(PCM) Every four years, the greatest athletes from all around the world gather on one stage to compete in various athelteic events for all the world to see. Chances are you already knew that, but did you know about some of the games oldest, or most challenging, or unbeatable records? Bet you didn’t know all of them!
In spirit of this years summer Olympics in London, the folks here at PCM decided to put together a list of some of the greatest records, in no particualr order. These records showcase some of the most noteworthy and iconic performances the world has ever seen. Some of these records are not that old, but in time, may prove to be unbeatable.
Oldest Records.
The oldest men’s athletic Olympic record is Bob Beamon’s (USA) long jump of 8.90 meters (29 feet, 2 1/2 inches) set at the 1968 Games in Mexico City on October 18, 1968.
The record stands to this day, some 44 years later. Below, watch footage of the incredible feat, with commentary from Beamon himself.
The oldest Women atheltic records at the Olympics all happened strangely at the 1980 games in Moscow, Russia. The Records were in Shot put, 800 meters, and the 4×100 meter relay.
Swimming records are not old at all, most records date back only to the 2008 games in Beijing, China. Some have even been broken already in this year’s games!
The Olympics have been a Worldwide spectacle for more than a milenium, meaning countless feats, accolades, and incredible records have been set, and even beaten. In fact, Some records are not in a specific event, but rather by age, or total medals won. Sometimes, even an individualcountry holds a record! (good, or bad!) These are the most incredible, uncanny, or “did you know?” records.
Most summer games without a medal. Most countries are dissapointed that they didn’t win the most medals, or the most gold, but some of those countries have at least won a medal! That’s right, the country of Monaco has the unfortunate distinction of having never won an Olympic medal. The country has participated in total of 18 Summer games, and 8 Winter games, bringing their total to a whopping 26 games without a medal.
Most Gold medals in same event.
Not only does Hungarian fencer Aladar Gerevich have more medals then the whole country of Monaco, he also has the record for most gold medals in the same event; that being the team sabre competition. His reign began in 1932 to 1960. In addition to his six sabre team golds, he also picked up a gold, silver and bronze in the sabre individual event and a bronze in the foil team event for a total of 10 medals during his Olympic career.
Most Olympic appearances.
Even though these next two athletes have fewer combined medals than Aldar Gerevich, they have a title Gerevich does not! These two athletes have become Olympic regulars by making a record nine Olympic appearances: Austrian Hubert Raudaschl in sailing and Canadian equestrian Ian Millar. Raudaschl went
to the Olympic games from 1964 until 1996, earning two silver medals along the way. Millar began competing at the Olympics in 1972, winning a silver medal. He has been named to 10 Olympic teams, and is even set to represent Canada in the London Games this year. remarkable!
Oldest Olympian.
This record may never be broken, that’s mainly due to the fact that it has standed for more than 90 years! In 1920, 72-year-old Swedish shooter Oscar Swahn won a silver medal in a shooting competition called “Team 100-meter running deer, double shot” making him the oldest athlete to compete in the Olympics. The Swedish-born athlete competed in three Olympic games during his life, winning three gold, a silver and two bronze medals.
Most Olympic Gold medals.
Monaco is not the only Country to have a notable medal record. However, 
this recrod is something remarkable, and not unfortunate. The 1984 games Los Angeles may have been an obvious “home-field advantage” thats because the United States earned a record 83 Gold medals, a record that has standed for almost 30 years. But there is a note that should be added to this record: 16 countries boycotted the ’84 games, including the Olympic powerhouse Soviet Union.
Youngest to win Gold.
We already know that Oscar Swahn is the oldest olympian ever, but how about the youngest Olympian to not only compete, but to win gold?! That’s right – in 1976, Romanian Gymnast Nadia Comaneci made a few Iconic olympic moments. Most remembered may be that she was the first gymnast to ever recieve a perfect score of 10. A a move that was so unexpected, the score board didn’t have enough places to display the score. That feat has since been repeated, by American Mary Lou Retton in America’s year, of 1984. However, Nadia won her three gold medals when she was 14 years old, making her the youngest gymnast to ever win a gold medal. Today, gymnasts have to be a minimum of 16 years old to compete, which cuts out any potential competition to Nadia’s young feat.
Most Gold medals in one Olympic games.
This feat is only 4 years old, and many probably remember where they were when it happened. In fact, the challenge was the single most talked about topic leading up to the 2008 games. Before Michael Phelps, Mark Spitz had held the record for the most Gold medals won in one games, that being 7 in 1972. Not only did Phelps beat this record with an unheard of 8 medals, he did it in the most dramatic of fashions, by a tenth of a second. Phelps is considered to be the greatest Olympic swimmer ever, if not the greatest Olympian ever. This is supported by the fact that he has the most Gold medals of any athlete in the history of the Olympics- a feat that he is sure to add to by the end of the 2012 games.
That concludes are list of notable Olympic records. Maybe in another 4, or 12 years this list will look drastically different. With the ever-changing world, and Atheletes being produced that are even stronger and faster than their legendary predecessors, I am sure a few of these records are bound to fall.