What qualifies a sport for the Olympics?

Olympic History Challenge - Has an athlete ever competed in more than one sport in the same Olympics?

• Carl Schumann from Germany competed in the 1896 Olympics in Athens in 4 sports. Gymnastics, greco-roman wrestling, athletics (long jump, shot put, and triple jump) and weightlifting. He won 4 gold medals, 3 in gymnastics and 1 in a greco-roman wrestling upset. He is in the Olympics Hall of Fame. See: http://en.beijing2008.cn/spirit/pastgames/halloffame/s/n214046415.shtml It is said Olympians train for years to participate in one event. This guy must have been training forever! Amazing. Are there any more Olympians in history that have competed in more than one sport at the same Olympics?

• Answer:

  Only once in one Olympics. In 1896, Australia sent only one athlete to Athens - Teddy Flack. He competed in Track and Field and then in Tennis. He won gold for both running events and is considered to have recieved Bronze for the Mens doubles tennis. Because his partner was British, that bronze is awarded under the 'Mixed' country. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australia_at_the_1896_Summer_Olympics