In the 1904 Summer Olympics, 95 events in 16 sports took place. Top athletes competed in track and field, wrestling, boxing, and the decathlon. This was the first Olympics to give gold, silver, and bronze medals.
In 1932, New York Governor Franklin D. Roosevelt opened the first US Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, where local Jack Shea won gold. In 1980, Lake Placid hosted again, with the US hockey team beating the Soviet Union in the "Miracle on Ice."
Los Angeles, hosting 2028 Olympics, is the only US city to host it thrice. LA Coliseum, built for 1932 Games, now hosts various events.
The Squaw Valley Olympics had many firsts: no bobsleigh, but men's biathlon and women's speed skating debuted.
In 1996, Atlanta hosted the Olympics. 10,000 athletes stayed at the Olympic Village. Muhammad Ali lit the cauldron. 79 countries won medals. New sports like women's softball were introduced.
In 2002, Salt Lake City hosted the Winter Games. Vonetta Flowers, the first Black woman to win gold in bobsleigh, and Jarome Iginla, the first Black man, made history. Today, it's a top training spot for future Olympians
In 1976, Montreal hosted Canada's first Olympics. Nadia Comaneci, 14, got a perfect score. Japan's women's volleyball team won every game. Miklos Nemeth, son of a gold medalist, won gold in javelin.
In 1988 Olympics, Calgary had cold weather issues, delaying events. Jamaica's bobsleigh debut inspired Cool Runnings movie later. They came 30th but gained global fame.
In 2010, Canada won 14 golds at the Winter Olympics in Vancouver. 2566 athletes competed in 86 events. The Olympic Village, now a community, housed over 2800 people.