Olympic Games

Introduction & Top Questions
The ancient Olympic Games
- Origins
- Competition and status
- Women and the Olympic Games
- Demise of the Olympics
The modern Olympic movement
- Revival of the Olympics
- Organization
  - The International Olympic Committee
    - The awarding of the Olympic Games
    - Corruption
    - Political pressures
    - Commercialization
  - National Olympic committees, international federations, and organizing committees
  - Programs and participation
    - Amateurism versus professionalism
    - Doping and drug testing
- Ritual and symbolism
  - Olympic ceremonies
    - The opening ceremony
    - The medal ceremonies
    - The closing ceremony
  - Olympic symbols
    - The flag
    - The motto
    - The flame and torch relay
    - Mascots
History of the modern Summer Games
- Athens, Greece, 1896
- Paris, France, 1900
- St. Louis, Missouri, U.S., 1904
- Athens, Greece, 1906
- London, England, 1908
- Stockholm, Sweden, 1912
- Antwerp, Belgium, 1920
- Paris, France, 1924
- Amsterdam, Netherlands, 1928
- Los Angeles, California, U.S., 1932
- Berlin, Germany, 1936
- London, England, 1948
- Helsinki, Finland, 1952
- Melbourne, Australia, 1956
- Rome, Italy, 1960
- Tokyo, Japan, 1964
- Mexico City, Mexico, 1968
- Munich, West Germany, 1972
- Montreal, Quebec, Canada, 1976
- Moscow, U.S.S.R., 1980
- Los Angeles, California, U.S., 1984
- Seoul, South Korea, 1988
- Barcelona, Spain, 1992
- Atlanta, Georgia, U.S., 1996
- Sydney, Australia, 2000
- Athens, Greece, 2004
- Beijing, China, 2008
- London, England, 2012
- Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 2016
- Tokyo 2021
- Paris 2024
History of the Olympic Winter Games
- Chamonix, France, 1924
- St. Moritz, Switzerland, 1928
- Lake Placid, New York, U.S., 1932
- Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany, 1936
- St. Moritz, Switzerland, 1948
- Oslo, Norway, 1952
- Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, 1956
- Squaw Valley, California, U.S., 1960
- Innsbruck, Austria, 1964
- Grenoble, France, 1968
- Sapporo, Japan, 1972
- Innsbruck, Austria, 1976
- Lake Placid, New York, U.S., 1980
- Sarajevo, Yugoslavia, 1984
- Calgary, Alberta, Canada, 1988
- Albertville, France, 1992
- Lillehammer, Norway, 1994
- Nagano, Japan, 1998
- Salt Lake City, Utah, U.S., 2002
- Turin, Italy, 2006
- Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, 2010
- Sochi, Russia, 2014
- Pyeongchang county, South Korea, 2018
- Beijing 2022
- Milano Cortina 2026

References & Edit History Quick Facts & Related Topics

Images, Videos & Interactives

A woman in a white pleated dress lights the Olympic torch from a large flame in a gold cauldron, with a crowd seated in the background at Panathenaic Stadium in Athens.

When Were the First Olympic Games?

Olympic medals hang against a blurry background.

Infographic about the ancient Olympic Games featuring stylized illustrations of athletes competing in discus, long jump, javelin, equestrian events, running events, boxing, wrestling, and pankration. Each sport is labeled with a brief description, and a central text box explains the origins and evolution of the Games in Olympia, Greece.

Wrestlers on an ancient Greek cup

Strange Moments in Olympic history

How Are Sports Chosen for the Olympics?

How Are Olympic Sports Scored?

Olympic Athletes vs. Animals

The Brazil Olympic Team, dressed in green, blue, and yellow, enters Maracana Stadium waving the Brazilian flag during the opening ceremony of the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.

At a Glance

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Olympic Games summary

Olympic Games: Media

athletic festival

Videos

When Were the First Olympic Games?

When Were the First Olympic Games?

Overview of the first Olympic Games, which were held in Olympia, Greece.

Video: Contunico © ZDF Studios GmbH, Mainz

Olympic medals hang against a blurry background.

What Is the History of the Olympics?

The first Olympic Games consisted of a singular event: a footrace.

Video: Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.; thumbnail © kovop58/Shutterstock.com

Strange Moments in Olympic history

Strange Moments in Olympic history

Learn more about weird moments in Olympic history.

Video: Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

How Are Sports Chosen for the Olympics?

How Are Sports Chosen for the Olympics?

Even tug-of-war once held its own as a respected Olympic sport.

Video: Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

The 1936 Berlin Olympics and Nazi propaganda

The 1936 Berlin Olympics and Nazi propaganda

Overview of the 1936 Berlin Olympic Games, including Nazi propaganda and the performance...

Video: Contunico © ZDF Studios GmbH, Mainz

See a comparative study of four Olympic hurling objects - the hammer, the javelin, the discus, and the shot put

See a comparative study of four Olympic hurling objects - the hammer, the javelin, the discus, and the shot put

Comparison of four different Olympic hurling objects: the hammer, the javelin, the...

Video: © MinutePhysics (A Britannica Publishing Partner)

Black September at the 1972 Munich Olympic Games

Black September at the 1972 Munich Olympic Games

Overview of the terrorist attack at the 1972 Olympics in Munich, where Palestinian...

Video: Contunico © ZDF Studios GmbH, Mainz

The importance of technique in competitive wrestling

The importance of technique in competitive wrestling

Overview of wrestling, including a discussion of the freestyle and Greco-Roman styles.

Video: Contunico © ZDF Studios GmbH, Mainz

Images

A woman in a white pleated dress lights the Olympic torch from a large flame in a gold cauldron, with a crowd seated in the background at Panathenaic Stadium in Athens.

Lighting the Olympic flame

An actress playing the role of an Athenian high priestess lights the Olympic flame...

© Vasilis Ververidis/Dreamstime.com

Infographic about the ancient Olympic Games featuring stylized illustrations of athletes competing in discus, long jump, javelin, equestrian events, running events, boxing, wrestling, and pankration. Each sport is labeled with a brief description, and a central text box explains the origins and evolution of the Games in Olympia, Greece.

Ancient Olympic Games

Infographic showing events in which athletes competed at the ancient Olympic Games,...

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc./Patrick O'Neill Riley

Wrestlers on an ancient Greek cup

Wrestlers on an ancient Greek cup

Men wrestling, detail of an ancient Greek cup, by Epictetus, c. 520 bce;...

G. Dagli Orti—De Agostini Editore/age fotostock

The Brazil Olympic Team, dressed in green, blue, and yellow, enters Maracana Stadium waving the Brazilian flag during the opening ceremony of the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.

Opening ceremony at the Rio de Janeiro 2016 Olympic Games

Brazil's Olympic team entering Maracana Stadium during the opening ceremony of the...

© Zhukovsky/Dreamstime.com

Penny Heyns of South Africa stands smiling with her gold medal between silver medalist Amanda Beard of the United States, holding a flag, and bronze medalist Agnes Kovacs of Hungary.

Medal ceremony at the Atlanta Summer Olympics, 1996

Swimmer Penny Heyns (center) of South Africa celebrating winning the gold medal in...

Mike Hewitt—Hulton Archive/Getty Images

All that glitters…

All that glitters…

The gold medal for the 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Italy is predominantly silver,...

© Guglielmo Mangiapane/Reuters

Closing ceremony of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games

Closing ceremony of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games

Fireworks exploding in the National Stadium, or Bird's Nest, during the closing ceremony...

© Hot99/Dreamstime.com

Olympic Games

The Olympic flag and symbol.

Courtesy of the International Olympic Committee

Olympic torch relay

Olympic torch relay

Two torchbearers passing the Olympic flame during the 2010 Olympic torch relay.

© VANOC/COVAN

Athens 1896 Olympic Games

Athens 1896 Olympic Games

Runners assembling at the starting line of the 100-meter race at the 1896 Olympic...

© Fine Art Images—Heritage Images/Hulton Archive/Getty Images

A black and white group portrait of American Olympic team members and staff from the 1900 Paris Olympic Games, seated and standing outdoors in athletic uniforms and suits, with trees in the background.

American Olympic team members

Coaches and athletes of the 1900 U.S. Olympic team posing in the Bois de Boulogne,...

© Bettmann/Getty Images

St. Louis 1904 Olympic swimmers

St. Louis 1904 Olympic swimmers

Swimmers diving into the water at the 0.5-mile (805-meter) championship race at the...

Courtesy of the Missouri Historical Society, St. Louis (ID: N45181)

Women in long skirts and hats draw bows and aim at round archery targets on a grassy field during the 1908 London Olympic Games. Stadium seating is visible in the background.

Archers at the London 1908 Olympic Games

Archers participating in the double national round at the London 1908 Olympic Games,...

© Topical Press Agency—Hulton Archive/Getty Images

Jim Thorpe in midair during the broad jump at the 1912 Olympic Games in Stockholm, Sweden, with a stadium crowd visible in the background.

Jim Thorpe at the Stockholm 1912 Olympic Games

American Jim Thorpe competing in a long jump competition at the Stockholm 1912 Olympic...

© George Rinhart—Corbis Historical/Getty Images

Pat Ryan of the United States Olympic team in mid-throw during the hammer throw event at the 1920 Antwerp Olympic Games, standing inside a marked circle on a grassy field.

Hammer throw event at the Antwerp 1920 Olympic Games

American Paddy Ryan competing in the hammer throw event at the Antwerp 1920 Olympic...

© Bettmann/Getty Images

Paavo Nurmi of Finland, wearing bib 278, and Augusto Maccario of Italy, wearing bib 487, are lifted on the shoulders of men after the 10,000-metre race at the 1920 Olympic Games.

Paavo Nurmi and Augusto Maccario

Paavo Nurmi (right) of Finland and Augusto Maccario of Italy after the 10,000-meter...

© Bettmann/Getty Images

Paavo Nurmi crosses the finish line to win the 1500 meter final at the 1924 Paris Olympic Games, with officials and photographers observing in the background.

Paavo Nurmi at the Paris 1924 Olympic Games

Finnish athlete Paavo Nurmi crossing the finish line in the 1,500-meter final to...

© ullstein bild Dtl/Getty Images

Six male athletes leap over hurdles in mid-race during the 400 meter hurdles at the 1928 Amsterdam Olympic Games, with stadium spectators and flags in the background.

Hurdlers at the Amsterdam 1928 Olympic Games

Competitors running in the 400-meter hurdles event at the Amsterdam 1928 Olympic...

© George Rinhart—Corbis Historical/Getty Images

Johnny Weissmuller

Johnny Weissmuller

American swimmer Johnny Weissmuller, who won three gold medals at the 1924 Summer...

Bettmann/Corbis

Jean Shiley of the United States Olympic team clearing the bar during her record-breaking high jump at the 1932 Los Angeles Olympic Games, with stadium arches in the background.

Jean Shiley at the Los Angeles 1932 Olympic Games

American Jean Shiley during the high-jump event at the Los Angeles 1932 Olympic Games....

© Keystone—Hulton Archive/Getty Images

Babe Didrikson Zaharias, at far right, leads and clears a hurdle ahead of other runners during the 80-metre hurdles race at the 1932 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.

Babe Didrikson

Babe Didrikson (right) winning the 80-meter hurdles at the 1932 Olympic Games in...

© Universal History Archive—Universal Images Group/Getty Images

1936 Olympics in Berlin

1936 Olympics in Berlin

Jesse Owens (second from right) on the winners' podium after receiving the gold medal...

AP

Abraham Abe Greenhalgh of Great Britain stands on a platform, arms fully extended overhead, lifting a barbell during the bantamweight weightlifting event at the 1948 London Olympics.

Abraham Greenhalgh at the London 1948 Olympic Games

Abraham Greenhalgh of Great Britain making a press lift during the bantamweight class...

© Barratts—PA Images/Getty Images

Fanny Blankers-Koen leaps over a hurdle ahead of other runners during the 80-metre hurdles race at the 1948 London Olympics, with a stadium crowd in the background.

Olympic track-and-field champion Fanny Blankers-Koen

Fanny Blankers-Koen winning the 80-meter hurdles event at the 1948 Olympics in London.

© Bettmann/Getty Images

Patricia McCormick of the United States Olympic team in a striped swimsuit, tightly tucked mid-dive during the springboard event at the 1952 Helsinki Olympic Games.

Pat McCormick in midair

American Pat McCormick diving at the Helsinki 1952 Olympic Games.

© Bettmann/Getty Images

Emil Zatopek, wearing bib number 203, leads Alain Mimoun, number 207, on a track during the 1952 Olympic 5000m race, with a stadium crowd in the background.

Emil Zátopek

Czech distance runner Emil Zátopek (left), Helsinki, 1952. Zátopek was nicknamed...

© AFP/Getty Images

Racewalkers at the Melbourne 1956 Olympic Games

Racewalkers at the Melbourne 1956 Olympic Games

Racewalkers competing in the 20-km walk event at the Melbourne 1956 Olympic Games.

© s&g—PA Images/Alamy

A rider on horseback lights the Olympic flame in a stadium filled with spectators during the 1956 equestrian events in Stockholm, Sweden.

Olympic flame in 1956

The Olympic flame being lit for the 1956 equestrian events, which were held in Stockholm...

© Bettmann/Getty Images

Wilma Rudolph, wearing a blue USA uniform, crosses the finish line ahead of another runner during a track race at the 1960 Rome Olympic Games, with a full stadium in the background.

Wilma Rudolph at the Rome 1960 Olympic Games

American Wilma Rudolph sprinting in the final steps of a race at the Rome 1960 Olympic...

© Jerry Cook—Corbis Historical/Getty Images

Abebe Bikila of Ethiopia runs barefoot past cheering spectators during the marathon at the 1960 Rome Olympics, wearing bib number 11 and leading the race.

Marathon runner Abebe Bikila

Abebe Bikila running barefoot to a record-setting victory at the 1960 Olympics in...

© Bettmann/Getty Images

Rafer Johnson wearing a USA jersey prepares to throw the shot put during the decathlon at the 1960 Rome Olympics, with a stadium crowd in the background.

Rafer Johnson

American athlete Rafer Johnson participating in the shot put event of the decathlon...

© Bettmann/Getty Images

Judit Agoston-Mendelenyi of Hungary and Valentina Prudskova of the Soviet Union face each other in a fencing bout at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, with judges seated behind them.

Fencing at the Tokyo 1964 Olympic Games

Hungarian fencer Judit Ágoston-Mendelényi (left) competing against Soviet athlete...

© Keystone—Hulton Archive/Getty Images

Olympic protests, 1968

Olympic protests, 1968

American track medalists Tommie Smith (center) and John Carlos raising black-gloved...

AP—REX/Shutterstock.com

Bob Beamon of the United States in midair during his record-breaking long jump at the 1968 Olympic Games in Mexico City, with officials watching in the foreground.

Bob Beamon

Bob Beamon breaking the world record in the long jump at the 1968 Olympic Games in...

UPI/Bettmann Newsphotos

Steve Prefontaine of the United States, wearing bib 1005, leads Lasse Viren of Finland, bib 228, and Emiel Puttemans of Belgium, bib 61, during the 1972 Olympic men's 5,000 meters race.

Steve Prefontaine

American runner Steve Prefontaine (right) leading the men's 5,000-meter event at...

© Tony Duffy—Hulton Archive/Getty Images

A person wearing a hood and mask stands on a balcony in the Munich Olympic Village during the 1972 hostage crisis.

Munich massacre at the 1972 Olympic Games

A Palestinian terrorist appearing on a balcony in the Munich Olympic Village, where...

Fairfax Media—The Sydney Morning Herald/Getty Images

Nadia Comaneci of Romania, in a white leotard with colored stripes, balances gracefully on the balance beam during her gymnastics routine at the 1976 Montreal Olympics.

Nadia Comăneci at the Montreal 1976 Olympic Games

Romanian gymnast Nadia Comăneci performing her balance beam routine during the gymnastics...

© Don Morley—Hulton Archive/Getty Images

Daley Thompson of Great Britain in mid-stride throwing a javelin during the decathlon at the 1980 Moscow Olympic Games, with a crowd watching in the stadium.

Daley Thompson at the Moscow 1980 Olympic Games

British athlete Daley Thompson throwing the javelin during the decathlon competition...

© Giuliano Bevilacqua—Sygma/Getty Images

Mark Todd of New Zealand rides his horse Charisma over a jump during the stadium jumping phase of the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic eventing competition, with a large crowd in the background.

Mark Todd at the Los Angeles 1984 Olympic Games

New Zealander Mark Todd jumping his horse, Charisma, at the Los Angeles 1984 Olympic...

© Trevor Jones/Getty Images

American diver Greg Louganis smiles with his hands on his hips, wearing two Olympic gold medals around his neck.

Greg Louganis

American diver Greg Louganis posing with his two gold medals at the Los Angeles 1984...

Tony Duffy/Getty Images

Florence Griffith Joyner

Florence Griffith Joyner

American sprinter Florence Griffith Joyner winning the 100 meters at the Seoul 1988...

Colorsport/REX/Shutterstock.com

Tae kwon do at the Seoul 1988 Olympic Games

Tae kwon do at the Seoul 1988 Olympic Games

Two contestants sparring during the tae kwon do competition at the 1988 Olympics...

© Allsport USA/Mike Powell

Jackie Joyner-Kersee in a red and white USA uniform throws a javelin during the heptathlon at the 1988 Seoul Olympics, wearing bib number 578.

Heptathlon champion Jackie Joyner-Kersee

American athlete Jackie Joyner-Kersee throwing the javelin during the heptathlon...

© Tony Duffy/Getty Images

Asmelash Geyesus of Ethiopia, wearing a green and yellow jersey, leads a group of cyclists uphill during the men's road race at the 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games.

Cyclists at the Barcelona 1992 Olympic Games

Asmelash Geyesus of Ethiopia leading a group of cyclists up a climb in Sant Sadurní...

© David Madison/Getty Images

Yanyan Wu of China swimming freestyle during the women's 200 meter individual medley at the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games, wearing goggles and a white swim cap.

Wu Yanyan at the Atlanta 1996 Olympic Games

Chinese athlete Wu Yanyan swimming during the women's 200-meter individual medley...

© Doug Pensinger—Allsport/Getty Images

Michael Johnson smiles and holds an American flag behind him while celebrating on the track after setting a world record in the 200-meter race at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.

Michael Johnson

American sprinter Michael Johnson after setting a world record in the 200 meters...

Mike Powell/Getty Images Sport

Maria Mutola of Mozambique, wearing a yellow uniform and bib number 2588, crosses the finish line with arms outstretched to win the 800-meter race at the 2000 Sydney Olympics.

Maria Mutola at the Sydney 2000 Olympics

Track-and-field star Maria Mutola of Mozambique crossing the finish line to win the...

Henri Szwarc—Bongarts/Getty Images

Cathy Freeman

Cathy Freeman

Australian sprinter Cathy Freeman taking a victory lap at the Olympic Games in Sydney,...

Reuters/Alamy

Three members of Team Canada in matching red and green swimsuits perform a synchronized swimming routine with arms raised amid splashing water at the Athens Olympic pool.

Synchronized swimming at the 2004 Olympic Games

The Canadian team competing in synchronized swimming at the 2004 Olympic Games in...

Jamie Squire/Getty Images

Liu Xiang of China stands on the podium wearing a laurel wreath and Chinese flag, holding a bouquet of flowers during the Athens 2004 Olympic medal ceremony.

Liu Xiang

Chinese athlete Liu Xiang after winning the 110-meter hurdles at the 2004 Olympic...

Donald Miralle/Getty Images

Nastia Liukin, wearing a red leotard, leaps with arms and legs extended during the floor exercise at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.

Nastia Liukin

U.S. gymnast Nastia Liukin competing in the floor exercise at the Beijing Olympic...

Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images

Michael Phelps

Michael Phelps

American swimmer Michael Phelps competing in the 100-meter butterfly final at the...

Julian Abram Wainwright—EPA/REX/Shutterstock.com

Usain Bolt of Jamaica celebrates with arms outstretched after winning the Men's 200m final at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, with Churandy Martina and Brian Dzingai finishing behind him.

Usain Bolt

Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt reacting after he won the gold medal in the 200-meter...

Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images

Sally Pearson of Australia in mid-air clearing a hurdle during the Women's 100m Hurdles Final at the London 2012 Olympic Games, wearing a yellow and green uniform.

Sally Pearson at the London 2012 Olympic Games

Australian hurdler Sally Pearson competing in the women's 100-meter hurdles at the...

© Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images

Yevgeniya Kanayeva of Russia performs a leap while twirling a pink and green ribbon during the rhythmic gymnastics individual all-around final at the London 2012 Olympics.

Yevgeniya Kanayeva

Russian gymnast Yevgeniya Kanayeva performing en route to winning a gold medal in...

Richard Heathcote/Getty Images

Mo Farah

Mo Farah

Mo Farah after winning a gold medal in the 5,000-meter race at the 2012 Olympics...

Sport in Pictures/Alamy

Frank Molinaro of the U.S. in a red singlet wrestles Frank Chamizo Marquez of Italy in a blue singlet during the Men's Freestyle 65kg Bronze match at the 2016 Olympic Games.

Freestyle wrestling

Frank Molinaro (in red) of the United States and Frank Chamizo Marquez of Italy competing...

© Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images

Usain Bolt in yellow, crosses the finish line ahead of Justin Gatlin in blue, winning the men's 100-meter final at the 2016 Rio Olympics.

Usain Bolt in 2016

Usain Bolt of Jamaica winning the men's 100-meter sprint final ahead of Justin Gatlin...

© Fabrice Coffrini—AFP/Getty Images

Katie Ledecky swims freestyle in a lane of a blue pool, wearing goggles and a swim cap, with red lane dividers at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.

Katie Ledecky competing at the Rio de Janeiro 2016 Olympic Games

American swimmer Katie Ledecky competing in the 800-meter freestyle at the Rio de...

© Zhukovsky/Dreamstime.com

Simone Manuel of the USA smiles and hugs Penny Oleksiak of Canada in the pool as they celebrate after the women's 100m freestyle final at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.

Simone Manuel

American Simone Manuel (right) celebrating with Penny Oleksiak of Canada after the...

© Michael Kappeler—picture alliance/Getty Images

Simone Biles performs a mid-air flip above the balance beam during the women's gymnastics team final at the 2016 Rio Olympics, with a crowd in the background.

Simone Biles

American gymnast Simone Biles performing on the balance beam during the Rio de Janeiro...

© Tim Clayton—Corbis/Getty Images

Daniele Garozzo of Italy celebrates with arms raised after winning gold in men's foil fencing at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games.

Daniele Garozzo

Italy's Daniele Garozzo celebrating his gold medal in the men's individual foil fencing...

© Kirill Kudryavtsev—AFP/Getty Images

Meng Suping lifts a barbell overhead during the women's 75kg weightlifting event at the 2016 Rio Olympics, wearing a red uniform with "China" in yellow.

Meng Suping

Gold medal winner Meng Suping of China competing in the women's 75-kg weightlifting...

© Goh Chai Hin—AFP/Getty Images

Naomi Osaka of Team Japan stands in front of the Olympic cauldron, waving and holding the torch as the cauldron burns during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games Opening Ceremony.

Naomi Osaka with the Olympic flame

Tennis star Naomi Osaka waving after lighting the Olympic cauldron during the opening...

Jamie Squire/Getty Images Sport

Paris 2024 Summer Olympics

Paris 2024 Summer Olympics

Olympic rings on the Eiffel Tower and a line of national flags during the Summer...

© Kevin Voigt/Getty Images

First Winter Olympic Games

First Winter Olympic Games

The start of the 10,000-meter speed skating event at the inaugural Winter Olympics...

© De Agostini Picture Library/Getty Images

Clas Thunberg

Clas Thunberg

Finnish speed skater Clas Thunberg competing at the St. Moritz 1928 Olympic Winter...

© ullstein bild/Getty Images

Jack Shea

Jack Shea

U.S. speed skater Jack Shea leading the 500-meter event during the Winter Olympics...

© Bettmann/Getty Images

Christl Cranz

Christl Cranz

German skier Christl Cranz competing in the women's Alpine combined skiing event...

© FPG—Archive Photos/Getty Images

Opening ceremony at St. Moritz, 1948

Opening ceremony at St. Moritz, 1948

Spectators and athletes at the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympics in St. Moritz,...

© Chris Ware/Keystone—Hulton Archive/Getty Images

Andrea Mead Lawrence

Andrea Mead Lawrence

American Alpine skier Andrea Mead Lawrence competing at the Oslo Winter Olympics,...

© Bettmann/Getty Images

Ski jumping

Ski jumping

Spectators watching a ski jumper flying through the air during the Cortina d'Ampezzo...

© Alfred Strobel—Sueddeutsche Zeitung Photo/Alamy

Helga Haase

Helga Haase

German speed skater Helga Haase competing at the 1960 Winter Olympic Games in Squaw...

© ullstein bild/Getty Images

Lidiya Skoblikova

Lidiya Skoblikova

Russian speed skater Lidiya Skoblikova competing in the women's 1,500-meter event...

AP/Shutterstock.com

Opening ceremonies

Opening ceremonies

Spectators taking in the opening ceremonies of the 1968 Winter Olympic Games at Stadium...

© Bettmann/Getty Images

Giant slalom medalists

Giant slalom medalists

Italian skier Gustavo Thöni (center), flanked by Swiss skiers Edmund Bruggmann (left)...

© Gilbert Iundt, Jean-Yves Ruszniewski/TempSport—Corbis Historical/VCG/Getty Images

High above the city

High above the city

Austrian ski jumper Reinhold Bachler during a training run at the Bergisel ski jump...

© brandstaetter images/Votava—Archive Photos/Getty Images

American ice hockey goalie James Craig in a blue USA jersey and white mask blocks a shot near the goal during a game in 1980.

James Craig in action

1980 U.S. Olympic men's hockey team goalie James Craig making a save during the “Miracle...

Steve Powell/Getty Images

Marja-Liisa Hamalainen of Finland cross-country skiing in a white and blue racing suit and bib number 40 during the 1984 Winter Olympics in Sarajevo, snow falling around her.

Marja-Liisa Hämäläinen at the Sarajevo 1984 Winter Olympic Games

Finnish cross-country skier Marja-Liisa Hämäläinen won three gold medals at the 1984...

© David Madison/Getty Images

Katarina Witt

Katarina Witt

East German figure skater Katarina Witt performing her long program at the 1988 Winter...

Colorsport/Shutterstock.com

Alberto Tomba

Alberto Tomba

Italian skier Alberto Tomba competing in the giant slalom at the 1992 Winter Olympics...

© Colorsport/REX/Shutterstock.com

Oksana Baiul performs a spiral on the ice in a pink and gold costume during figure skating at the 1994 Winter Olympics in Lillehammer, Norway.

Oksana Baiul

Ukrainian figure skater Oksana Baiul performing at the 1994 Winter Olympics in Lillehammer,...

Simon Bruty/Getty Images

Snowboarder Ross Rebagliati

Canada's Ross Rebagliati, the first competitor to win an Olympic gold medal in the...

Mark Sandten—Bongarts/Getty Images

Jamie Sale and David Pelletier of Canada and Yelena Berezhnaya and Anton Sikharulidze of Russia smile and hold gold medals and yellow bouquets at the Salt Lake City Winter Olympics.

Ice skating at the 2002 Winter Olympic Games in Salt Lake City

(From left to right) Canadians Jamie Salé and David Pelletier and Russians Yelena...

Clive Brunskill/Getty Images

Alisa Camplin of Australia smiles while holding a bouquet and displaying her bronze medal at the 2006 Turin Winter Olympics medal ceremony, wearing a green and gold team jacket.

Alisa Camplin at the Turin 2006 Winter Olympic Games in Turin, Italy.

Australian skier Alisa Camplin receiving the bronze medal in the aerial event at...

Stephen Munday/Getty Images Sport

Bobsled track

Bobsled track

Bobsled track at the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Games.

© VANOC/COVAN

Viktor Ahn of Russia, wearing a blue helmet and white racing suit, leads three skaters around a curve in the Short Track Men's 500m Final at the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics.

Viktor Ahn

Speed skater Viktor Ahn competing in the short-track men's 500-meter event at the...

Ryan Pierse/Getty Images

Torah Bright of Australia soars mid-air on a snowboard, one arm raised, against a snowy mountain backdrop during the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics.

Catching air

Snowboarder Torah Bright of Australia competing at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi,...

Cameron Spencer/Getty Images Sport

Chloe Kim

Chloe Kim

American snowboarder Chloe Kim competing in the women's half-pipe finals at the 2018...

Kin Cheung—AP/REX/Shutterstock.com

Clement Noel of Team France, wearing a red Olympic bib and gold helmet, skis around a slalom gate on a snowy slope at the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics.

Clement Noel

French skier Clement Noel competing in the slalom at the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic...

© Tom Pennington/Getty Images

Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo of Team Norway leads a group of skiers during the Men's Team Sprint Free Finals at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Val di Fiemme, Italy.

Johannes Høsflot Klæbo

Norwegian cross-country skier Johannes Høsflot Klæbo competing in the men's team...

© Maddie Meyer/Getty Images

Montreal: Olympic Stadium

Montreal: Olympic Stadium

Olympic Stadium, Montreal.

© Creatas/JupiterImages

Tatyana Kazankina clinching the gold medal in the 1,500-metre race at the 1980 Olympics in Moscow

Tatyana Kazankina clinching the gold medal in the 1,500-metre race at the 1980 Olympics...

Tony Duffy/Allsport

Kip Keino

Kip Keino

Kip Keino (left) celebrating his win in the 3,000-metre steeplechase event at the...

AP

Tommy Kono on his way to winning the silver medal in the middleweight weightlifting competition at the 1960 Olympics in Rome.

Tommy Kono on his way to winning the silver medal in the middleweight weightlifting...

UPI/Corbis-Bettmann

Tommy Kono at the Helsinki 1952 Olympic Games

Tommy Kono at the Helsinki 1952 Olympic Games

American weightlifter Tommy Kono (center), who won a gold medal as a lightweight...

Courtesy of Tommy T. Kono

Miyake Yoshinobu celebrates with arms raised after winning the featherweight weightlifting competition at the 1964 Tokyo Olympic Games, standing behind a loaded barbell.

Miyake Yoshinobu at the Tokyo 1964 Olympic Games

Miyake Yoshinobu celebrating after winning the featherweight weightlifting competition...

Keystone—Hulton Archive/Getty Images

Interactives

How Are Olympic Sports Scored?

How Are Olympic Sports Scored?

How Are Olympic Sports Scored?

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Olympic Athletes vs. Animals

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