ProCon
Olympics
Are the Olympic Games a benefit for their host countries and cities? Scholars decide for themselves in preparation for a class debate or discussion. After reading a brief background and overview of the topic, pupils read the top three...
Olympic Museum
The Olympic Symbols
Get into the Olympic spirit with a resource about the values and symbols of the Olympic Games. With sections about prominent images of the Olympics, including the flame and the interlocked rings, the packet supplies engaging information...
Penn Museum
Maya Ball
Sure the ancient Mayan civilization had an advanced calendar and mathematical system, but did you know that they also played a great team sport like basketball? Invite your learners to discover the great ballcourt at Chichen Itza and...
Smithsonian Institution
National Museum of American History: Gertrude Ederle, First Woman to Swim the English Channel
This resource provides information about Gertrude Ederle.
National Women’s History Museum
National Women's History Museum: Girls Changing History Alice Coachman
A biographical view of Alice Coachman who was the first African-American woman to win an Olympic gold medal, in 1948.
Library of Congress
Loc: Today in History: May 28: Jim Thorpe
This is a biographical sketch of American athlete Jim Thorpe. Thorpe was a versatile athlete who is regarded as "the greatest American athlete of the first half of the twentieth century".
Wikimedia
Wikipedia: Emilie Le Pennec
Information about Emilie Le Pennec, the first French woman to win Olympic gold in gymnastics. The page also offers a chart of all the women who have won Olympic gold medals on the uneven bars.
Encyclopedia Britannica
Encyclopedia Britannica: Wilma Rudolph
Biographical story of the life of Wilma Rudolph, an American sprinter, the first American woman to win three track-and-field gold medals in a single Olympics.
Encyclopedia Britannica
Encyclopedia Britannica: Guide to Black History: Leon Spinks
This entry from Encyclopedia Brittanica's Guide to Black History features Leon Spinks, an American boxer who won an Olympic gold medal in 1976 and was the world heavyweight champion in 1978. He and Michael Spinks became the first...
Encyclopedia Britannica
Encyclopedia Britannica: Michael Spinks
This entry from Encyclopedia Britannica features Michael Spinks, an American boxer who was both the light heavyweight (1981-85) and heavyweight (1985-88) world champion and an Olympic gold medalist (1976). He and Leon Spinks became the...
Encyclopedia Britannica
Encyclopedia Britannica: Leon Spinks
Biographical sketch of American boxer Leon Spinks, who won an Olympic gold medal in 1976 and was the world heavyweight champion in 1978. He and Michael Spinks became the first brothers to win gold medals in the same sport at the same...
Encyclopedia Britannica
Encyclopedia Britannica: Marion Jones
This entry from Encyclopedia Britannica features Marion Jones, an American athlete, who, at the 2000 Olympic Games, became the first woman to win five track-and-field medals at a single Olympics. In 2007, however, she admitted to using...
Encyclopedia Britannica
Encyclopedia Britannica: Eddie Tolan
This entry from Encyclopedia Britannica features Eddie Tolan, an American sprinter and the first black athlete to win two Olympic gold medals. In his track career, Tolan won 300 races, losing only 7.
Encyclopedia Britannica
Encyclopedia Britannica: Shani Davis
This entry from Encyclopedia Britannica features Shani Davis, an American speed skater, who was the first black athlete to win an individual Winter Olympics gold medal.
Encyclopedia Britannica
Encyclopedia Britannica: Wyomia Tyus
Entry provides a summary of the life of Wyomia Tyus, an American sprinter who held the world record for the 100-metre race (1964-65, 1968-72) and was the first person to win the Olympic gold medal twice in that event.