Olympic story
About the author

Erin Fish
Nation
Credits
*Photo 1: Robert Garrett – IOC Platform, Photo PHO10003069 – Copyright notice: © 1896 / International Olympic Committee (IOC) / MEYER, Albert – All rights reserved
*Photo 2: James Brendan Connolly – IOC Platform, Photo PHO10003074 – Copyright notice: © 1896 / International Olympic Committee (IOC) / MEYER, Albert – All rights reserved
Photo 3: Muhammad Ali – Getty Images, Photo 467804256 – Photo by Jerry Cooke /Sports Illustrated via Getty Images (Set Number: X6933 TK11 R5 F29)
Photo 4: Muhammad Ali – Getty Images, Photo 81884961 – Photo by Marvin E. Newman/Sports Illustrated via Getty Images (SetNumber: X6919 TK20)
Photo 5: Mark Spitz – Getty Images, Photo 1916125 – Mandatory Credit: Tony Duffy/Allsport
Photo 6: Mark Spitz – Getty Images, Photo 1254626549 – Photo by Roba Archive/United Archives via Getty Images
Photo 7: Edwin Moses – Getty Images, Photo 150403689 – Photo by Neil Leifer /Sports Illustrated via Getty Images (Set Number: X20678 TK10 R6 F25)
Photo 8: Edwin Moses – Getty Images, Photo 644617142 – Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images
Photo 9: Greg Louganis – Getty Images, Photo 53112107 – Photo by Pascal Rondeau
Photo 10: Simone Biles – Getty Images, Photo 1180798360 – Photo by Laurence Griffiths
Photo 11: Jesse Owens – Getty Images, Photo 1736156 – Photo by Getty Images
Photo 12: Jesse Owens – Getty Images, Photo 2642611 – Photo by Keystone/Getty Images
Photo 13: Jesse Owens – Getty Images, Photo 514911508 – Photo by Bettmann/Getty Images
Photo 14: Jesse Owens – Getty Images, Photo 517215922 – Photo by Bettmann/Getty Images
Photo 15: Tommie Smith and John Carlos – Getty Images, Photo 80751541 – Photo by Rolls Press/Popperfoto via Getty Images
Photo 16: Tommie Smith and John Carlos – Getty Images, Photo 79025649 – Photo by Popperfoto via Getty Images
Photo 17: Tommie Smith and John Carlos – Getty Images, Photo 80752480 – Photo by Rolls Press/Popperfoto via Getty Images
Photo 18: Bob Beamon – Getty Images, Photo 72318585 – Mandatory Credit: Tony Duffy /Allsport
Photo 19: Dick Fosbury – Getty Images, Photo 360268 – Mandatory Credit: Tony Duffy/ALLSPORT
Photo 20: Jim Thorpe – Getty Images, Photo 3224928 – Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images
Photo 21: Wilma Rudolph – Getty Images, Photo 234623 – Mandatory Credit: HULTON DEUTSCH/ALL
Photo 22: Carl Lewis – Getty Images, Photo 950004354 – Photo by Pool PERRIN/TARDY/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images
Photo 23: Carl Lewis – Getty Images, Photo 1207133665 – Photo by David Madison/Getty Images
Photo 24: Carl Lewis – Getty Images, Photo 643785346 – Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images
Photo 25: Carl Lewis – Getty Images, Photo 52835444 – Photo by Gunnar Berning/Bongarts/Getty Images
Photo 26: Florence Griffith Joyner – Getty Images, Photo 1636140 – Mandatory Credit: Allsport UK /Allsport
Photo 27: Florence Griffith Joyner – Getty Images, Photo 1794342 – Photo by Tony Duffy/Allsport/Getty Images
Photo 28: Jackie Joyner-Kersee – Getty Images, Photo 645857776 – Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images
Photo 29: Jackie Joyner-Kersee – Getty Images, Photo 827339240 – Photo by Heinz Kluetmeier /Sports Illustrated via Getty Images (Set Number: X43174 TK20 R2 F27)
Photo 30: Sugar Ray Leonard – Getty Images, Photo 352070 – Mandatory Credit: Mike Powell /Allsport
Photo 31: USA Basketball Team – Getty Images, Photo 143331932 – Photo by Richard Mackson /Sports Illustrated via Getty Images (Set Number: X43178 TK47 R3 F17)
Photo 32: Serena and Venus Williams – Getty Images, Photo 82389366 – Photo by Clive Brunskill
Photo 33: USA Gymnastics Team – Getty Images, Photo 685831536 – Photo by David Madison
Photo 34: USA Gymnastics Team – Getty Images, Photo 150281097 – Photo by Charles Eshelman/FilmMagic
Photo 35: Kerri Walsh – Getty Images, Photo 51185187 – Photo by Ian Waldie
Photo 36: USA Football Team – Getty Images, Photo 1332937069 – Photo by Naomi Baker
Photo 37: Natalie Coughlin – Getty Images, Photo 610594032 – Photo by Al Bello
Photo 38: Natalie Coughlin – Getty Images, Photo 513829564 – Photo by Alex Menendez
Photo 39: Ryan Lochte – Getty Images, Photo 1324147284 – Photo by Maddie Meyer
Photo 40: Allyson Felix – Getty Images, Photo 1333624589 – Photo by Christian Petersen
Photo 41: Katie Ledecky – Getty Images, Photo 1331609042 – Photo by Laurence Griffiths
Photo 42: Michael Phelps – Getty Images, Photo 589403064 – Photo by Al Bello
Photo 43: Michael Phelps – Getty Images, Photo 588641410 – Photo by Adam Pretty
*All Olympic Footage / Images / Audio available in this production is copyright of and reproduced only with the consent of the International Olympic Committee. All Olympic Logos / Poster available in this production is copyright of and reproduced only with the consent of the International Olympic Committee