The fittest, fastest and most flexible athletes in the world will descend on Paris in three weeks when the 2024 Summer Olympics officially open, whether the locals like it or not.
However, this is not the first time that the French capital has hosted the Olympic Games: in 1900, the Second Olympic Games were held in the City of Love, Paris, as part of the Universal Exhibition.
But like many new endeavors, early iterations of the modern Olympics left room for improvement. The games took place over five months (16 days this year) and were part of the World's Fair in 1900. The advertising was so ludicrous that many of the athletes who took part had no idea they were Olympians at all, and probably thought they were competing in a typical sporting event associated with a World's Fair.
But one team seemed to have an advantage over the others. Which country won the most victories? France. Which country won the most gold medals? France. Which country won the most athletes? France. Which country competed as the only participant? Yes, France.
Paris has changed a lot in the 124 years since it last hosted the Olympics: it's seen two world wars, Picasso has left and the Eiffel Tower has a light show.
In celebration of the upcoming Summer Olympics, we bring you some highlights from the games that took place at the turn of the last century.
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In 1900, women were allowed to compete in the Olympic Games for the first time, and Charlotte “Chatty” Cooper-Sterry of Great Britain became the first female champion in history. She defeated Hélène Prévost in straight sets in the tennis singles.
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France dominated the fencing competition, winning 15 of the 21 medals, including two by Albert Ayat, who won gold in both the Masters and Amateur Masters épée events.
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Sailing first appeared in the second modern Olympic Games, consisting of eight different “classes” (disciplines).
Photo Illustration: Elizabeth Brockway/The Daily Beast/Getty/Public Domain
Belgium gave France a tough fight in the equestrian events, winning one more gold medal than the hosts, but the home team ultimately took home more medals, including a bronze for Louis de Champsavant in the individual jumping event.
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Tug of war was once an Olympic sport, and it's a real tragedy that it's no longer an Olympic event. The sport was first played in 1900, when a mixed French team (five French and one Colombian) and a mixed Scandinavian team (three Swedes and three Danes) competed for the title, with the Scandinavian winning. The Americans then played against the mixed Scandinavian team, apparently winning after two pulls. However, it was never officially considered an Olympic sport, so it's not in the Team USA history books.
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When Paris first hosted the Olympic Games, it was the only time the medals were not round. Frédéric Vernon designed a rectangular medal with one side depicting a winged figure holding a laurel branch over the city of Paris, and the other showing an athlete holding a laurel branch in front of the Acropolis in Athens. Not all events awarded medals to winners; many received cups or trophies.
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Archery was another Olympic first, and like most sports at the Games, it was won by France (13 out of 20 events).
Photo Illustration: Elizabeth Brockway/The Daily Beast/Getty/Public Domain
The U.S. took home gold and silver in the men's pole vault this Olympic Games, but not without drama. The event took place on a Sunday, upsetting the Americans. Despite assurances that they could compete and add their points the next day, French organizers ended up reneging and did not inform the U.S. delegation until after the competition. Despite the confusion, the only two Americans who competed in the pole vault on Sunday, Iliving Baxter and Meredith Colquette, made it onto the podium in first and second place.
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The United States completely dominated the shot put at this year's Games, winning gold, silver and bronze medals in a tribute to the Stars and Stripes.
Photo Illustration: Elizabeth Brockway/The Daily Beast/Getty/Public Domain
Polo was also one of the sports that made its Olympic debut in 1900. However, unlike the other premieres, the pony show did not last as an Olympic sport and has not been competed since the 1936 Berlin Games.
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The first American woman to win an Olympic gold medal was golfer Margaret Abbott. She won the gold medal at the Paris Games, but she wouldn't tell you, because she didn't know it. Like many sports in 1900, golf was considered part of the World's Fair and wasn't finally recognized as an Olympic sport until many years later. Abbott has another impressive record, this time with her mother, Mary. They are the only mother and daughter to compete in the same Olympic sport at the same time.
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Another event, another French victory. Host nation France won both rugby union matches at the tournament and brought home the gold medal. France won a total of 102 medals, 54 more than runner-up the United States.
