SPORTS

Why Are Some Olympic Swimmers Covered In Dark Circles?

In events where success or failure can be measured in tiny increments, it’s not surprising athletes will turn to any potential advantage. But does cupping actually work?

Olympic fans take selfies in front of the iconic rings in Paris.

What Do the Olympic Rings Mean?

Pierre de Frédy, Baron de Coubertin, intended the rings to represent nations “united by Olympism.”

Whitewater rafters carry the Olympic torch on its way to Paris.

How Is the Olympic Flame Lit—and How Does It Stay Lit?

This year, the Olympic torch made a symbolic journey from Greece to Paris for the Summer Games.

Why Won’t Team USA Dip the Flag at the Olympics Opening Ceremonies?

America is the only country that refuses to do so.

Simone Biles has five gymnastics skills named for her.

11 Female Gymnasts With Skills Named After Them

At the Olympics, some athletes will be performing tried and true moves. Others might be throwing new skills that will one day bear their names.

Olympic gold medals are the zenith of athletic achievement.

The 20 Countries With the Most Olympic Gold Medals

Whoever said winning isn't everything didn't have 1175 gold medals.

Vanderlei Lima getting attacked by Neil Horan at the 2004 Summer Olympics.

10 Scandals That Rocked the Summer Olympics

Though the Games are meant to foster a sense of unity among nations, they’ve seen their fair share of scandal—and even tragedy.

10 Sports Cut From The Olympics

If you’re looking forward to polo and tug of war at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, we have bad news for you.

Jesse Owens (right) starting the 100-meter sprint at the 1936 Olympic Games—which he would go on to win.

Watch Jesse Owens Win Four Golds at the 1936 Olympics in Nazi Germany

The Black track star smoked the competition to win a record-setting four gold medals, making a mockery of Adolf Hitler’s belief in Aryan supremacy.

10 Great Olympics Movies

From ice skating comedies to wrestling tragedies, Tinseltown skillfully draws upon the world’s biggest sporting spectacle.

Tennis balls are always under pressure to perform.

Why Do Tennis Balls Come in Airtight Containers?

The key to holding court? A fresh can of tennis balls.

The Olympics have bred numerous misconceptions over the years.

7 Misconceptions About Olympic Sports

Divers shower after every dive for a surprising reason.

Barry Bremen fooled 'em all. For a moment or two.

The Counterfeit Athlete: Barry Bremen, the Man Who Pretended to Be an MLB, NBA, and NFL All-Star

Bremen, a life insurance salesman from Detroit, specialized in impersonating greatness.

The 2024 Summer Olympics will open in July in Paris (barring war or a pandemic).

6 Times the Olympics Have Been Postponed or Canceled

Since 1896, when the modern Olympic Games began, the event has been disrupted only six times—and it usually required a war.

13 Breakdancing Terms You Should Know

Study up on this breaking terminology so you know what you’re talking about you’re watching the sport at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.

Chris Evert at the 1978 Wimbledon quarterfinals.

Why Is It Called a “Tennis Bracelet”?

Chris Evert’s tennis bracelets made tennis bracelets a thing. But the origin story gets mistold quite often.

15 of the Most Valuable Modern Sports Rookie Cards

Discover which of these most valuable sports rookie cards can net savvy collectors millions.

22 Things You Might Not Know About the Stanley Cup

Who is this Lord Stanley anyway? Find out more about the history and strange mishaps surrounding the NHL’s Stanley Cup.

James Baldwin, Senator Tammy Baldwin, and George Takei.

15 Inspiring Quotes from LGBTQ+ Leaders

These memorable quotes from LGBTQ+ leaders—on everything from intersectionality to being an ally—will ring true all year round.

Matty Beniers of the Seattle Kraken, Alexis Lafreniere of the New York Rangers, and Travis Konecny of the Philadelphia Flyers.

The Origins of All 32 NHL Team Names

Ever wonder what a Canuck is? How about a Blue Jacket? Here's a breakdown of how all of the National Hockey League teams got their names.

Princeton University's ivy-covered Nassau Hall, which dates back to 1756.

Why Is It Called the “Ivy League”?

Here’s the story of how the Ivy League got its name—and a list of all the schools that belong to it (including the informal “Ivy Plus” schools).

10 Questions About the Kentucky Derby, Answered

Put on a fancy hat, grab a mint julep, and become the best-informed person at your Derby party.

Why Do People Drink Mint Juleps at the Kentucky Derby?

How the bourbon-mint concoction took the horse-racing world by storm.

Illustrations from 1997’s ‘Get Fit! ... How To Get in Shape To Meet the President’s Challenge and Earn the Presidential Fitness Award’

The Origins of the Presidential Fitness Test

Almost as soon as it was introduced—and for generations after—the Presidential Fitness Test was absolutely traumatizing to students who had to endure it. Here’s how the program started—and ended.

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