Grade 12 Exercise Science
Olympic Athletes, Events, and Stories
Complete the following chart of athletes, events, and significant stories from the modern Olympic Games. This
list is by no means exhaustive; it is simply a starting point for you to research and become familiar with the
Games themselves. You should be able to communicate the highlights from the items listed below. You may
use this information in subsequent reports for this unit.
Name of Athlete or What is significant about this athlete or event?
Event
Joannie Rochette Born in Montreal, Quebec and began skating at the age of six
Figure Skating Canadian Champion
Canada A second place finish at the 2003 Canadian Championships earned her a trip to the World
Championships, which she has attended ever since
Her first Olympic experience was in 2006 in Turin, Italy. Her goal was to come in the top
ten, exceeded her goal with a fifth place finish
In the 2010 Olympics- Two days before the beginning of the ladies figure skating
competition her mother died of a heart attack at the Vancouver General Hospital. After
arriving to watch her compete.
Won the bronze medal
She was Canada’s flag bearer for the closing ceremonies and was co-recipient of the Terry
Fox award
She is currently a spokesperson for the “iheartmom” campaign at the University of Ottawa
Heart Institute- which deals with awareness for heart disease in women.
Bribery scandal The 2002 Olympic Winter Games scandal was a scandal involving allegations of bribery to
exposed in Salt obtain the 2002 Winter Olympic games in Salt Lake City, Utah
Lake City bid Before 1995 the city had attempted several times to secure the games, but failed each time
In 1995, Salt Lake City was announced as the host city, but in 1998 the members of the
International Olympic Committee were accused of taking bribes from the Salt Lake City
Organizing Committee
Millions were spent including: all- expense- paid ski trips, thirteen scholarships, super bowl
trips, and plastic surgery. IOC members were given jobs. Some members of the IOC also
accepted cash bribes.
The scandal broke on December 10th 1998 when Swiss IOC member Marc Hedler
announced that several members of the IOC had taken bribes
When investigations started Tom Welch and Dave Johnson (heads of Salt Lake City
Organizing Committee) resigned. The Department of Justice filed charges against the two:
fifteen charges of bribery and fraud. Welch and Johnson were acquitted of all charges in
2003.
Mark Spitz In 1967 Mark won five gold medals at the Pan- American Games
(swimming) He entered his first Olympics in 1968 in Mexico and won six gold medals their
USA In 1972 Olympics, Mark won seven gold medals held west Germany
Year 2000 Mark was listed #33 for top 100 athletes in “Sports Illustrated”magazine
Mark set 33 world records
1968 Olympics in Tommie Smith and John Carlos after the 200m dash decided to raise their fists and
Mexico city bow their heads as a symbol of unity and strength in the African-American
community
Much of the clothing they wore symbolised black pride such as the black gloves
they wore and scarf that Tommie Smith wore
Tommie Smith and John Carlos planned this non-violent protest with Martin Luther
King Jr.
Opinions in America were split, some people were outraged, some saw it as a act of
bravery and courage
Grade 12 Exercise Science
Olympic Athletes, Events, and Stories
Dream Team 1992 Won the gold medal in the 1992 games in Barcelona
Basketball Beat their opponents by an average of 44 points
USA They did not take Isaiah Thomas for the team
They had three of the greatest players of all time in Michael Jordan, Larry Bird, and
Magic Johnson
Ian Thorpe One of the greatest Olympian swimmers ever a.k.a Thorpedo
Swimming
Australia
1980 Moscow Only 80 out of the 147 Nations competed due to the Cold War between USA and
Olympic Games USSR.
Soviet Union won 195 medals, 80 of which were gold.
East Germany came in second place winning 126 medals and Bulgaria was in third
place with 41 medals
Thirty six World Records and seventy nine Olympic Records were set during the
competition.
Cuban super-heavy weight, Teofilo Stevenson, became the first boxer to win the
same division three times.
Hayley She was a softball player for the National team who competed internationally
Wickenheiser including the 2000 summer Olympics.
Hockey/ Softball Her main sport was Hockey and she played for the Canadian Olympic team in 1998
Canada where they placed second
In the Olympics of 2002 a finished professional men’s Hockey League invited her
to play with them for the 2002-2003 season.
Meghan Agosta Participated in the 2006 winter Olympic games in Turin
Hockey Scored a hat trick in the 2006 Olympics in the match against Russia on her 19th
Canada birthday
Was introduced as the youngest player on the women’s 2006 Olympic team at the
age of 18 (turning 19 during the games)
Participated in the 2010 Winter Olympic games in Vancouver
Set a world record in the 2010 Olympics (scoring 9 goals and 6 assists record for
most goals in one Olympic tournament since 1998)
Was named tournament MVP in the 2010 Olympic Games
The Olympic Hero Dale Begg-Smith is a Canadian but is and Olympic hero to Australia
of Australia Nickname “Iceman”
Won gold medal in skiing at the 2006 Olympic Games for Australia
His gold medal was Australia’s first gold medal in that Category
Cindy Klassen Canada’s top long speed skater
Speed Skating From Winnipeg Manitoba
Canada Participated in Salt Lake City, Turin and Vancouver Olympics
Has won a total of 6 Olympic Metals (3 bronze, 2 silver, 1 gold)
First to win 5 metals at one Olympics, in Turin 2006
Nodar Georgian Luger
Kumaritashvili Would be participant at Vancouver 2010 games but fatal accident lead to death
Luge Nodar died on Friday February 12 2010 in an Olympic training run at Whistler B.C.
Georgia hours before the opening ceremony
When coming around the final 270 degree turn at almost 140km/h he flipped of his
sled and hit a metal pole
The 21 year old died in air-rescue helicopter
Grade 12 Exercise Science
Olympic Athletes, Events, and Stories
Fast Skin Suits New aged technology suits are seen as “cheating” because they artificially enhance
2000/ Lazor Suits performance and shave seconds off of times. FINA has banned all new age, rubber
2008 based, suits from competition. And only textile based suits are allowed. The time
from 2004 to present have also been considered to be cheated, and were almost
disqualified. The new age suits also have a toll on health. They push the blood up to
your head, and alter blood pressure. For people with medical brain problems, this
can not only be devastating, but possibly fatal.
Simon Whitfield Born in Kingston, he participated in his first triathlon at age 11. In 2000 Summer
Triathlon Olympics, Sydney, Australia, Simon won gold after a crash on the course. He and
Canada 14 other athletes crashed their bikes mid-way through the triathlon. But with
perseverance, he finished with a time of 1:48:24.02 and set a world record. In 2002
in the Commonwealth Games, Manchester, England, he won gold again. And in
2004 Summer Olympics, Simon ended up in 11th with a time of 1:53:15.81. He was
then named to the 2008 Olympics team, and won silver, as he competed in his 3rd
consecutive games. Simon, in this race, was in 4th until he gained the lead in the last
kilometre of the race putting 200 meters between him and a German athlete. But
with just seconds to the finish line Simon gave up the lead to the German, and won
silver. Simon was a great triathlete who showed perseverance, and determination.
Cassius Clay The gold medal that he won at the age of 18 would be the starting point of an
(Muhammad Ali) amazing professional fighting career which would in turn mold him into the fighter
Boxing most call the greatest of all time.
USA
2008 Beijing Both men’s and women’s Olympic basketball teams return home with gold medals,
Olympics to keep USA reign on the court
Basketball
Kurt Browning 4-time world champion
Figure Skating 4-time Canadian champion
Canada 3-time Olympic team member (8th in 1988, 6th in 1992, and 5th in 1994)
3-time world professional champion
First man to land a quadruple jump in competition, also known for his footwork
Currently famous for being part of “Stars on Ice” and is a commentator for “Battle
of the Blades”
Married to Sonia Rodriguez from the National Ballet of Canada
Carried Canadian flag in opening ceremonies of 1994 games in Lillihammer,
Norway
Tonya Harding’s In 1994, figure skater Nancy Kerrigan was attacked before the world
Skating Scandal championships, leading up to the 1994 Winter Olympics
1994 Winter The person struck her in the knee with a metal baton, leaving her unable to compete
Olympics Rumours began stating that Tonya was involved in the assault, which caught the
USA athletes attention of the media
Tonya’s ex-husband, Jeff Gillooly, and three of his friends were arrested days after
the attack
Tonya was still allowed to compete in the Olympic Games
Nancy ended up taking home the silver medal, while Tonya finished an
disappointing eighth
Grade 12 Exercise Science
Olympic Athletes, Events, and Stories
Larisa Latynina Deeply affected by years of poverty and the WWII aftermath Latynina was
Gymnastics orphaned. Latynina is in the International Gymnastics Hall of Fame and won 18
U.S.S.R medals in Olympic competition. She has more Olympic medals than anyone in
history, male or female in any sport. She won six medals in three consecutive
Olympic games. Beginning in Melbourne in 1956, Rome in 1960 and finishing in
Tokyo in 1964. She competed in world championships; 1954,1958,1962,1966.
2008 Beijing China, the host country defying the rules?
Olympics China’s 6- member women’s gymnastics team that won gold medals were not old
Womens’ enough to be competing in the 2008 event. Rule states competitors have to turn 16
Gymnastics in the Olympic year to be eligible for the games. Therefore being born in 1992 or
China earlier. Yang Yilin, Jiang Yuyuan and He Kexin all top medalist and under age. No
matter how significant all the evidence of papers and magazines stating the true age
of these contenders, the passports issued by the Chinese Government trump all.
International Gymnastics Federation strictly verified and confirmed that their ages
meet the rules for participating.
The first ever Chamonix is a village of around 10,000 inhabitants that nestles at the foot of Mont
winter Olympics Blanc in France. Known for having some of the best ski runs in the world, it is also
one of the oldest known winter sports resorts. Proficient Skiers, snowboarders,
extreme sports enthusiasts and mountaineers, flock to this small resort from all over
the world, to sample its unique and sometimes extreme challenges.
Loonie in the Ice At the Salt Lake City 2002 Olympic Winter Games, a Canadian worker planted a
(Salt Lake City) one-dollar Canadian coin - known as a loonie- at centre ice of the main Ice Hockey
Women’s Hockey venue where both the Canadian men and women won gold. Canada’s executive
director, Wayne Gretzky, held up the lucky loonie at a news conference following
the men’s gold medal game, making it a part of hockey lore in Canada.
1988 Calgary First ever team was assembled in the 1988 winter Olympics in Calgary Alberta. The
Olympics 1988 Olympics would test their determination as injuries and crashes would take
Bobsleigh affect on the group of men from Jamaica’s Defence Force. Although the Calgary
Jamaica Olympics would be worth a good laugh, the Jamaican Bobsled team came back in
1992 beating some of the best countries such as Russia and the US placing 10th
overall.
The Miracle on Ice During the 1980 Olympics in Lake Placid, New York the United States put together
Men’s Hockey a group of prospects from the NCAA to face the toughest competition of their lives.
USA The biggest game had to come when the USA faced the Soviets in the semi finals.
During this time the Cold War was in effect so a victory over the USSR was far
bigger than the game itself. The Soviets were all professional players put since they
were all in the army they were allowed to play in the games. The United States
would capture the game and their great feat is still remembered as one of Americas
top victories.
Lionel Messi Won an Olympic gold medal with the Argentinean national soccer team in Beijing
in 2008. Lionel Messi is the best player in the world right now.
FIFA World Player of the Year: 2009
FIFA Team of the Year: 2008, 2009
European Footballer of the Year: 2009
U-21 European Footballer of the Year: 2007
Onze d'Or: 2009
FIFA U-20 World Cup Player of the Tournament: 2005
Grade 12 Exercise Science
Olympic Athletes, Events, and Stories
FIFA U-20 World Cup top goalscorer: 2005
Copa América Young Player of the Tournament: 2007
La Liga Player of the Year & Forward of the Year: 2009
La Liga Foreign Player of the Year: 2007, 2009, 2010
La Liga Ibero-American Player of the Year: 2007, 2009, 2010
La Liga top goalscorer: 2010
FC Barcelona top goalscorer: 2009, 2010
European Golden Shoe: 2010
Eric Lamaze/ -A Canadian showjumper, from Montreal, Quebec
Hickstead -First learned to ride and trained at Day By Day Stables
-Made Canadian Olympic team in 1996 Summer Olympics, but did not attend
because of a 4 yr. suspension after testing positive for cocaine, and continued to be
suspended after testing positive for stimulants in 2000
-Competed at Beijing Olympics in 2008, winning a silver medal in the team event,
and a gold in the individual event, accompanied by his stallion Hickstead
-In Beijing, Lamaze and Hickstead managed to only knock down one rail
throughout the entire games (a huge accomplishment)
-Lamaze now lives in Schomberg, Ontario, and coaches at his barn Torrey Pines
Bribery scandal -Investigations after the bids for hosting the 2002 Olympics discovered that 2
exposed in Salt officials from Salt Lake City paid 24 members of the IOC panel over $1mill. each to
Lake City bid choose their venue
-“gift-giving” is now not allowed when countries are making Olympic bids, and
IOC panel member’s selection processes have undergone changes in order to restore
the Olympics’ credibility and to ensure a fair selection process for the future
Olympic Games.