It’s no secret that this year’s Summer Olympics in Brazil look set to be a total disaster — much like the quadrennial Olympic theme songs. There’s Zika virus, political corruption and shit in the water. The only hopeful note is the reintegration of everyone’s favorite sport: golf.
But rather than dwell on the awfulness of the 2016 Games, we decided to celebrate the best of the recent past by highlighting three athletes—a gold medalist, a silver medalist and a bronze medalist from the 2008 Olympics in Beijing—who changed their sport, their country or the world.
Because the only time we want to focus on the shitshow that is the Rio Games is when we’re streaming them at the office instead of working.
The ‘Gay Jesse Owens’
His name is Matthew Mitcham, but his story has largely been forgotten
I Beat Michael Phelps by a Fingertip but Only Got a Silver Medal
I still returned home to Serbia a conquering hero
The Best Heavyweight Boxer in the World Was Only Third Best at the Olympics
Not that it bothers Deontay Wilder. He’s undefeated ever since
How to Stream the Olympics
Never fear, cord-cutters: Streaming the Olympics this year will be stupidly easy
Golf Goes for Gold
The sport returns to the Olympics for the first time in more than a century
Playlist: The Official Theme Songs of Olympics Past
They’re so bad they’re funny
