Sissylympics!

The Olympics were obviously a highlight of the last year. The Quadrennial meet showcase some of the most brilliant athletes from around the world and is not only a display of grit and perseverance but also of mutual camaraderie amongst people of every race, creed, nationality, ethnicity and whatever else we choose to distinguish ourselves by. But alas, this bravura display of testosterone filled machismo and progesterone fueled prowess was not always so full of pumping excitement. So without further ado, Five FünFacts about the Olympics former glory:

#5

We all know that the Olympics originated in Greece and were held in the honor of Zeus. But what was originally considered a gymnasium was not simply a place for people to work out but literally meant a place for people to be naked; Gymnos meaning naked, in Greek. Another popular act was gymnologising which was the act of debating naked.

#4

Baron de Coubertin was the father of the modern olympic movement. He was also a winner of a gold medal, but his victory is far more flattering. He entered and won a gold medal in poetry.

#3

Now, you might be wondering that poetry is an absurd category to win an olympic medal in, however, The olympic used to be much broader and contained various categories like sculpture, music, painting, literature, etc. Until 1948 there was a medal for Town Planning. They stopped it because categories involving artists meant that the people who were artist would continue to be so all their life but athletes can be so only during their peak.

#2

The oldest ever medal winner was a 78 year old named John Cockley from england who one for Engraving and Etching.

#1

Olympic gold medals aren't actually made of gold. There are almost 93% silver with only a bit of gold, usually 6 grams.The last actual gold medal was made in 1912. If each medal was made of 18 karat gold it would cost around $4,500 each and $2.3 million for all the medals.

Images used:

http://www.redstate.com/2012/10/18/obama-wins-debate-and-it-shows-in-the-polls/

http://www.artbible.info/art/large/338.html

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Parthenon.at.Nashville.Tenenssee.01.jpg

http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/ggb2005018148/

http://www.gcrunner.org/gcrgoldmedal.html

http://webneel.com/webneel/blog/20-photographs-olympic-athletes-crying-crying-games-london-2012

Quote of the week:

"The Olympics. Not a sport but several peculiar sports, each of which only commands your attention every four years, like a dental appointment." - Dan Jenkins