1908 Olympics facts
While investigating facts about 1908 Olympics, I found out little known, but curios details like:
In 1908 the Russian Olympic team arrived at the Olympics in London 12 days late because it was still using the Julian calendar instead of the Gregorian calendar
During the 1908 Olympics in London, the Russians showed up 12 days late due to the fact that they were using the Julian calendar instead of the Gregorian calendar.
In my opinion, it is useful to put together a list of the most interesting details from trusted sources that I've come across. Here are 35 of the best facts about 1908 Olympics I managed to collect.
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In the 1908 London Olympics, the Russian team arrived 12 days late and missed their most favoured event because they were still following the Julian calendar rather than the Gregorian calendar.
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Pistol dueling with wax bullets was a popular pastime in the early 20th century and even featured as a sport in the 1908 Summer Olympics
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Canada won the last ever Olympic Lacrosse Gold Medal, in 1908, and are therefore still the reigning Champions. In fact, they are the ONLY gold medalists ever in the sport.
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Pistol dueling was a sport in the 1908 summer Olympics. Contestants used wax bullets and metal masks for safety.
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Finland and Sweden are the only countries in the world that have earned a medal at every Olympic game since 1908.
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Some Koreans are trying to rename their country back to "Corea". They believe that Japan changed the spelling to "Korea" so Japanese athletes would march first at the 1908 Olympics.
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The 1908 Olympics was hosted in London after being relocated from Rome after Mount Vesuvius erupted. It was also the longest Olympics lasting for 6 months and 4 days.
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Pistol deuling was an event in the 1908 Olympics, in which competitors would fire wax bullets at one another.
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The modern Marathon distance (26.2 mi) was changed from 24.85 mi during the 1908 London Olympics so that the finish line would be in front of the Royal Family's viewing box.
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Pistol Dueling was a sportive event in 1908 Olympic games held in London
What is true about 1908 olympics?
You can easily fact check it by examining the linked well-known sources.
Dueling with pistols (shooting at each other) was an event in the 1908 Olympics.
From 1908 to 1912 Australia and New Zealand competed together at the Olympics under the name Australasia
The United Kingdom won 146 medals in their 1908 London Olympic Games - 56 of them were gold medals, more than every other country in that year put together. - source
Motorboating was an official sport at the 1908 Olympics.
Forrest Smithson won the 110 metre hurdles and set a world record during the 1908 Summer Olympics with a Bible in his left hand.
Ray Ewry, who won eight Olympic gold medals from 1900 to 1908. Only Michael Phelps has won more. His specialty was the standing high jump and standing long jump.
A marathon is 40.195 km (26.2 miles) because the British Queen Alexandra wanted the Olympic marathon in the 1908 olympics in London to finish on the grass field. This changed the distance of a marathon, but it was later formalized to be the official distance and never changed back.
