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Which Olympic Games had the most unexpected athletic achievements?

Cas Zannotelli

Well, well, well, my dear friends! If we're talking about unexpected athletic achievements in the history of the Olympics, we better buckle up because we're in for a wild ride!

First things first, we can all agree that every Olympic Games has its fair share of jaw-dropping moments. From Michael Phelps' 8 gold medals in Beijing 2008 to Usain Bolt's record-breaking runs in Rio 2016, there are endless examples of excellence and sportsmanship.

But you know what really spices things up? When the underdogs come out of nowhere and steal the spotlight!

So, which Olympic Games had the most unexpected athletic achievements? Let's break it down.

In the 1900 Paris Olympics, Britain's Charlotte Cooper became the first female individual Olympic champion by winning the tennis singles event. She was the only woman to compete that year, and nobody expected her to take home the gold. Not too shabby, huh?

Moving on to 1936 Berlin Olympics, where Jesse Owens, an African American track and field athlete, shocked the world by winning four gold medals and breaking two world records. He had to face off against Adolf Hitler's supposedly superior Aryan race, but guess what? Owens didn't care about any of that and came out on top. This is ultimate underdog story, isn't it?

Fast forward to 1988 Seoul Olympics, and we have another unexpected achievement by the name of Greg Louganis. Louganis, a US diver, hit his head on the platform during the preliminary rounds of the 3m springboard event. However, he proceeded to dive his way to TWO gold medals, one in the 3m springboard and one in the 10m platform. Talk about turning a negative into a positive!

And finally, the cherry on top, the 2016 Rio Olympics! The year of surprises, upsets, and unexpected triumphs! Let's start with Fu Yuanhui, a Chinese swimmer who won a bronze medal in the 100m backstroke. She quickly became a crowd favorite when she expressed her surprise and joy at her achievement and revealed that she was currently on her period. This opened up a global conversation about women's health and the stigma surrounding periods.

Then we have Simone Manuel, an African American swimmer who made history by becoming the first Black woman to win an individual Olympic gold medal in swimming. She tied for first place in the 100m freestyle with Canadian swimmer Penny Oleksiak, bringing even more attention to the inclusivity and diversity of the Olympics.

And last but not least, we can't forget about Joseph Schooling, a Singaporean swimmer who not only won his country's first-ever gold medal but also beat his childhood hero and swimming legend, Michael Phelps, in the 100m butterfly. Schooling had idolized Phelps since he was a little boy and never dreamt of actually beating him. Now look at him, making history and shocking the world!

There you have it, folks! A rundown of some of the most unexpected athletic achievements in Olympic history. Who knows what surprises and upsets the upcoming Tokyo 2020 Olympics will bring? One thing's for sure, though – we're in for one heck of a ride!