LONDON-2012

The New Single-Medal Countries (and Two That Left the List)

A few weeks ago, we gave you 21 countries that have only won a single Olympic medal. Now that the London Games are through, it's time to update our list with the countries that netted their first-ever medal this summer, and the two countries that have now

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.

Olympic Cyclists and Their Giant Thighs

Sure, Olympians are crazy fit, but there's something about those indoor track cyclists that makes your jaw plummet to the floor. What is it? Oh, yes, their massive thighs. Thunder doesn't even begin to describe them. The largest ones, which at last coun

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

The Olympic Swimmer With Only One Leg

Oscar Pistorius is one of the best stories of the 2012 London Games. Yesterday, the South African double amputee advanced to the semi-finals of the men's 400-meters. He'll also compete in the 4x400-meter relay. Pistorius, who runs on specially designed ca

11 of the Craziest Events in Olympic History

Olympic history books are filled with stories of amazing individual performances and team achievements. But from poorly conceived competitions to spectators attacking the judges, a lot of crazy stuff has happened in the Summer Olympics. 1. Killing Animal

How Much Gold is in a Gold Medal?

On our last semi-regular "Ask Matt" day, reader Mel asked, “Are there standards for just how much gold is in those gold medals these Olympic athletes are

NBC Paid $1.2 Billion to Broadcast the London Olympics. Where Does That Money Go?

Dave Hogan/NBCNBC paid the International Olympic Committee a record $1.18 billion for the U.S. broadcast rights to the 2012 London Games and $4.38 billion for the four Olympics from 2014-2020. What does the IOC do with all that cash?According to the IOC’s

Olympic Art Competitions: The End

We're taking a look back at the fine art competitions that originated in ancient Greece and were revived as part of the modern Olympics from 1912 to

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.

Olympic Art Competitions: 1936-1948

We're taking a look back at the fine art competitions that originated in ancient Greece and were revived as part of the modern Olympics from 1912 to

Olympic Art Competitions: 1928-1932

Over the next two weeks, we’ll be taking a look back at the fine art competitions that originated in ancient Greece and were revived as part of the modern Olympics from 1912 to

Olympic Art Competitions: 1916-1924

Over the next two weeks, we’ll be taking a look back at the fine art competitions that originated in ancient Greece and were revived as part of the modern Olympics from 1912 to

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.