OLYMPICS

Scenes From the 1908 London Olympic Marathon

In honor of today's Olympic marathon, here's a look back at the origin of the race, plus an explanation of the whole ".2"

Kipchoge Keino competing in men's 3000-meter steeplechase final at the 1972 Olympic Games.

9 Underdog Nations and Their Memorable Olympic Performances

The big countries don't always bring home the gold or the glory. Here's a look back at Olympic performances from underdog nations.

A Brief History of Olympic Defectors

For some athletes, the Olympics aren’t just a competition: they’re a chance to escape oppression. Earlier this week, seven of Cameroon’s athletes disappeared from London’s Olympic Village. The week before, three runners from Sudan’s Olympic training squad

Remembering Reebok's "Dan and Dave" Campaign 20 Years Later

Twenty years ago, Reebok introduced us to "Dan and Dave." Once American sports fans moved beyond their game of word association -- "Who?" -- the two men involved became part of one of the most memorable marketing campaigns in history despite a letdown of

Torchbearers light the Olympic torch at the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul, South Korea.

5 Memorable Moments from Olympic Opening Ceremonies

Olympic opening ceremonies have been known to include their own little quirks, disasters, and political flaps. Here are some of the most interesting.

The 21 Countries With One Olympic Medal

Some countries compete to get the highest number, but these twenty-one other countries have just one medal.

Ten 2012 Olympians to Keep Your Eyes On

Thousands of athletes from all over the world are in London for the 2012 Olympics. Many of them are already stars, having trained their entire lives for this chance at gold. For some, getting there has been a struggle against poverty, politics, prejudice,

Muhammad Ali with a gold medal at the 1996 Olympic Games.

13 Medal-Worthy Olympic Stories

To become an Olympic hero in our book, it takes more than athleticism. These athletes deserve infinite points—regardless of whether they medalled or not.

From 1912 to 1948, Art Competitions Were Part of the Olympics

Medals were awarded for architecture, music, painting, and sculpture.

4 Times Olympians Refused Their Medals

When it came time to collect their medals, these athletes said, "No thanks."

A number of medals from the storied 1980 "Miracle on Ice" team have hit the market.

6 Olympians Who Sold Their Medals (And One Who Tried)

You wouldn’t know it with all the hype surrounding the Tokyo Olympics right now, but there are things more important than winning a medal. Just ask these athletes, who had good reason to sell their hard-earned precious metal.

Olympic Uniforms for the 2012 Opening Ceremonies

When the London Olympics open on July 27th, the Parade of Nations will be our introduction to the 2012 athletes. What each team wears to the Opening Ceremonies is the stuff of much conjecture, drama, pride, gossip, and criticism. Let's see what some of t

The 2012 Olympic Torch Relay

Less than a month to go before the opening of the London Olympics, and we are halfway through the 70-day Olympic Torch Relay that takes the Olympic Flame through all four countries of the United Kingdom. The route covers 8,000 miles and involves 8,000 rel

What Do Olympians Eat? 5 Crazy Training Diets

Back in 2008, during the Beijing Olympics, we were regaled with stories about the monstrous 12,000 calorie daily diet that American swimming sensation Michael Phelps consumed while gearing up for the Games. Alas, Phelps revealed last month his diet has ne

Jessie Tarbox Beals, Missouri History Museum, Wikimedia Commons // Public Domain

5 Wacky Moments from Olympic Games Past

The Olympic Games showcase the best in sport, but some athletes have gone for the gold in bad behavior.

Memories of the Olympic Village

Every Olympic city provides separate housing for the world's media and an Olympic Village for the athletes, coaches and team officials. By most accounts, Vancouver's Olympic housing is a jewel. At the very least, what it clearly is not is a converted men

The 1988 Winter Olympic Games' mascots were Hidy and Howdy.

The Weird & Scary History of Winter Olympic Mascots

Some of them are adorable. Some of them are atrocious. All of them are, on some level, creepy. They are the mascots of the Winter Olympic Games, and these are their stories.

The Origins of 10 Winter Olympic Sports

The Winter Olympics are still a week and a half away, but it's never too early to start getting warmed up. Let's take a look at the origins of some of the events you'll be enjoying from Vancouver. 1. Figure