Fact of the Day

When Ethiopian Haile Gebrselassie won the 10,000 metres at the Sydney Olympics in 2000 his winning margin of victory over Kenyan rival Paul Tergat was only 0.09sec, closer than the winning margin in the men's 100m final.

When Ethiopian Haile Gebrselassie won the 10,000 metres at the Sydney Olympics in 2000 his winning margin of victory over Kenyan rival Paul Tergat was only 0.09sec, closer than the winning margin in the men's 100m final. That race was won by American Maurice Greene, who beat Trinidad and Tobago's Ato Boldon by 0.12.

The oldest athlete to compete and win a medal at the Olympics is Swedish shooter Oscar Swahn, who was 72 when he won a silver in the 100metres team running deer, double shots, event at Antwerp in 1920

The oldest athlete to compete and win a medal at the Olympics is Swedish shooter Oscar Swahn, who was 72 when he won a silver in the 100 metres team running deer, double shots, event at Antwerp in 1920. It was the last of six medals he won in the Games, including three gold, two at London in 1908 and one at Stockholm 1912.

During the first several modern Olympics, the marathon was always an approximate distance

During the first several modern Olympics, the marathon was always an approximate distance. In 1908, the British Royal Family requested that the marathon start at the Windsor Castle so that the Royal children could witness its start. The distance from the Windsor Castle to the Olympic Stadium in White City was 42,195 meters (or 26 miles and 385 yards). In 1924, this distance became the standardised length of a marathon.

Olivier Halassy, a member of Hungary's water polo team, won three Olympic medals, including two gold, between 1928 and 1936.

Olivier Halassy, a member of Hungary's water polo team, won three Olympic medals, including two gold, between 1928 and 1936. What makes his achievement even more remarkable is that he had only one leg, the other having been amputated below the knee following a childhood traffic accident. He was killed in 1946 by a Soviet soldier after a robbery near his home in Budapest.

When Paris was bidding to host the 1992 Olympics, their bid committee published a poster depicting Asterix holding a torch over the Eiffel Tower, while a brief Asterix at the Olympics story was also written to promote the campaign.

When Paris was bidding to host the 1992 Olympics, their bid committee published a poster depicting Asterix holding a torch over the Eiffel Tower, while a brief Asterix at the Olympics story was also written to promote the campaign. It made little difference, though as the Games were awarded to Barcelona.

In 490 BCE, Pheidippides, a Greek soldier, ran from Marathon to Athens (about 25 miles) to inform the Athenians the outcome of the battle with invading Persians.

In 490 BC, Pheidippides, a Greek soldier, ran from Marathon to Athens - about 25 miles - to inform the Athenians the outcome of the battle with invading Persians. The distance was filled with hills and other obstacles; thus Pheidippides arrived in Athens exhausted and with bleeding feet. After telling the townspeople of the Greeks' success in the battle, Pheidippides fell to the ground dead. In 1896, at the first modern Olympic Games, held a race of approximately the same length in commemoration of Pheidippides.