Olympics Facts

Tug of War was an Olympic event between 1900 and 1920.

Scientists from IBM Research in Zurich and the University of Warwick synthesized a molecule named 'Olympicene' that mimics the shape of the Olympic logo.

In the 1930's, American track star Jesse Owens used to race against horses and dogs to earn a living.

The 1904 Olympic Marathon in St. Louis had one water station for the entire 25-mile course. The first man across the finish line had ridden in a car for 11 miles. The actual winner was fed strychnine and brandy by his trainers and was hallucinating at the finish. A South African runner was chased a mile off course by wild dogs. Only 14 of 32 runners finished.

When Filipino gymnast Carlos Yulo won two gold medals at the 2024 Paris Olympics, his country went all out. He received a $550,000 fully furnished condo, $350,000 in government cash, lifetime free buffets, a lifetime supply of ramen and chicken, two café franchises, a Land Cruiser, and free flights for life. Total haul: over $2.6 million.