Whether you’re heading to the Paris Olympics this summer, planning to watch the games on TV, or even missing the event entirely, why not learn about some fascinating facts from Paris Olympics past!
(And don’t forget to flip the card to find out even more!)
1. The modern Olympics
The modern Olympics were founded in late 19th century by a Parisian: Baron Pierre de Coubertin
He was inspired in part by the ideas of the English surgeon and educationalist William Penny Brookes
2. The modern Olympics
Prior to the 2024 Summer Olympics, Paris hosted 2 Olympics games: the 1900 Summer Olympics and the 1924 Summer Olympics
Prior to 2024, France hosted 5 Olympic games overall: 1900 Summer in Paris, 1924 Summer in Paris, 1924 Winter in Chamonix, 1968 Winter in Grenoble, and 1992 Winter in Albertville
3. 1900 Summer Olympics
Tug-of-War made its debut at the games
Its last appearance would be at the 1920 games
4. 1900 Summer Olympics
Constantin Henriquez became the first black athlete to participate in the games and win an Olympic gold medal
He was part of the team that won gold in Tug-of-War
5. 1900 Summer Olympics
Women were able to compete in the Olympics for the first time
Hélène de Pourtalès, who won a gold in sailing, was the first female Olympic champion
6. 1900 Summer Olympics
American Ray Ewry won his first 3 Olympic gold medals, in the now-defunct standing jump competition
Ewry contracted polio as a child, used a wheelchair, and was feared to never be able to use his legs again
7. 1900 Summer Olympics
The Marathon course, which followed the old Paris city walls, wasn’t blocked off for the race, or even marked very well
Runners had to contend with cyclists, pedestrians, animals, and even getting lost!
8. 1900 Summer Olympics
Basque pelota made its only appearance at the Olympic level
The competition was won by the Spanish team after the only other team competing – France – withdrew
9. 1900 Summer Olympics
Croquet also made its only Olympic appearance
All of the competitors were French
10. 1900 Summer Olympics
It is thought that the youngest ever Olympic champion won his title at these games
An unnamed French boy, estimated to be between 7 and 12 years old, served as the coxswain for the winning rowing team
11. 1900 Summer Olympics
Alvin Kraenzlein won 4 individual track and field events at the games. The record of winning this many individual track and field events at a single Olympics has never been surpassed
Alvin later became a dentist
12. 1924 Summer Olympics
Paris became the first city to host the Olympics twice
In 2024, it will become one of three city to have hosted the modern Olympics twice (the others being London and, in 2028, Los Angeles)
13. 1924 Summer Olympics
Ireland made its debut as an independent nation
The country had gained independence from Britain just a year prior, in 1923
14. 1924 Summer Olympics
The competition was broadcast on radio for the first time
Lack of international broadcasting meant that the event was mostly broadcast in France
15. 1924 Summer Olympics
Germany was not allowed to compete at the games, as anti-German sentiment was still running high after WWI
Germany’s WWI allies, Austria, Hungary, and Turkey, however, all sent athletes to the games
16. 1924 Summer Olympics
Finnish runner Paavo Nurmi won a historic 5 gold medals
He won the 1500m and 5000m races – within 55 minutes of each other
17. 1924 Summer Olympics
Johnny Weissmuller won 3 gold medals in swimming and 1 in water polo
He later became a Hollywood star for his turn as Tarzan in several films
18. 1924 Summer Olympics
The track and fields feats of Harold Abrahams and Eric Liddell were later turned into the Oscar-winning movie Chariots of Fire
The film won 4 Academy Awards, including Best Picture
19. 1924 Summer Olympics
The Olympic motto Citius, Altius, Fortius (Faster, Higher, Stronger) was used for the first time
de Coubertin took the motto from a priest friend of his
20. 1924 Summer Olympics
William DeHart Hubbard became the first black athlete to win an individual gold medal
He won the running long jump event
Did you learn anything new? Let me know in the comments!
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