Buzz
Every four years, millions around the globe tune in to watch the Olympic Games, where the world’s top athletes battle it out in one of the toughest and most prestigious arenas of both physical and mental endurance.
There’s an undeniable allure in knowing that any competitor stepping onto the field, court, track, or arena could emerge as the champion in their respective sport. However, throughout the Games' 120-year legacy, there have been countless attempts to disrupt fairness and prevent equal participation even before the competition started.
10. Pierre de Coubertin
Pierre de Coubertin, widely regarded as the father of the modern Olympic Games, is celebrated for championing the ideals of fair play and the Olympic spirit. Yet, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) prefers not to discuss his deeply problematic views regarding female athletes.
Along with several other IOC members, Coubertin did his utmost to prevent women from participating in the Olympic Games. In a 1912 letter, he expressed his belief, stating, “In our view, this feminine semi-Olympiad is impractical, uninteresting, ungainly, and, I do not hesitate to add, improper.”
Coubertin’s discriminatory views were rooted in his belief that the ancient Olympic Games were meant to test male strength, endurance, and mental fortitude, and that women had no place in such challenges. However, his influence was not permanent.
Women made their Olympic debut in the 1900 Games, where they were allowed to compete in tennis and golf. Coubertin’s belief that “the Olympic Games must be reserved for men” was ultimately overturned when women participated in boxing, the last male-only sport, at the 2012 Olympics.
9. Scandalous Actions by the British in London
The British team went into the 1908 London Olympics expecting to claim victory across the board, but they were upset when things didn’t go as planned. Allegations of biased officials, excessively heavy shoes in the tug-of-war, and a questionable rerun of the 400m race after the Americans were on track to win sparked accusations of cheating from other countries.
Despite these controversies, the American team triumphed in most events. One American newspaper reported, “The American victory at the Olympic Games in London, achieved despite unfairness and, in some cases, blatant cheating, will be celebrated by a national welcome for the athletes upon their return to New York.”
8. The Exclusion of Women from the 800m Event
In 1928, women were finally included in the Olympic Games for the first time. While men had been competing in track events since the first modern Olympics in 1896, women had to fight for their place and celebrated with great joy when they were granted entry after 32 years.
However, the women didn’t anticipate that one of the events, the 800m race, would be banned for the next 32 years after the final in Amsterdam. The reason behind the controversy: women collapsing from exhaustion after crossing the finish line.
Newspaper articles reported that the women were found in critical condition after the race, having pushed their bodies beyond their limits. Coaches and officials advocated for the removal of the event, arguing that they were safeguarding female competitors who could severely harm their delicate, feminine bodies if they overexerted themselves.
It wasn’t until the 1960 Olympics that people finally acknowledged their mistake and allowed the middle-distance competitors to return to the track.
7. Cycling in the Marathon
For every athlete, winning an Olympic gold medal in front of a hometown crowd is a dream come true. In 1904, American Fred Lorz seemed to fulfill that dream when he crossed the finish line of the marathon in first place, cheered on by the St. Louis audience. But not everything was as it appeared.
The oppressive heat and dusty conditions along the route led to vomiting, cramps, bleeding, and dehydration for many of the 32 competitors. Lorz himself wasn’t faring well at the 9-mile mark and had to slow to a walk until a passing car offered him a ride.
By mile 11, Lorz felt well enough to continue on his own. A few hours later, he crossed the finish line to a roaring crowd. The ecstatic home crowd cheered as Lorz was awarded the winner’s wreath by Alice Roosevelt, daughter of President Roosevelt.
But before the celebrations could continue, an official stepped forward to reveal the truth. Lorz claimed it had all been a joke and that he never intended to accept the victory. However, the officials weren’t amused and banned him from athletics.
6. Losing to Win in Badminton
In the Olympics, you usually expect competitors to give their all in pursuit of victory. However, four pairs in the 2012 women’s badminton doubles competition had a different strategy. Thanks to the round-robin structure of the initial stage, these teams realized they could improve their chances of reaching the final by intentionally losing an early round, thus facing weaker opponents later on.
Two South Korean teams, one Chinese team, and one Indonesian team had already secured their place in the knockout stages. They deliberately aimed to lose their final round-robin matches in order to better position themselves for the upcoming match play rounds.
In response to the actions of these teams, the Badminton World Federation ruled their conduct unsporting and dishonest and expelled them from the tournament.
5. Marathon Legend Banned For Accepting Expenses
It’s rare for athletes to advocate for the return of a fellow competitor, but that’s exactly what the marathon runners of the 1932 Los Angeles Olympics did. Paavo Nurmi, a long-distance legend, was disqualified from the Games after being accused of accepting excessive travel expenses, marking him as a professional athlete.
Throughout his remarkable career, Nurmi became the first athlete to win five Olympic gold medals in a single Games. His unmatched success turned him into a global superstar, which led to doubts about the legitimacy of the payments he received for competing in events.
Once branded a professional in a contest meant for amateurs, Nurmi was suspended and never again took part in the Olympic Games.
4. Unwanted Violence in Tae Kwon Do
In martial arts, kicking is often a fundamental technique. However, Cuban athlete Angel Matos was disqualified from the 2008 Olympic Games and banned for life after deliberately kicking a referee in the face.
During his bronze medal match, Matos exceeded the allowed time during a medical break, leading referee Chakir Chelbat to disqualify him. Unhappy with the decision, Matos responded with a devastating kick directly to the referee’s face.
3. Cheating Track Twins
Identical twins are known for pulling off clever tricks when they can’t be told apart. Madeline and Margaret de Jesus took advantage of this at the 1984 Olympics when Margaret stepped in for Madeline, fooling the world’s eyes and creating a stunning illusion.
It all began after Madeline sustained an injury during the long jump, preventing her from running in the 4x400m relay heats. With the sisters being so identical that even their coach couldn’t tell them apart, Margaret easily took Madeline’s place, helping the Puerto Rican team secure a spot in the final.
The twins almost pulled off their ruse. However, after discovering the deception, their own coach withdrew the team from the final.
2. Dodgy Refereeing in Boxing
If a boxer hits the canvas five times in a single round, it’s fair to assume he won’t win the match. That’s what everyone in the ExCel London arena thought during the 2012 bout between Azerbaijan’s Magomed Abdulhamidov and Japan’s Satoshi Shimizu.
However, Ishanguly Meretnyyazov, the referee from Turkmenistan, saw things differently. He declared Abdulhamidov the winner despite overlooking three knockdowns and assisting him in adjusting his headgear. After an appeal, Shimizu was reinstated, and the referee was sent home the following day by the International Boxing Association.
1. A Controversial Fine in Cycling
The 1936 Berlin Olympics were marked by controversy. Amidst the political and racial tensions on the track, a strange event unfolded on the velodrome.
In the sprint final, German cyclist Toni Merkens competed against Arie van Vliet from the Netherlands. Merkens openly disrupted van Vliet’s lane, but no foul was called, and Merkens claimed the gold medal.
The Dutch team lodged a protest. After considerable debate, it was concluded that Merkens would keep his gold medal but would be fined 100 marks.
