Summer Olympic Games
The first Summer Olympic Games (also known as the Games of the Olympiad) were held in 1896 in Athens, Greece, and featured 42 competitions with fewer than 250 male athletes.
Today, there are over 300 events with more than 11,000 competitors (male and female) from 206 countries. Since its inception, the Summer Games have been hosted by the United States four times, three times by Great Britain, and twice by Greece, France, Germany, and Australia.
The United States leads with the all-time medal count for the Summer Olympics with over 2,500 medals (Russia follows in second with just over 1,500).
First Summer Olympic Games: 1896 (Athens, Greece)
Most popular Summer Olympic Games sports:
- Category A (athletics, aquatics, and gymnastics)
- Category B (basketball, cycling, football, tennis, volleyball)
- Category C (archery, badminton, boxing, judo, rowing, shooting, table tennis, weightlifting)
Athletes with the most Summer Olympic Games medals:
- Michael Phelps (swimming) — 28 medals
- Larisa Latynina (gymnastics) — 18 medals
- Nikolai Andrianov (gymnastics) — 13 medals
- Boris Shakhlin (gymnastics) — 13 medals
- Edoardo Mangiarotti (fencing) — 13 medals
- Takashi Ono (gymnastics) — 13 medals
When is the next Summer Olympics? The 2024 Summer Olympics will be held in Paris, France, followed by the 2028 Games in Los Angeles.
Latest Summer Olympic Games News and Updates
Summer McIntosh Is a Second Generation Olympian, so Who Are Her Parents?
Summer's speed runs in the family.
The Iconic Eiffel Tower May End up Keeping Its Olympic Rings Displayed — Paris Isn't Happy
"The decision is up to me," claims mayor of Paris.
Overcoming Adversity: Noah Malone’s Journey as a Paralympic Champion
"Running track with a visual impairment, especially after losing my vision, is largely about inspiring people."
u.s. Gymnast Stephen Nedoroscik Wants To Tear It up in ‘Rocket League’ After Winning Bronze
There's a decent chance that 'Rocket League' players have been on a team with an Olympic champ.
Raygun Claims She Took Her Olympic Performance "Very Seriously"
"I worked my butt off preparing for the Olympics and I gave my all, truly."
Breakdancing Got a Lot of Buzz at the Paris Games — Why Isn't It Returning for the Next Olympics?
Breaking bad: Here's why you won't see breakdancing at LA28.
Flavor Flav Had a Bronze Clock Created For Jordan Chiles After Her Medal Was Revoked
"That's something no one else has!" Flavor Flav declared in a social media post
Why Do the Olympics Only Happen Every Four Years? Exploring the Tradition and Its Roots
We will all have to wait four more years before the next Olympic Summer Games. Here's why!Raygun's Olympic Performance Had an Incredibly Low Score
Raygun was booted after the first round with a final score of 54-0, scoring no points.
Raygun Responds to the Critics of Her Olympic Performance: "All of My Moves Are Original"
"I go out there, and I show my artistry. Sometimes it speaks to the judges, and sometimes it doesn't."
Who Is Raygun's Husband? He's Also the Aussie Olympic Breakdancer's Coach
"The main thing is she represented Australia and breaking at the Olympics with courage and dignity," Raygun's husband said.
What Was That Thing on Tom Cruise's Leg at the Olympics Closing Ceremony? Was There a Malfunction?
Or maybe it was just some equipment?
Jordan Chiles Is a Two-Time Olympian — What Is the Gymnast's Net Worth?
Jordan was even named after another great athlete.
Jordan Chiles Hinted She May Be Seeing Someone in an Instagram Story
"When he brings you flowers cause you haven't had the best day."
Why Did Jamaica Drop out of the Women's 4x400 Relay Final? Here's What Happened During the Race
There was an unfortunate incident during the second leg of the race.
Meet the Parents of Jordan Chiles: The Unseen Heroes Behind the Gymnast's Rise
Jordan's parents are by her side, providing support following the controversial year.
Tom Cruise Was Part of the Olympics After Attending a Number of Different Events
Tom Cruise was part of the handoff to LA in 2028.
Here's Why Simone Biles Is Wearing A Boot At The Olympics Closing Ceremony
Simone Biles wore a boot on her leg when she passed the Olympic flag to Tom Cruise.
Olympic Controversy: Will Jordan Chiles Be Forced to Return Her Bronze Medal?
The Olympic judges are getting dragged after a ruling determined that Jordan Chiles did not win her bronze medal.
Olympic Skateboarder Shows Off Tarnished Bronze Medal -- "Not Meant for the Send"
"They are apparently not as high quality as you would think."
Australian B-Girl Rachael "Raygun" Gunn Makes Audience Cringe as Olympic Breakdancing Routine Spawns Memes
"The moment Raygun broke out her Kangaroo move, this competition was over," an X user said.
North Korea Was Once Banned From the Olympics — How Are They Part of the 2024 Summer Games?
North Korea sent more than a dozen athletes to Paris for the Olympics.
Noah Lyles Revealed After the 200m Final That He Had COVID, but Why Did He Race?
He did not disclose that he had tested positive until after the event.
Noah Lyles Got a Yellow Card During the 200 Meter Final, but What Was the Card For?
Noah Lyles got a yellow card for "improper conduct" during the 200 meter final.
Paralympian Hunter Woodhall Gave up His Division I Track Scholarship to Go Pro
Hunter Woodhall was the first ever double amputee to receive an NCAA Division I track scholarship.
Alysha Newman Has Zero Regrets About the Twerking Celebration at the 2024 Summer Olympics
Alysha Newman won her first bronze medal at the 2024 Summer Olympics.
YouTuber and Disability Advocate Shane Burcaw's Olympics Video Led to Outpouring of Vile Comments
After hopping on a fun social media trend, Shane and Hannah Burcaw faced an avalanche of ugly comments.
Meet the Champions Behind Aaron Brooks’s Success — His Loving Parents
The parents of Olympic wrestler Aaron Brooks are his biggest support system, and they have been in his corner for years.
Wait, How Much Is Snoop Dogg Making at the Olympics Per Day? Hint: It's So Much
Snoop has done more than just chill with the likes of Caeleb Dressel's wife and child, August, whom he nicknamed Auggie Dogg.
Quincy Hall Repped Team USA When He Won Gold at the Olympics — Where Is He From?
Quincy's win was the first for Team USA since 2008.
Is Kenneth Rooks Married? The Olympic Steeplechaser Is the Second-Fastest American Ever
"I'm super grateful to share this experience with my family, my wife..."
Quincy Hall Already Has Gold at the 2024 Summer Olympics — But the Medal Is Nice Too
Wait, why does Quincy Hall have a gold grill?
Raven Saunders Has Become Known for Donning a Mask During Olympic Competitions
One of Raven's past masks gave them the nickname of "Hulk."
What's in That Mysterious Box That Olympic Medalists Receive on the Podium?
And the real question: Can we have what's inside?
Why Do Olympic Divers Have Little Towels? Explaining the Routine
The little towels serve a more important purpose than you'd think at the Olympics.
Gabby Thomas Is Proud to Have Her Boyfriend in Her Corner
Gabby ran over and took a selfie with her boyfriend immediately after winning the gold medal.
Why Did Anna Cockrell Raise Her Hand? "I Was Within My Rights To Do That"
"There was kind of a discussion about what was going on. I have a lot of respect for the officials out there," Anna said.
Here's Why Olympic Divers Wear Tape — It's Not a Fashion Statement
At it turns out, this tape is called kinesiology therapeutic tape, or “KT tape," and it serves a very important purpose.
Olympic Pole Vaulter Anthony Ammirati Was Offered an Porn Deal Following His Viral Moment
The French pole vaulter has not addressed the now-viral incident.
Why Gabby Thomas Wears an Arm Sleeve: The Science Behind It
Gabby Thomas's arm sleeve is stylish and functional — here's the reason why she rocks the band!
An Olympic Rule Change Caused Drama for Sha’Carri Richardson — Here’s What Went Down!
Sha'Carri Richardson was denied entry into the Olympic stadium — but only through one specific gate.
Jordan Chiles's Score Changed Earned Her a Bronze Medal for Her Floor Routine
"I honestly didn't expect this like whatsoever," Jordan said of the score change.
Marlon Humphrey's Comments About Simone Biles Quickly Backfired on Social Media
Marlon called Simone's support of Rebeca Andrade's win at the Olympic floor finals "literally disgusting."
Why Did Everyone Fall off the Beam — Including Simone Biles?
"Who put wax on the balance beam?" a fan wondered.
The Reason Mondo Duplantis, a Louisiana Native, Competes for Sweden and Not the U.S.
Technically, Duplantis holds dual citizenship in Sweden, but that isn’t what drew him to compete for Sweden rather than the U.S.
Armand "Mondo" Duplantis's Girlfriend, Desiré Inglander, Is a Big Deal in Sweden
Mondo kissed his girlfriend while celebrating his gold medal at the Paris Olympics.
Why Kaylia Nemour Competes for Algeria: The Story Behind Her Olympic Switch
Forget France -- Kaylia Nemour decided to compete for Algeria at the 2024 Paris Olympics and won big time!
Serena Williams Slams the Peninsula Paris for Denying Access to Her and Her Daughters
"I’ve been denied access to rooftop to eat in an empty restaurant of nicer places, but never with my kids," Serena said on X.
Olympic Runner Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce Missed the 100-meter Semi-Final — What Happened?
"There is no truth that she was not allowed to enter the stadium."
In the Olympics, Why Do They Run 1500 Meters Instead of a Mile?
"In the mile, I always knew where I stood in relation to the rest of the race, and how far I had come and had yet to go. But the 1,500 was always disorienting," wrote Oliver Staley.