1. The Tug of War used to be an Olympic sport!
The Tug of war was contested as a team event at every Summer Olympics from 1900 to 1920. Imagine.
2. Great Britain is the only country to win a gold medal at every summer games
Despite USA picking up more Gold (976), more Silver (758), more Bronze (666) and more total medals (2400) than any other nation at the Summer games, it is actually Great Britain who have managed to win at least 1 gold medal in every single summer games - Go Team GB!
3. The Olympic organisers hand out thousands of condoms to athletes
Since the Barcelona 1992 games, giving out free condoms has become a tradition. This year, the Rio Olympics organisers are giving out 450,000 condoms to athletes at this years games to encourage safe sex. That's enough condoms for each athlete to have sex 84 times!
4. The youngest competitor ever was only 10 years old!
In the 1896 Athens Olympics, the birth of the modern Olympics, Dimitrios Loundras a Greek Gymnast won a bronze medal for his efforts. To this day he still remains the youngest Olympic competitor and medalist on record at the mere age of 10 (and 218 days) when he won his medal.
5. An Ethiopian marathon runner claimed gold barefoot
Abebe Bikila, from Ethiopia, won the marathon gold medal in the 1960 Rome Olympics. He did so at night, in bare feet, and was also the first African to win gold! He then went on to win the following 1964 Olympic games in Tokyo, this time wearing shoes.
6. Gold medals aren't gold
Gold medals haven't been pure gold since 1912. The gold medals awarded now are actually silver, with gold plating. We'd still be happy to have one though...
7. The fastest moving object at the Olympics isn't Usain Bolt
The fastest moving object in the Olympics is the marksman's bullet. Obvious? Not so obvious is that second to that is the tip of the fencing blade!
8. An impostor tried to claim the marathon gold medal title in Munich
In the 1972 Munich Games, Frank Shorter was out in front and heading towards the finish line to claim victory in the marathon. Before he entered the stadium however, an impostor ran out on to the track from the tunnel and claimed applause from the crowd who assumed he was about to win the race. By the time Shorter reached the stadium, the crowd were so confused that he crossed the finish line to silence. Poor Frank!
9. Altitude gives you speed
The 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City were notable for a number of World Records. Due to the high altitude of the city, there is less air resistance making it ideal conditions for runners. There were a whopping 10 World Records broken in these games in running events!
10. Rio will make South American history
Rio 2016 will be the first time in Olympic history that a South American country has hosted the Games. The city won its bid in 2009, beating out Chicago, Madrid and Tokyo. Who's excited for a carnival?
If you love our Olympic facts, head to our website to find out more about the University of Leeds student and alumni athletes heading to Rio this year - there are 8!
