Article Thumbnail

Olympic Stories to Take Your Mind Off the 2016 Games

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

Comic: The Real Reason Track Stars at the 2016 Olympics Will Break Every Record

What’s that buzzing sound? Run!