Fact of the Day

London in 1948 was the first Olympics to have a political defection when Marie Provaznikova, the 57-year old leader of the Czechoslovakia women's athletics team, refused to return home, citing "lack of freedom" after the country's inclusion in the Soviet

London in 1948 was the first Olympics to have a political defection when Marie Provaznikova, the 57-year old leader of the Czechoslovakia women's athletics team, refused to return home, citing "lack of freedom" after the country's inclusion in the Soviet Bloc.

Henry Pearce won the Olympic gold medal in single sculls at Amsterdam in 1928 despite nearly having his race in the quarter-final against France's Victor Saurin ruined when a family of ducks passed single-file in front of his boat

Rower Henry Pearce won the Olympic gold medal in the single sculls at Amsterdam in 1928 despite nearly having his race in the quarter-final against France's Victor Saurin ruined when a family of ducks passed single-file in front of his boat. The Australian let them pass before continuing to scull to a popular victory. Pearce retained his title in Los Angeles in 1932.

An event called Semaine des Sports d'Hiver ("Week of Winter Sports") was held in association with the Paris 1924 Summer Olympics

An event called Semaine des Sports d'Hiver ("Week of Winter Sports") was held in association with the Paris 1924 Summer Olympics, taking place in Mont Blanc in Chamonix between January 25 and February 5. They were later designated by the International Olympic Committee as the first Olympic Winter Games. The Winter Olympics would continue to be held in the same year as the Summer Games until 1994.

America's Irish-born New York Ctiy policeman Matt McGrath won the Olympic hammer title at Stockholm in 1912 in such dominating fashion that the shortest of his six throws was over 4.5 metres longer than any other competitor's best throw and set an Olympic

America's Irish-born Matt McGrath won the Olympic hammer title at Stockholm in 1912 in such dominating fashion that the shortest of his six throws was over 4.5 metres longer than any other competitor and set a record that stood for 24 years. He also won silver medals at London in 1908 and Paris 1924. In 2002, Nenagh in County Tipperary erected a statue in the town square honouring the achievement.

Dutchman Jeroen Straathof is the only athlete to compete at Summer and Winter Olympics and the Paralympics

Dutchman Jeroen Straathof is the only athlete to compete at Summer and Winter Olympics and the Paralympics. As a speedskater he competed in the 1994 Winter Olympics in Lillehammer before switching to cycling where, as pilot in the tandem, he paired with visually impaired Jan Mulder to win gold at the 2000 Sydney Paralympics. He then competed for the Dutch pursuit team at the 2004 Athens Olympics.

American Bruce Jenner, the 1976 Olympic decathlon champion, became a successful actor afterwards and was Erik Estrada's replacement on the top rated TV series CHiPs

American Bruce Jenner, the 1976 Olympic decathlon champion, became a successful actor afterwards and appeared in the top rated TV series CHiPs, which followed the lives of motorcycle police officers of the California Highway Patrol. Since the 2007 debut of the cult show Keeping Up with the Kardashians he has appeared as the step-father to the Kardashian siblings: Kourtney, Kim, Khloe and Rob.

Hungarian fencer Pál Szekereswon a bronze medal at the 1988 Olympics in Seoul, then was disabled in a bus accident

Hungarian fencer Pál Szekereswon won a bronze medal at the 1988 Olympics in Seoul, then was disabled in a bus accident, and went on to win three gold medals and three bronze in wheelchair fencing at five consecutive Paralympics between 1992 and 2008. He has the distinction of being the only person ever to have won medals at both the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The first person to light the Olympic Flame was German middle-distance runner Fritz Schligen at Berlin in 1936

The first person to light the Olympic Flame was German middle-distance runner Fritz Schligen at Berlin in 1936. He was chosen as he was considered a "symbol of German sporting youth". He later helped plan the 1972 Olympics in Munich and had the honour of lighting the cauldron in Berlin's Olympic Stadium again in 1996 as part of celebrations for the centenary of the Olympics. He died aged 99 in 2005.

Herbert Hoover did not attend the 1932 Olympics in Los Angeles, becoming the second President not to appear at an Olympics hosted in that country.

Herbert Hoover did not attend the 1932 Olympics in Los Angeles, becoming the second American President not to appear at a Games hosted in that country. He had also missed the Winter Olympics in Lake Placid earlier the same year. The first US President who did not attend a Games was Theodore Roosevelt, at St Louis in 1904. His absence was due to the fact the Mayor refused any help officiating.

Britain's Johnny Douglas won the Olympic middleweight boxing gold medal at London in 1908.

Britain's Johnny Douglas won the Olympic middleweight boxing gold medal at London in 1908. All his three bouts were on the same day. Australian supporters of silver medallist, Snowy Baker, claimed Douglas' father was the referee and sole judge, but Douglas Sr was there merely to present medals, and had no part in the judging. Douglas later went on to captain England's cricket team 18 times. 

Ivan Sharpe, a member of the British football team that won the Olympic gold medal at Stockholm in 1912, was selected by the BBC to be one of two journalists who for the first time provided live commentary on the FA Cup Final at Wembley in 1936 between Ar

Ivan Sharpe, a member of the British football team that won the Olympic gold medal at Stockholm in 1912, was selected by the BBC to be one of two journalists who for the first time provided live commentary on the FA Cup Final at Wembley in 1936 between Arsenal and Sheffield United. Along with Norman Creek, he broadcast from 2.30 pm onwards before the game to take in the pre–match entertainment.