Olympics
From Athens to Athens: Highlights from the modern Summer Games

Bob Garrett took the discus medal from the Greeks in 1896.

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I. 1896 Athens

April 6 — 15

Scalpers peddled tickets at the first modern Olympics at the stadium of Herodes Atticus. With an estimated crowd of some 75,000 inside the stadium, and an additional 50,000 on the surrounding hills, it was perhaps the largest gathering to that time for a peaceful purpose. After a 15-century break, the ancient Greek Games that Rome squelched were back in business, inspired by a Frenchman, Baron Pierre de Coubertin. The first Games lasted 10 days, with some 250 athletes — all men — from 14 countries. The hardest medal for the Greeks to lose was the discus, which had been their seminal event since the gods of Mount Olympus. It was an American who took away their glory, Bob Garrett of Princeton. But locals found relief in the marathon victory of shepherd Spiridon Louis, who became an instant Greek hero. All winners were given silver medals and a crown of olive branches.

II. 1900 Paris

May 14 — Oct. 28

Some of the American athletes claimed that they didn't know they were competing in the Olympics until they were awarded medals. Instead, they thought they were just a sideshow of the Paris Exposition. An immediate controversy boiled over between the French and the Americans as to whether the track events would open on a Saturday (Bastille Day, and the French were against anything else on their national holiday) or on a Sunday (which the Americans refused because it was the Sabbath). The Americans won, but when the Games opened on a Saturday, more athletes than spectators showed up because of the holiday. The Games were at the Racing Club de France, which had no running cinderpath, just a path in a field. The jumpers had to dig their own pits, and the discus and hammer throwers tossed their implements into the trees. The United States was dominant, winning 17 of the 22 events, in these Games that were stretched over five months. The first women competed, in croquet and tennis. The swimming events were held in the River Seine — with the current aiding times.

III. 1904 St. Louis

July 1 — Nov. 23

Again, the Games were almost as an aside to a World's Fair and contested over a nearly five-month span, this time at Washington University. The biggest crowd at any event was 2,000. In the marathon, an American runner got a clandestine 10-mile car ride in the middle of the race, the Rosie Ruiz of his time. His scheme was quickly revealed, and he was booted from the stadium. American gymnast George Eyser won three gold medals wearing a wooden leg — his leg was amputated after he was run over by a train.

1906 Athens

April 22 — May 2

While sanctioned by the International Olympic Committee, these "unnumbered Games" were to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the first Olympics in Athens. After the unsuccessful Paris and St. Louis Games, Athens once again bolstered the Olympic movement. Later these Games were downgraded in importance because they broke the four-year cycle, and were referred to as the Intermediary Games.

IV. 1908 London

April 27 — Oct. 31

Originally scheduled for Rome, the Games shifted to London when various problems — including the rebuilding of Naples after Mount Vesuvius erupted — overcame Italian efforts to produce them. It was contentious from start to finish, each day filled with rain and one protest after another. The United States filed the first protest of many when its flag was not flown with the others in the main stadium at Shepherd's Bush. Today's 26-mile, 285-yard distance for the marathon was decided here. Originally, the first marathon in 1896 went from Marathon to Athens in Greece, a distance of 40 kilometers. But in 1908, the Princess of Wales wanted to start the marathon at Windsor Castle, where the royal family could watch. The finish was at Shepherd's Bush, and thus the distance for all future Olympic marathons was set. At the finish line, British officials picked up a fallen Italian runner, Dorando Pietri, and walked him over the finish so as to beat American Johnny Hayes. After hours of protestations, the victory went to the New York City department store clerk.

	Jim Thorpe was brought to the world's attention in 1912.

V. 1912 Stockholm

May 5 — July 22

An electric timing system was introduced for the first time, and it clocked three victories from the first of the Flying Finns — Hannes Kolehmainen won the 5K, 10K and cross-country race. Jim Thorpe, an American Indian of mostly Sac and Fox heritage, also caught the world's attention by winning the decathlon and pentathlon. In the decathlon, his 8,413-point total stood as a record for two decades. But a few months after the Olympics, it was learned Thorpe had been paid for playing minor-league baseball, and he was stripped of his medals. It wasn't until 70 years later that his medals were returned posthumously.

VI. 1916 Berlin

Canceled, World War I

VII. 1920 Antwerp

April 20 — Sept. 12

War-ravaged Belgium had just a year to build a stadium and was hard-pressed to do so after a four-year occupation during WWI. Germany, Hungary, Turkey and Austria, then enemies to the Allies, were not invited to participate, and Russia would not compete again until 1952. Doves of peace were released at the opening ceremony, and war veterans competed side by side. The athletes took the Olympic oath for the first time, promising to take part "in the true spirit of sportsmanship." Also the official logo was adopted — the five interlacing rings to symbolize the unity of the five continents. The Americans' dominance in track and field ended as Finland won eight gold medals, the same as the United States.

VIII. 1924 Paris

May 4 — July 27

For the first time, the Games were aired live on radio, and the Parisians did their best to make up for their flop as a host in 1900. Peerless Paavo Nurmi, the Finn who won five gold medals, became the talk of Paris. American Johnny Weissmuller, who became known later in his Tarzan movie role, won three golds in swimming. Also made famous years later in the film "Chariots of Fire," Britain's Harold Abrahams won the 100-meter gold. And Benjamin Spock, who became famous later for his book on child care, was on the crew that won the coxed eights.

IX. 1928 Amsterdam

May 17 — Aug. 12

Women were finally allowed to compete in gymnastics and track, after an international women's group promoted its own worldwide competition, forcing the IOC's hand in Amsterdam. In the 800 meters, a German woman clocked a world record in 2 minutes, 16.8 seconds. Behind her at the finish line, many other runners were "exhausted," which led the IOC to withdraw "distance running" for women until 1960. Germany returned after a 16-year Olympic exile from the war, and captured 10 golds — second overall to the United States' 22. The Olympic flame was introduced at the stadium for the first time, Nurmi won another 10K gold, and Weissmuller two more swimming golds. Tacoma's Herman Brix, a football player at the University of Washington, won a silver in the shot put, later becoming a movie star under the screen name, "Bruce Bennett."

X. 1932 Los Angeles

July 30 — Aug. 14

Even in the depression, California's climate provided a sunny backdrop to breaking every world record in track and field, except the long jump. Mildred "Babe" Didrikson became the most successful track athlete at the Games, with two golds and a silver. The Olympic Stadium, which seated 105,000, and other facilities built for the 1932 Games were unparalleled in Olympic history. Seattle's Helene Madison, despite nudging a lane divider, won the 100 freestyle with room to spare, then took another gold four days later when she anchored the 400 freestyle relay in world-record time. She also won gold in the 400 freestyle the day after the relay, then celebrated that night by dancing with Clark Gable at the Coconut Grove.

	The University of Washington made a big splash in 1936.

XI. 1936 Berlin

Aug. 1 — 16

With Adolph Hitler on the rise, Berlin is most remembered for American Jesse Owens combating Nazi propaganda. The black sprinter won golds in the 100, 200, long jump and 400 relay to thumb his nose at Hitler and his master race. And on Lake Grunau, outside Berlin, with the ring of "Deutschland, Deutschland" filling their ears, the University of Washington crew caught up with the world, passing Germany, then Italy in the final 10 strokes to win the eight-oar gold medal. Jack Medica, another Husky, swam to gold in the 400-meter freestyle and also corralled two silvers (1,500 freestyle and a relay). Germany still outscored the United States in the gold-medal tally, 33-24. The tradition of the Olympic torch relay from Olympia in Greece began here, but because of World War II, this would be the last Games for 12 years.

XII. 1940, XIII. 1944

Canceled, World War II

	Bob Mathias became the youngest athlete in Olympic history to win a men's track event at age 17.

XIV. 1948 London

July 29 — Aug. 14

The war over, London was chosen to bring back the Olympics, largely because its facilities had not been destroyed. Germany and Japan were excluded. The teams stayed in military barracks and had to bring their own food. The female star of the Games was "The Flying Housewife," Dutch runner Fanny Blankers-Koen, a 30-year-old mother of two who won gold in the 100, 200, 400 relay and hurdles. Bob Mathias, just 17, won the decathlon, the youngest athlete in Olympic history to win a men's track event. This was also the first televised Games.

XV. 1952 Helsinki

July 19 — Aug. 3

The Russians reappeared after a four-decade absence, but Helsinki's adoration was on Emil and Dana Zatopek of Czechoslovakia — he won an unprecedented triple in the 5K, 10K and marathon (the first time he had run that distance); his wife took javelin gold. Mathias, the first decathlete to successfully defend his Olympic title, did so with a world-record total.

XVI. 1956 Melbourne

Nov. 22 — Dec. 8

For the first time, the Olympics ventured to the Southern Hemisphere — where they wouldn't return again for 44 years. The timing (in winter) caused some problems in that athletes needed to peak at a different time of year, and because of an Australian six-month quarantine, all equestrian events were moved to Stockholm. The biggest star was Soviet gymnast Larysa Latynina, who won six medals, four of them gold. The Aussies began to exert themselves in swimming as well, winning eight of 13 events. And the U.S. hoops team, led by Bill Russell and K.C. Jones, won all their games by at least 30 points. Most odd, perhaps, was a bantamweight weight-lifter who made weight by cutting his hair 15 minutes before the weigh-in, thus losing the last 200 grams. American Charles Vinci went on to win the gold medal with a world record.

	Wilma Rudolph won three golds in Rome.

XVII. 1960 Rome

Aug. 25 — Sept. 11

The two global powers went head to head, with the Soviet Union finishing ahead of the United States in the gold-medal count, 43-34. American sprinter Wilma Rudolph was an inspiration, coming from childhood polio to win three golds (100, 200 and 400 relay). Another highlight was Ethiopia's Abebe Bikila, who won the marathon running with bare feet. Latynina added three more gymnastics golds to her career haul, which totaled 18 when she was done.

XVIII. 1964 Tokyo

Oct. 10 — 24

Tokyo was said to set a new standard, spending $560 million on infrastructure and facilities that included a judo hall fashioned after a Japanese temple. But Japan did not medal in the newly introduced sport, as the gold went to a Dutch competitor. The barefoot Bikila was back to successfully defend his marathon title in world-record time — just six weeks after having his appendix removed. Joe Frazier won the heavyweight boxing crown, following in the footsteps of Muhammad Ali (who won gold as Cassius Clay in 1960).

XIX. 1968 Mexico City

Oct. 12 — 27

Politics were explosive in 1968, as Mexican protests of spending money on sport instead of society were squelched by riot police in Mexico City. Less than two weeks before the Olympics, some 250 were killed when Mexican troops opened fire on the protesters. Controversy continued on the victory stand when U.S. sprinters Tommie Smith and John Carlos raised black-gloved fists — symbols of black power — during the national anthem. The United States immediately banned the two sprinters and sent them home. High altitude was another factor, since the city was 7,500 feet above sea level. The athletes found it to their liking: Bob Beamon set the world record in the long jump at 29-2-½, which extended the record by a little more than 8 feet, an incredible feat. It wouldn't be broken for 23 years. Dick Fosbury won the high jump, but did it differently with what became the famous "Fosbury Flop," going shoulders first over the bar. American Al Oerter became the first athlete to win four straight titles in the same event, the discus. Tacoma backstroker Kaye Hall Greff won two golds and a bronze. Czech gymnast Vera Caslavska emerged from hiding after the Soviet invasion to win six medals — four were gold. George Foreman won the heavyweight boxing gold.

	Terrorists brought sadness and death to the 1972 Games in Munich.

XX. 1972 Munich

Aug. 26 — Sept. 10

Terrorists brought sadness and death to the Games on Sept. 5, as eight Palestinian guerrillas kidnapped the Israeli team in the Olympic Village. Eleven athletes, five terrorists and a policeman were killed. A 34-hour halt was called to hold a memorial service, then the competition continued as outgoing IOC chief Avery Brundage exulted: "The Games must go on." And they did. The 17-year-old gymnast Olga Korbut from Belarus won three golds as the Olympic darling, and U.S. swimmer Mark Spitz won seven gold medals, adding to the two golds he won in 1968. And another Flying Finn made the scene, this time it was a policeman, Lasse Viren, who won the 5K and 10K, the latter with a world record. He fell midway through the 10K, but got up and set a world record for the gold.

	Nadia Comaneci won three golds, a silver and a bronze in 1976.

XXI. 1976 Montreal

July 17 — Aug. 1

Athens in current times isn't the only Olympic host with construction problems. Cranes were still present during Montreal's opening ceremony. And also like today, stringent security was present because of the Munich tragedy. Twenty-two African nations boycotted because of apartheid controversies. Viren returned, successfully defending the 5K and 10K and finishing fifth in the marathon. Women's rowing was introduced as an Olympic sport, as was basketball and handball for women. American stars included Bruce Jenner in the decathlon and John Naber, who won four golds in swimming. For locals, Tacoma's Mac Wilkens won a gold in the discus after a successful college career at Oregon; he won the silver in 1984. But none could top the new sensation, 14-year-old Romanian gymnast Nadia Comaneci, who won three golds, a silver and a bronze. At 4 feet 11 and 86 pounds, Comaneci was awarded the sport's first perfect 10 — in the uneven bars — and finished with seven 10s by competition's end.

XXII. 1980 Moscow

July 19 — Aug. 3

For the first time, the Olympics came to a communist country, and another international boycott ensued, this one in protest of the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. The boycott meant that many athletes stayed home, as 65 nations boycotted, most notably the United States, Japan and West Germany. And while Romania's Comaneci returned, she won only the balance beam as major arguments ensued with Russian judges. She also was overshadowed by Alexandr Dityatin, who took three golds, four silvers and a bronze — a record for most won by a competitor of any sort in a single Games. He was awarded men's gymnastics' first 10 — in the vault.

	Carl Lewis captured four golds in 1984.

XXIII. 1984 Los Angeles

July 28 — Aug. 12

The Soviets and 13 other nations retaliated for the American boycott in Moscow and refused to come to Los Angeles. The first privately funded Olympics finished with a $223 million profit, largely because of organizer Peter Ueberroth. The star of the competition was Carl Lewis, the American sprinter who captured four golds. American distance runner Mary Decker Slaney got tangled up with barefoot runner Zola Budd and fell in the 3,000 meters, ending Slaney's lifelong dream for an Olympic medal. American Joan Benoit won the first women's marathon. In gymnastics, a Romanian — Ecaterina Szabo — took command with four golds and a silver as the most decorated in the L.A. Games. And in the just-introduced sport of synchronized swimming, Tracie Ruiz dazzled, with golds in solo and duet. Greg Louganis doubled with diving gold in highboard and springboard, and hurdler Edwin Moses secured his second Olympic crown. In swimming, stardom ignited with Mary T. Meagher's three golds, and in gymnastics, the crowd favorite was Mary Lou Retton, who won the all-around gold with a megawatt smile.

	Florence Griffith Joyner took golds in the 100, 200, and 400 relay and also a silver in the 1,600 in Seoul.

XXIV. 1988 Seoul

Sept. 17 — Oct. 2

After 12 years of boycotts, most of the world returned — 159 nations — to the Games in South Korea — except for North Korea, upset that it didn't get to host half the events, and Cuba. Overshadowing the competition was Ben Johnson, who won the 100 meters, setting a world record in the process. However, the Canadian sprinter tested positive for steroids and was suspended from competition. Sprinter Florence Griffith Joyner — Flo-Jo — steamed to golds in the 100, 200 and 400 relay, then took a silver in the 1,600 relay. Her sister-in-law, Jackie Joyner, won the heptathlon with a world-record performance, and also the long jump. East German swimmer Kristin Otto captured six golds, and American swimmer Matt Biondi took in a major medal haul with five golds, a silver and a bronze. The sport of tennis finally achieved official status, after being in and out as an exhibition sport for 64 years. Steffi Graf and Miloslav Mecir won tennis gold.

XXV. 1992 Barcelona

July 25 — Aug. 9

	Magic Johnson led the "Dream Team" to gold in men's basketball.

IOC chief Juan Antonio Samaranch brought the Olympics to his home country, which had been promised them in 1924. Samaranch believed in making the Games a commercial success — NBC paid $401 million for U.S. broadcasting rights — and altered start times to please advertisers and television interests. A united Germany came for the first time, receiving a large welcome at the opening ceremony, and South Africa, having repealed apartheid, was also invited back for the first time in 32 years. Seattle-born Gail Devers won gold in the 100 meters, a year after working through Grave's disease. Joyner-Kersee, at 30, successfully defended her heptathlon title. The Golden Boy was gymnast Vitaly Scherbo, with six golds, and even though representing the Unified team of the ex-Soviet republics, he asked that the flag of Belarus be raised on the podium. And, of course, it was the Olympic debut of the Dream Team, when the American basketball pros, with such superstars as Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, Charles Barkley and Washington native John Stockton, came to the Games for the first time. The Dream Team defeated all eight opponents by an average of 44 points. Baseball also was introduced, and the United States lost in its national pastime to Cuba in the gold-medal game.

XXVI. 1996 Atlanta

July 19 — Aug. 4

While many thought the 100th anniversary of the modern Games should return to its birthplace in Greece, the pick instead went to Atlanta, home of Coca-Cola, one of the major Olympic sponsors. Also curious was Atlanta's pick for a mascot: a blue blob with a big smile called "Whatizit." In an emotional moment, a trembling Muhammad Ali lit the Olympic cauldron. Mountain biking, softball and beach volleyball became the new sports in vogue, and several events were added for women: 5,000-meter run, triple jump, epee in fencing, an 800-meter freestyle swimming relay and soccer. Michael Johnson pulled off double sprint golds in the 200 and 400. A yachtsman, Hubert Raudaschl of Austria, became the first to compete in nine Olympics. But these Games were overcome on July 27 when a bomb exploded in Olympic Centennial Park, killing one fan and injuring 110. But again, the Games went on, flying the Olympic flag at half-mast and taking a moment of silence at each venue for the bombing victims.

	Puyallup's Megan Quann broke two records and won gold in Sydney.

XXVII. 2000 Sydney

Sept. 15 — Oct. 1

Aboriginal runner Cathy Freeman lit the flame in the opening ceremony, a move that was as symbolic as it was poignant. Sydney marked the emergence of 16-year-old swimmer Megan Quann of Puyallup, who won the 100 breaststroke in a U.S.-record time, then another gold in the 400 IM relay that broke the world record. There were 14 world records broken at the Sydney pool — Aussie Ian Thorpe, a crowd favorite, had one in the 400 freestyle. Another Seattle moment came in sailing, where brothers Charlie and Jonathan McKee took the bronze in the new 49er class. On the track, Marion Jones was the focus, as she dominated the 100 and 200, leaving Sydney with three golds and two bronze medals. But a dark cloud followed her home and still dogs her four years later, after then-husband C.J. Hunter was caught in the wake of steroid-abuse allegations. At the Athletes Village, officials complained that athletes from Bulgaria and other nations left rooms littered with syringes.

XXVIII. 2004 Athens

Aug. 13 — 29

The Olympics return to their birthplace.

Compiled by Cathy Henkel,

Sports Editor, Seattle Times.

Sources: "Chronicle of the Olympics: 1896-1996" (DK Publishing); "The Complete Book of the Summer Olympics," by David Wallechinsky; "The Story of the Olympic Games," by John Kieran and Arthur Daley; "The First Modern Olympics," by Richard Mandell; "The Olympic Games in Athens, 1896," by Burton Holmes; and the Hellenic Olympic Committee.

Copyright © 2004 The Seattle Times Company

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