10 Controversial Events That Shook the Summer Olympics

Paris will host the 2024 Summer Olympics, scheduled from July 26 to August 11. This marks the third occasion the French capital has staged the global event, having previously done so in 1900 and 1924.

The modern iteration of the Summer Olympics began in Athens in 1896, inspired by the Ancient Greek tradition of the Olympiad. While the Games aim to promote international unity, they have also been plagued by numerous scandals and tragedies throughout their history. Below are 10 of the most notable controversies in Summer Olympics history.

Marathon Runner Banned for Riding in a Carriage // 1896 Summer Olympics, Athens

The marathon, inspired by the legend of Pheidippides' epic run, stands as one of the most celebrated events in Olympic history. It played a pivotal role in the inaugural modern Summer Games of 1896.

The debut of the modern Olympic marathon was overshadowed by scandal after bronze medalist Spyridon Belokas was found to have violated the rules. He had partially traveled by carriage, leading to his disqualification.

Nazi Germany Stages the Games // 1936 Summer Olympics, Berlin

Berlin, Germany, secured the bid to host the 1936 Summer Olympics in 1932. However, the political climate in the country deteriorated drastically in the following four years. By 1936, Hitler and the Nazis had risen to power, enacting antisemitic laws and using the Games of the XI Olympiad as a platform to spread their hateful ideologies and propaganda.

Calls to boycott the event gained momentum. In the U.S., the Amateur Athletic Union dismissed a proposal to withdraw, and the American Olympic Committee urged athletes to participate. Jesse Owens, who secured four gold medals, emerged as a defiant symbol against Nazi propaganda, cementing his legacy as one of the most celebrated athletes in Olympic history.

The Infamous “Blood in the Water” Water Polo Game // 1956 Summer Olympics, Melbourne 

The 1956 Summer Olympics water polo final between Hungary and the Soviet Union transcended sports, occurring just weeks after the USSR violently suppressed an anti-Soviet uprising in Budapest, resulting in hundreds dead and thousands injured.

The match turned violent, with both teams engaging in kicking and punching. Hungary led, but in the final minutes, Soviet player Valentin Prokopov struck Hungarian Ervin Zador, causing his eye to bleed profusely. Hungary’s victory was overshadowed by the sight of Zador’s bloodied face, earning the match the infamous title of the “blood in the water” game.

Israeli Athletes Taken Hostage and Killed // 1972 Summer Olympics, Munich

The 1972 Munich Games witnessed one of the most tragic incidents in Olympic history. The militant group Black September infiltrated the Olympic village, killing two Israeli athletes and seizing nine others as hostages. A final standoff between the terrorists and police, who were attempting a rescue, ended in the deaths of all hostages, a West German officer, and five militants.

The Cold War Boycotts // 1980 Summer Olympics, Moscow and 1984 Summer Olympics, Los Angeles

The Olympics have frequently been influenced by global politics, with numerous nations boycotting the Games over the years. The most significant boycotts took place during the 1980 Moscow Games and the 1984 Los Angeles Games.

In 1980, over 60 countries, led by the U.S., boycotted the Moscow Games in response to the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. American athletes were threatened with passport revocation if they tried to participate as Independent Olympic Athletes.

In retaliation, the USSR, Eastern Bloc nations, and Cuba boycotted the 1984 Los Angeles Games.

Ben Johnson’s 100m World Record and Subsequent Doping Scandal // 1988 Summer Olympics, Seoul

Doping controversies have plagued numerous Olympic Games. One of the most notorious cases happened in 1988 when Canadian sprinter Ben Johnson tested positive for banned substances after setting a world record in the 100m dash. This race was among the most anticipated events, and as the Guardian noted, “It marked the first instance of a high-profile athlete like Johnson being exposed for such cheating, leaving the Olympic community in shock.”

The Atlanta Olympic Park Bombing // 1996 Summer Olympics, Atlanta

The 1996 Atlanta Games were marred by tragedy when an explosion occurred during a rock concert at Centennial Olympic Park, resulting in two deaths and numerous injuries. Despite the incident, the Summer Olympics continued, though with heightened security measures.

Further controversy arose when the security guard who discovered the bomb was wrongly accused before being exonerated. The actual bomber, Eric Randolph, evaded capture and carried out attacks at three additional locations before hiding in North Carolina’s Nantahala National Forest. He remained on the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list until his arrest in 2003 by a rookie officer who caught him rummaging through a dumpster.

A Former Priest Assaults a Marathon Runner // 2004 Summer Olympics, Athens

Similar to the inaugural modern Olympics in Athens, the marathon at the 2004 Games also became a focal point of controversy. Brazilian runner Vanderlei de Lima was leading the race when a man abruptly rushed onto the course and assaulted him near the 22-mile mark. This incident caused de Lima to lose his lead, and he was overtaken by another runner shortly after. Despite the setback, de Lima secured the bronze medal, though he had been on track for gold. The International Olympic Committee later honored him with the Pierre de Coubertin medal for his “remarkable display of fair play and Olympic spirit.”

The assailant was identified as Neil Horan, an ex-priest from Ireland, who had previously disrupted the 2003 British Grand Prix at Silverstone by running onto the track.

The “Lochtegate” Scandal: False Robbery Allegations // 2016 Summer Olympics, Rio de Janeiro

The 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games were overshadowed by the Lochtegate scandal, involving American swimmers Ryan Lochte, Gunnar Bentz, Jack Conger, and James Feigen. The athletes alleged they were robbed at gunpoint at a Rio gas station, but police investigations, including witness statements and video evidence, contradicted their story. Authorities revealed the swimmers had vandalized the gas station’s restroom and were confronted by armed security guards.

Lochte later confessed to embellishing and fabricating parts of the incident, including the claim that a gun was held to his head. As a result, he received a 10-month suspension from the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee and USA Swimming, while the other swimmers were suspended for four months.

The Forced Repatriation Attempt of Krystsina Tsimanouskaya // 2020 Summer Olympics, Tokyo

The 2020 Tokyo Olympics were delayed until 2021 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the health crisis wasn’t the only challenge the Games faced.

Belarusian officials tried to forcibly repatriate sprinter Krystsina Tsimanouskaya after she publicly criticized her coaches on social media. She revealed that team officials escorted her to the airport and pressured her to return to Belarus. After receiving asylum offers from several European nations, Tsimanouskaya chose Poland, where she gained citizenship in 2022.