Sports
Sports not only tell the story of achievement and competition but of power, politics and progress. Explore when sports made history, from the ancient Olympics to the Kentucky Derby, Jackie Robinson, Negro League Baseball, the Super Bowl and more.
Start Here
On October 30, 1974, Muhammad Ali, a.k.a. "The Greatest," beat George Foreman to reclaim the world heavyweight boxing title in a fight held in Kinshasa, Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of the Congo).
Who were the most renowned Roman gladiators? From slave rebel Spartacus to debauched emperor Commodus, they varied widely.
In a pressure-packed 1961 season, Roger Maris hit 61 home runs, outdueling his more famous New York Yankees teammate, Mickey Mantle.
The six-time MLB All-Star wasn't just a pioneering athlete. His efforts launched a cascade of civil rights advances.
The Olympic Games
The Olympic Games: Fast Facts
Historian Yohuru Williams dives into the history of the Olympic Games.
3 Death‑Defying American Daredevils
Explore All Related Topics
The United States pulled off one of the greatest upsets in the history of sports on June 29, 1950.
Tennis Hall of Famers Dick Williams and Karl Behr survived the most famous shipwreck in history.
Explore eight surprising facts about the world’s most prestigious tennis tournament.
A killer backhand earned Vere St. Leger Goold a spot in a Wimbledon final.
Who could forget Maradona’s “Hand of God” goal in 1986 or Geoff Hurst’s controversial score for England in 1966?
From its 1930 debut to present day, explore the history of the FIFA World Cup, including its origins, winners and defining moments.
The track star emerged as the standout figure of the Fuhrer's signature Olympic Games.
Billie Jean King’s straight-set victory over self-proclaimed male chauvinist Bobby Riggs reverberated far beyond the world of tennis.
A chaotic 1966 World Cup match exposed the need for a universal system to discipline players.
In the early 1980s, there was no such thing as a monster truck. This is the story of two friends turned rivals who created a billion-dollar industry by accident.
Joe Louis was the world's heavyweight boxing champion for nearly 12 consecutive years, a period that saw his famed knockout of Germany's Max Schmeling in 1938.
These famous figures created headline-making moments.
People worried about USA’s ability to host a World Cup in 1994.
Artificial flies were first mentioned in 200 A.D., but the sport really took off in the 1800s.
Its true origins are murky. But Canada, beginning in the 19th century, gets credit for modernizing—and popularizing—the game we know today.
The footbag craze was started by two friends in 1972.
