olympics

Is it the same flame from Greece to the games? Here’s how the Olympics keep the torch for the relay lit during its journey.

Tonya Harding and Nancy Kerrigan during a practice session for the 1994 Winter Olympics

Where there’s competition, there’s sure to be controversy. Here are six scandals throughout Winter Olympics history.

Olympic sports like volleyball have their own delicious slang.

Here are 20 fun bits of Olympics slang, from diving’s ‘bingo’ to gymnastics’ ‘twisties.’

Next time, do yourself a favor and throw on a pair before you hop in the shower.

The German national soccer team was looking for shoes to wear in the shower to prevent athlete’s foot. Adidas founder Adi Dassler offered an innovative solution: shower shoes.

Synchronized swimming now goes by the name ‘artistic swimming.’ Here's why.

Volleyball doesn’t have goalkeepers, but it does have liberos—and the rules are a little different for them.

Léon Marchand at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

There are several reasons why a host country might see a boost in the Olympics medal count.

Some Olympic athletes still sport paper bibs.

The big paper tags seen on Olympic track and field athletes are both high-tech tracking devices and sentimental souvenirs.

Olympic individual neutral athlete Daniil Medvedev is one of the Russian competitors at the Paris Games.

No, they can’t pick their own anthem for their medal ceremony.

An athlete holds up a gold medal at the 2024 Paris Games.

The amount of gold in Olympic medals is regulated, and there’s a lot less than there used to be.

Richard Norris Williams on his home turf.

Richard Norris Williams dreamed of being a tennis great. The ‘Titanic’ nearly cost him his legs.

Italy's Laura Bruschini at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney.

Beach volleyball's hand signals are a handy way for a blocker to clue their teammate into their next move.

There's a reason why two caps are better than one.

French fencer Auriane Mallo-Breton at the Paris 2024 Olympics.

Fencing body cords aren't a safety measure.

The pools at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games are built with speed in mind.

Learn the science behind the most advanced swimming pools out there.

Does this image of overlapping multicolored rings remind you of anything, hm?

Condoms in the Olympic Village have been a tradition—and a public health service—since 1988.

Great Britain's Kieran Bird at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

It's to get the blood flowing—or is it?

An Olympic swimmer sports circular bruises from cupping therapy.

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?