northern......
Miller, Bode
Bode Miller is an American Alpine skier who won six Olympic medals—more than any other male American skier—and......
Miller, Cheryl
Cheryl Miller is a former basketball player who is considered one of the greatest in the history of the women’s......
Miller, Shannon
Shannon Miller is a former gymnast from the United States who was one of the most-decorated athletes in her sport,......
Mills, Billy
Billy Mills is an athlete who was the first American to win an Olympic gold medal in the 10,000-metre race, achieving......
Milo of Croton
Milo of Croton was a Greek athlete who was the most renowned wrestler in antiquity. His name is still proverbial......
Miracle on Ice
An Olympic ice hockey game on February 22, 1980, was the site of one of the most momentous battles of the Cold......
Mittermaier, Rosi
Rosi Mittermaier was a German Alpine skier who won two gold medals and one silver medal at the 1976 Winter Olympics......
mixed martial arts
Mixed martial arts (MMA) is a hybrid combat sport incorporating techniques from boxing, wrestling, judo, jujitsu,......
Miyake Yoshinobu
Miyake Yoshinobu is a Japanese weightlifter who won three Olympic medals, including two golds, in the 1960s. Standing......
Miyamoto Musashi
Miyamoto Musashi was a famous Japanese soldier-artist of the early Edo (Tokugawa) period (1603–1867). Musashi began......
Montgomerie, Colin
Colin Montgomerie is a Scottish professional golfer who had more victories (31) on the European Tour than any other......
Monti, Eugenio
Eugenio Monti was an Italian bobsledder remembered as much for his sportsmanship as for his athletic prowess. Monti......
Montreal
Montreal, city, Quebec province, southeastern Canada. Montreal is the second most-populous city in Canada and the......
Montreal 1976 Olympic Games
Montreal 1976 Olympic Games, athletic festival held in Montreal that took place July 17–August 1, 1976. The Montreal......
Monzon, Carlos
Carlos Monzon was an Argentine professional boxer, world middleweight (160 pounds) champion from 1970 to 1977.......
Moore, Archie
Archie Moore was an American boxer, world light-heavyweight champion from Dec. 17, 1952, when he defeated Joey......
Moore, Carissa
Carissa Moore is considered one of the greatest female surfers of all time. She is a five-time world champion (2011,......
Morceli, Noureddine
Noureddine Morceli is an Algerian middle-distance runner and Olympic gold medalist who broke multiple world records......
Morgan, Alex
Alex Morgan is an American professional football (soccer) player who used her speed and strength to become one......
Morris, Thomas
Thomas Morris was a Scottish golfer who won the Open Championship (British Open) tournament four times. Morris......
Morris, Thomas, Jr.
Thomas Morris, Jr. was a Scottish golfer who, like his father, Thomas Morris, won the Open Championship (British......
Morrow, Bobby
Bobby Morrow was an American sprinter who won both the 100- and 200-metre dashes at the 1956 Olympic Games in Melbourne.......
Moscow
Moscow, city, capital of Russia, located in the far western part of the country. Since it was first mentioned in......
- Introduction
- Rivers, Forests, Plains
- Kremlin, Red Square, History
- Capital, Kremlin, Red Square
- Suburbs, Satellites, Industry
- Population, Ethnicity, Culture
- Financial, Cultural, Education
- Government, Culture, Economy
- Arts, Culture, History
- Capital, Kremlin, Tsars
- History, Culture, Architecture
- Urbanization, Politics, Economy
Moscow 1980 Olympic Games
Moscow 1980 Olympic Games, athletic festival held in Moscow that took place July 19–August 3, 1980. The Moscow......
Moser-Pröll, Annemarie
Annemarie Moser-Pröll is an Austrian Alpine skier whose six women’s World Cup overall championships—five in succession......
Moses, Edwin
Edwin Moses is a former American hurdler who dominated the 400-meter hurdles event for a decade, winning gold medals......
Mosley, Shane
Shane Mosley is an American former professional boxer who was among the most dominant lightweight fighters of the......
motor-paced race
motor-paced race, in bicycle racing, a form of competition in which each bicycle racer competes behind a motorbike......
Mr. T
Mr. T is an actor and professional wrestler known for his tough appearance and his iconic roles in television and......
Muldoon, William
William Muldoon was an American wrestling champion and boxing trainer. (Read Gene Tunney’s 1929 Britannica essay......
Munich
Munich, city, capital of Bavaria Land (state), southern Germany. It is Bavaria’s largest city and the third largest......
Munich 1972 Olympic Games
Munich 1972 Olympic Games, athletic festival held in Munich that took place August 26–September 11, 1972. The Munich......
Murchison, Ira
Ira Murchison was an American track star, noted for his exceptional speed from the starting block. In 1951 Murchison......
Murray, Andy
Andy Murray is a Scottish tennis player who was one of the sport’s premier players during the 2010s, winning three......
Muster, Thomas
Thomas Muster is an Austrian tennis player who, at the 1995 French Open, became the first competitor from his country......
Mutlu, Halil
Halil Mutlu is a Turkish weight lifter and world record-holder who won three consecutive Olympic gold medals (1996,......
Myers, Laurence E.
Laurence E. Myers was an American all-around runner who set records in every race from the 50-yard dash to the......
Mäntyranta, Eero
Eero Mäntyranta was a Finnish Nordic skier who took part in four Olympic Games, winning a total of seven medals.......
Naber, John
John Naber is a former American swimmer who won four gold medals—all in world-record time—and a silver at the 1976......
Nadal, Rafael
Rafael Nadal is a Spanish tennis player who emerged in the early 21st century as one of the game’s leading competitors,......
Nadeem, Arshad
Arshad Nadeem is the first Pakistani track-and-field athlete to win an Olympic medal—a feat he accomplished with......
Nadi brothers
Nadi brothers, Italian brothers who were among the greatest and most versatile fencers in the history of the sport.......
Nadig, Marie-Thérèse
Marie-Thérèse Nadig is a Swiss Alpine skier who won surprise victories over the pre-Olympic favourite, Austrian......
Nagano 1998 Olympic Winter Games
Nagano 1998 Olympic Winter Games, athletic festival held in Nagano, Japan, that took place February 7–22, 1998.......
Nastase, Ilie
Ilie Nastase is a Romanian tennis player known for his on-court histrionics and outstanding Davis Cup play. He......
Natalie du Toit: A Pioneering Disabled Swimmer
Competing in the finals of any Olympic event is an accomplishment that only a highly select group of elite athletes......
Navratilova, Martina
Martina Navratilova is a Czech American tennis player who dominated women’s tennis in the late 1970s and the ’80s.......
Nedo Nadi: Following in Father’s Footsteps
Born in Livorno, Italy, in 1894, the fencer Nedo Nadi enjoyed an unusual advantage early on. His father, Giuseppe......
Nelson, Byron
Byron Nelson was an American professional golfer who dominated the sport in the late 1930s and ’40s. Known for......
New York City Marathon
New York City Marathon, 26.2-mile footrace held every November through the five boroughs of New York City. The......
Nicklaus, Jack
Jack Nicklaus is an American professional golfer, a dominating figure in world golf from the 1960s to the ’80s.......
Niemann-Stirnemann, Gunda
Gunda Niemann-Stirnemann is a German speed skater who dominated the sport throughout the 1990s, capturing eight......
Nordic combined
Nordic combined, competitive winter sport that blends ski jumping and cross-country skiing. It was one of the six......
Nordic skiing
Nordic skiing, techniques and events that evolved in the hilly terrain of Norway and the other Scandinavian countries.......
Norheim, Sondre
Sondre Norheim was a Norwegian skier who revolutionized ski design and ski equipment and helped to standardize......
Norman, Greg
Greg Norman is an Australian professional golfer who was widely successful worldwide from the 1970s to the 1990s.......
Nurmi, Paavo
Paavo Nurmi was a Finnish track athlete who dominated long-distance running in the 1920s, capturing nine gold medals......
Nurse, Sarah
Sarah Nurse is a professional Canadian ice hockey forward who plays in the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL).......
Nyad, Diana
Diana Nyad is an American distance swimmer and journalist who, in 2013, became the first person to complete a swim......
Nykänen, Matti
Matti Nykänen was a Finnish ski jumper who was arguably the finest performer in the history of his sport. He was......
Ochoa, Lorena
Lorena Ochoa is a Mexican golfer who was one of the leading players in the Ladies Professional Golf Association......
Oerter, Al
Al Oerter was an American discus thrower, who won four consecutive Olympic gold medals (1956, 1960, 1964, and 1968),......
Ohno, Apolo
Apolo Ohno is an American former short-track speed skater who is the most-decorated American athlete in the history......
Oleksandr Usyk
Oleksandr Usyk is a Ukrainian professional boxer who became the two-time undisputed heavyweight world champion......
Olga Korbut: Winning Hearts
For someone who needed a teammate’s misfortune to even make the team in 1972, tiny Soviet gymnast Olga Korbut had......
Olivares, Ruben
Ruben Olivares is a Mexican professional boxer, world bantamweight (118 pounds) and featherweight (126 pounds)......
Olympia
Olympia, ruined ancient sanctuary, home of the ancient Olympic Games, and former site of the massive Statue of......
Olympic Games
Olympic Games, athletic festival that originated in ancient Greece and was revived in the late 19th century. Before......
- Introduction
- Women, History, Sport
- Corruption, Scandals, Bribery
- Sports, Nations, Medals
- Torch, Rings, Anthem
- Ancient Greece, Sports, Medals
- London 1908, Sports, Medals
- Berlin 1936, Nazi Germany, Jesse Owens
- Rome 1960, Italy, Sports
- Munich, Terror Attack, Medals
- Barcelona, Spain, 1992
- Beijing 2008, China, Sports
- Winter Sports, Medals, Nations
- Alpine Skiing, Figure Skating, Bobsleigh
- Innsbruck, Austria, 1964
- Lake Placid, 1980, US
- Nagano, Japan, 1998
- Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, 2010