Since the modern Olympic Games began in 1896, the world has
gathered to celebrate and watch athletes at their best. Here are
highlights of past Summer Games.
Since the modern Olympic Games began in 1896, the world has gathered to celebrate and watch athletes at their best. Here are highlights of past Summer Games.
1896: Athens
Participating nations: 13
Most medals: Greece (47)
An idea proposed in 1892 by Baron de Coubertin of France is realized, and the International Olympic Committee is born.
– The first victory in the modern Olympics is awarded to American James B. Connolly in the hop, step and jump.
1900: Paris
Participating nations: 22
Most medals: France (102)
Because of poor organization, more athletes than spectators attend the five-day event. Women make their first appearance in the modern games.
– Archery makes its first appearance as an Olympic event, as do cricket and croquet.
1904: St. Louis
Participating nations: 12
Most medals: United States (238)
The games are originally slated for Chicago, but St. Louis also wants them, to be held in conjunction with the Louisiana Purchase exhibition. President Theodore Roosevelt sides with St. Louis, but the Olympics are lost in the chaos of the World’s Fair.
– American George Poage, the first black athlete to compete in the games, hurdles to the bronze in the 440-meter event.
1906: Athens
Participating nations: 20
Most medals: France (40)
The Interim Games of 1906 reignite enthusiasm for the Olympics, but the IOC deems them unofficial. Record crowds attend the games.
1908: London
Participating nations: 23
Most medals: Britain (145)
Originally awarded to Rome, the games are reassigned to Great Britain when the Italians back out for financial reasons.
– American J.J. Hayes wins the marathon, which is extended from 25 miles to the current standard of 26.2 miles so the royal family has a view of the race.
1912: Stockholm
Participating nations: 28
Most medals: Sweden (65)
The games enter the modern age, using electronic timing devices and a public address system.
– In Greco-Roman wrestling, the middleweight semifinal match between Russian Martin Klein and Finland’s Alfred Asikainen lasts 11 hours.
1920: Antwerp
Participating nations: 29
Most medals: United States (96)
The Olympics are awarded to Antwerp as compensation for the destruction inflicted on Belgians during World War I. The Olympic flag, with its five rings, makes its debut.
– American Charlie Paddock wins the 100 meters and 4×100-meter relay. He is the first runner to be called “the world’s fastest human.”
1928: Amsterdam
Participating nations: 46
Most medals: United States (56)
The Olympic flame is introduced. For the first time, women participate in track and field. Germany returns to the games for the first time since 1912.
– American Johnny Weissmuller wins two more golds to add to his three from 1924. He later stars as Tarzan in 12 movies.
1932: Los Angeles
Participating nations: 37
Most medals: United States (104)
The L.A. Olympics introduce automatic timing, the photo-finish camera, the use of the victory platform at the award ceremonies and the playing of the winners’ national anthems.
1936: Berlin
Participating nations: 49
Most medals: Germany (89)
The torch relay brings the flame to the site of the games for the first time.
– Black American Jesse Owens wins the long jump, 100 meters, 200 meters and 4×100-meter relay as Nazi leader Adolf Hitler watches, discrediting his theory of Aryan supremacy.
1940: Helsinki
The games are awarded to Tokyo, but Japan loses them after invading China. Re-awarded to Helsinki, Finland, the games are canceled after Soviet troops invade Finland.
1948: London
Participating nations: 59
Most medals: United States (84)
Following the precedent set after World War I, aggressor nations Germany and Japan are not invited to the Olympics. It is the first games with participation by Communist countries.
– U.S. fencer Janice Lee Romary competes in her first Olympics. Her last games will be in 1968 – more Olympics than any woman in history, but no medals.
1952: Helsinki
Participating nations: 69
Most medals: United States (76)
The Soviet Union joins the Olympics for the first time. Sixty-nine countries participate, setting a record at the time.
– Hungarian shooter Karoly Takacs wins the gold medal and sets a world record while shooting with his left hand. His right hand – his pistol hand – had been shattered by a defective grenade.
1956: Melbourne
Participating nations: 67
Most medals: Soviet Union (98)
The Summer Games run from Nov. 22 to Dec. 8 because the seasons are reversed in the Southern Hemisphere. For first time, athletes march together during the closing ceremony, as a sign of global unity.
1960: Rome
Participating nations: 83
Most medals: Soviet Union (103)
The pope watches from a window of his summer residence.
– American Wilma Rudolph wins triple track gold despite childhood bouts with polio, double pneumonia and scarlet fever that made her leg nearly useless.
1964: Tokyo
Participating nations: 93
Most medals: United States (90)
The Tokyo Games are the first to be held in Asia.
1968: Mexico City
Participating nations: 112
Most medals: United States (107)
The IOC is enraged when two American athletes display the black-power salute during an awards ceremony. The committee orders medalists Tommie Smith and John Carlos to leave the country.
– Dick Fosbury, an American high jumper, revolutionizes the event with his unique “flop” style.
1972: Munich
Participating nations: 122
Most medals: Soviet Union (99)
Terrorism mars the games. Arab “Black September” extremists kill 11 Israeli team members.
– American swimmer Mark Spitz sets a record for the most medals by an individual at a single Olympics: seven golds.
1976: Montreal
Participating nations: 92
Most medals: Soviet Union (125)
Poor planning and corruption result in the games going drastically over budget. It takes decades for Canada to pay the debt.
– Romanian Nadia Comaneci makes an Olympic first by receiving a perfect score of 10 seven times.
1980: Moscow
Participating nations: 81
Most medals: Soviet Union (195)
The United States leads a 62-nation boycott in protest of the Soviet Union’s invasion of Afghanistan.
– Cuban heavyweight Teofilo Stevenson becomes the first boxer to win three consecutive gold medals in the same division.
1984: Los Angeles
Participating nations: 141
Most medals: United States (174)
The Soviets lead a revenge boycott, but more countries attend the games than ever before – 141 nations with 7,000 athletes.
– American gymnast Mary Lou Retton wins gold, silver and bronze medals.
1988: Seoul
Participating nations: 159
Most medals: Soviet Union (132)
Canadian runner Ben Johnson is caught using steroids, and subsequent investigations reveal that substance abuse is widespread. North Korea and Cuba boycott the Olympics.
– German cyclist and speed-skater Christa Luding-Rothenburger becomes one of few athletes to win medals in both the summer and winter Olympics.
1992: Barcelona
Participating nations: 172
Most medals: Unified Team (112)
The collapsing Soviet Union participates as the Unified Team. Individual winners are honored with the flag of their home republic.
– The U.S. basketball “Dream Team,” made up mostly of top NBA players, defeats Croatia 117-85 to capture the gold.
1996: Atlanta
Participating nations: 197
Most medals: United States (101)
One woman is killed and 111 people are injured after a bomb explodes in Atlanta’s Centennial Olympic Park.
– American gymnast Kerri Strug competes with a sprained ankle and helps her team win the gold.
2000: Sydney
Participating nations: 200
Most medals: United States (97)
Trampoline, tae kwon do and synchronized diving make their debuts, as do women’s pole vault, women’s water polo and women’s weightlifting.
– Just 17 years old, Australian Ian Thorpe wins five swimming medals and breaks his own world record in the 400-meter freestyle.
2004: ATHENS
Participating nations: 201
Most medals: United States (102)
The Games returned to Greece, home of both the ancient Olympics and the first modern Olympics.
– German canoeist Birgit Fischer became the first woman in any sport to win gold medals in six different Olympics.
