Olympic Games: 5 things you didn’t know
Olympics have always aroused the curiosity of spectators, both in their complexity and the high number of participants. Here are some things that few know about this competitive sport.
1. The youngest participant of Olympic history was 10 years old
Greek gymnast Dimitrios Loundras remain in Olympic history as the youngest participant. Dimitrios was 10 years and 218 days when its participation in the Athens Olympics in 1896. Despite his young age, Greece managed to win a silver medal. Later, after he left the sport, Dimitrios Loundras became admiral in the Greek Navy.
2. The marathon in 1960 was been won in bare feet
Footwear is of great importance for most athletes. Yet not to Abebe Bikila, who ran barefoot to Ethiopia at the Olympic Games in Rome in 1960. Bikila won gold medal in the marathon, being practically the first African to achieve this performance at an Olympics.
3. The first medalist in modern Olympic history was an American
American James Connolly is the first athlete to medal in the history of modern Olympics. In 1896, he interrupted his studies at Harvard University to attend the Athens Olympics. His decision was inspired as much as possible, Connolly managed to win the triple jump gold in the sample.
4. Olympics have been canceled three times
Over time, there were difficult moments for this competition. Olympics have been canceled three times, in all cases because of the war. In 1916, he quit the Olympic Games in Berlin, given that in that year World War was in full swing. In turn, World War II led to the cancellation of two competitions: the Olympic Games in Helsinki (1940), namely those in London (1944).
5. Gold medals are actually silver
Many fall into the trap of thinking that gold medals are handed Olympic gold. Wrong! They are actually made of silver and gold plated.