Interesting Facts About Olympic Athletes

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The 27th Olympiad was held in Sydney, Australia… American sprinter Marion Jones became the first woman to win 5 track and field medals in a single Olympic Games. She was born in Belize, a small country in Central American.

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The XVI Summer Olympic Games were held in Atlanta, Georgia (USA)… Jefferson Perez became the first athlete from Ecuador to win a gold medal. Perez was given a hero´s welcome when he returned to his country.

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Peru won the silver medal in women´s volleyball in the XXIII Summer Olympic Games in South Korea. The silver medal for Peru was the second ever won by that country in Olympic competition.

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The 26th Olympiad was held in Atlanta… Venuste Niyongabo became the first runner from Burundi to win a gold medal. Burundi is one of the most poorest countries in Africa.

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One of the most famous athletes in South African history is Josia Thugwane. He won the gold medal in the marathon at the Atlanta Olympics. Josia became South Africa´s first black gold medalist.

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Costa Rica has had great sportswomen in the Olympic Games: Claudia Poll Arenhs (swimmer, won Olympic gold medal in 200m freestyle, 1996) and Sylvia Poll Arenhs (swimmer, won Olympic silver medal in 200m freestyle, 1988).

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Frankie Fredericks was the first sprinter from Namibia to win four Olympic medals (Barcelona´92 and Atlanta´96 ).

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John Akii-Bua is the only Ugandan athlete to win an Olympic gold medal. He won the 400m hurdles at the 1972 Munich Olympics.

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Edwin Vasquez Cam became the first Peruvian athlete to win an Olympic medal in shooting. He was Olympic champion in 1948.

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Lloyd Labeach is the only Panamanian sprinter to win two Olympic medals. In 1948 he won two bronze medals at the London Olympics (100 and 200 meters).

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The XXI Summer Olympic Games were held in Montreal, Canada… Hasely Crawford became the first athlete from Trinidad & Tobago to win an Olympic gold medal.

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Anthony Conrad Nesty is the only Afro-Caribbean to win an Olympic gold medal in the swimming competition at the Olympic Games. He won the 100m butterfly at the 1988 Seoul Olympics. He is a hero in Suriname, a beautiful country in South America.