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Sports and recreation are an integral part of human history, from the ancient Olympics to the Kentucky Derby, Jackie Robinson, Negro League Baseball, the Super Bowl and more.

The 18 members of the U.S. figure skating team as they boarded the ill-fated flight to Brussels on February 4, 1961.

The 1961 Plane Crash That Devastated US Figure Skating

The entire U.S. figure skating team was lost in the horrifying crash. But a memorial fund later helped lay the groundwork for recovery.

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Willie Mays: The Catch

Why Is ‘The Catch’ Called Baseball’s Most Perfect Play?

In 1954, the Giants’ Willie Mays made a catch that wowed the nation—and became a legendary moment in baseball history.

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When Muhammad Ali Reclaimed His Title in the ‘Rumble in the Jungle’

On October 30, 1974, Muhammad Ali, a.k.a. “The Greatest,” beat George Foreman to reclaim the world heavyweight boxing title in a fight held in Kinshasa, Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of the Congo).

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Harold Abrahams

The Real‑Life Olympic History Behind ‘Chariots of Fire’

Get the true story behind British track stars Harold Abrahams and Eric Liddell winning gold at the 1924 Paris Olympics.

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Alexander the Great

Did Speed Climbing Start Under Alexander the Great?

Ancient historians describe Alexander offering prize money to those men who climbed towering cliff faces in the fastest time.

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Margaret Abbott

America’s First Female Olympic Champion Never Knew She Was an Olympian

Margaret Abbott spent her life unaware that a golf tournament she won was part of the 1900 Summer Olympics.

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skateboarding

Olympic Event: Skateboarding—Who Invented It?

Skateboarding began among California surfers who were looking for a challenge when ocean waves were flat.

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The U.S. tug-of-war team in action during the 1908 London Olympics.

7 Quirky—and Discontinued —Summer Olympic Events

Some of the oddball Olympic events of the past include hot air balloon racing, tug of war and painting contests.

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artistic swimming

Artistic Swimming Spectacles Entertained Ancient Rome

It’s been an Olympic event since 1984, but the sport formerly known as synchronized swimming, has ancient origins.

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Zdeněk Koubek

The 1930s Athlete Who Broke the Gender Barrier

Czech track star Zdeněk Koubek had already set a world record when he announced in 1935 that he was going to be living as a man.

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Olympic torch

The Olympic Torch Relay’s Surprising Nazi Origins

The ritual of the Olympic torch relay originated not in ancient Greece, but in Nazi Germany.

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Alfonso de Portago, the Marquis of Portago (1928 - 1957) and his co-driver Edmund Nelson in their Ferrari at Peschiera in Italy during the Italian Mille Miglia road race, 12th May 1957.

The Horrific 1957 Ferrari Crash that Ended the Mille Miglia Race

The 1,000‑mile Italian road race came to a tragic end after a Ferrari spun out of control, killing nine spectators.

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