Americans Win First Olympic Basketball Competition. Basketball made its debut as an Olympic sport at the 1936 Games in Berlin. On August 14, 1936, the U.S. won the Gold Medal, defeating Canada 19-8. The championship game was played outdoors in similar fashion to all the other basketball games of the Berlin Olympics. The "Master Olympic Planners" hadn't gotten the memo that … [Read more...] about U.S. Olympic Basketball Team Wins Gold in Berlin – August 14, 1936
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Michael Phelps Wins 10th and 11th Gold – August 13, 2008
Records are meant to be broken, but with respect to the record for the most Olympic Gold Medals won by an individual, it might have been more correct to say that "records are meant to be tied". That's what the Soviet gymnast Larisa Latynina did in 1964 when she won her ninth gold medal in 1964, equaling the record of Paavo Nurmi ("The Flying Finn") who won his ninth Gold Medal … [Read more...] about Michael Phelps Wins 10th and 11th Gold – August 13, 2008
Mary Decker Trips and Loses Chance for Gold – August 10,1984
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=10Qys5W-aKE The Women's 3,000 Meter run made its debut at the 1984 Olympics, in Los Angeles. Much attention was focused on the race because one of the favorites, Zola Budd, was born and raised in South Africa. In January of 1984, the 17-year-old Budd, running barefoot in Stellenbosch, South Africa, broke Mary Decker's world record in the 5,000 … [Read more...] about Mary Decker Trips and Loses Chance for Gold – August 10,1984
Jesse Owens Wins 4th Gold at Berlin August 9, 1936
Jesse Owens won his fourth gold medal at the 1936 Olympics on August 9, 1936. He ran the first leg for the U.S. team in the 4x100 meter relay. Prior to his participation on the relay team, Owens was already "the big story" of the 1936 Olympics (at least among the athletes), having won the the long jump, as well as the 100 and 200 meter individual sprints. As if … [Read more...] about Jesse Owens Wins 4th Gold at Berlin August 9, 1936
Babe Didrikson Robbed of Olympic Gold August 7, 1932
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GUKNj_tpi14 Babe Didrikson won a silver medal in the Women's High Jump at the 1932 Los Angeles Olympics. She actually cleared the same height as the gold medalist, her American teammate and rival, Jean Shiley (5' 5.25"), however in a bizarre ruling, the judge said that Didrikson's leap was illegal. Apparently the judge didn't think that any of … [Read more...] about Babe Didrikson Robbed of Olympic Gold August 7, 1932