10 Strange Tragedies Happened in the History of Olympics
Well, sports-related injuries are likely to happen due to the tremendous physical efforts given by the players, but sometimes this goes overboard and can lead to events that can shock the entire world and show us that sports can be cruel sometimes. So let’s witness the 10 Strange Tragedies Happened in the History of Olympics.
10 Strange Tragedies Happened in the History of Olympics
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1️⃣ Francisco Lázaro’s Wax Disaster – Stockholm (1912)
When: July 15, 1912
Where: Stockholm, Sweden
Francisco Lázaro entered the 1912 Olympic marathon as Portugal’s brightest hope. Determined to protect himself from the blazing summer sun, he coated his entire body in wax — a practice he believed would prevent sunburn and give him an edge.
Unfortunately, the wax sealed his pores, stopping sweat from evaporating and trapping body heat, due to which, as the race progressed, his body overheated.
Lázaro collapsed around the 30-kilometer mark and was rushed to medical care. Despite efforts to revive him, he died the following morning. His death shocked athletes and fans, leading to an early understanding of how critical body cooling is in endurance sports.
We always need a tragedy to understand what needs to be done right.
– Akash Bharnuke
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2️⃣ Death on the Luge Track – Nodar Kumaritashvili – (2010)
When: February 12, 2010
Where: Whistler Sliding Centre, Canada
Nodar Kumaritashvili was just 21, making his Olympic debut for Georgia at the Vancouver Winter Games. During a high-speed training run, he approached a notoriously difficult curve at over 140 km/h.
Due to such speed, he lost control and was thrown from his sled. His head slammed into an unprotected steel support pole, and the impact was fatal.
The tragedy unfolded only hours before the opening ceremony, casting a somber tone over the Games. Officials faced immediate criticism for the track design and speed risks.
In response, safety modifications were made, including raising track walls and adjusting start positions to slow down runs.
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3️⃣ The Marathon Swim Death – Fran Crippen – (2010)
When: October 23, 2010
Where: Fujairah, UAE
Fran Crippen was an accomplished American swimmer and a strong contender in open-water events.
In a 10 km FINA race, the water temperature was dangerously high. Due to which Crippen fell behind the pack, but race officials failed to spot the problem until it was too late.
His body was found nearly two hours later at the bottom of the course. The shock spread across the swimming world, sparking outrage over poor safety oversight. Rules on maximum water temperatures and athlete monitoring were tightened in the wake of his death.
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4️⃣ Amsterdam Pole Vault Tragedy – (1928)
When: July 1928
Where: Amsterdam, Netherlands
In the 1928 Games, an athlete was practicing the pole vault when disaster struck. The wooden pole, a common material before modern fiberglass designs, snapped in mid-air. Losing control, the vaulter missed the landing pit and struck hard headfirst on the ground.
On-site medical care was minimal by today’s standards, and the injuries proved fatal. The tragedy exposed the dangers of outdated equipment, encouraging the slow but eventual move towards safer, more reliable materials in track-and-field gear.
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5️⃣ Munich Massacre – (1972)
When: September 5–6, 1972
Where: Munich, West Germany
The 1972 Olympics in Munich were meant to symbolize peace and unity, but instead, they became the site of one of sport’s darkest days.
In the early hours of September 5, eight Palestinian militants entered the Olympic Village and took members of the Israeli team hostage. Their demand: the release of prisoners in Israel.
A tense 21-hour standoff ended in a failed rescue attempt at an airbase, with all 11 Israeli hostages, a German police officer, and five of the attackers were killed.
The massacre changed Olympic security forever, with future Games seeing military-level protection for athletes and venues.
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6️⃣ Zeppelin Crash – Hindenburg – (1932)
When: August 1936 (Olympics) / May 6, 1937 (Crash)
Where: Berlin, Germany / Lakehurst, USA
The 1936 Berlin Olympics were a stage for grand displays, and the Hindenburg airship was part of the spectacle. The German Zeppelin flew over the city, capturing aerial footage and participating in propaganda flights.
Several crew members were involved in Olympic ceremonies and logistics. Less than a year later, on May 6, 1937, the Hindenburg caught fire while docking in Lakehurst, New Jersey.
Thirty-six people died in the explosion. While the crash itself wasn’t part of the Olympics, the eerie connection between the Games and one of history’s most infamous disasters remains a strange conspiracy in Olympic history.
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7️⃣ Paris Fire in a Swimming Event – (1900)
When: 1900 Summer Olympics
Where: Paris, France – River Seine venue
The 1900 Paris Olympics were unlike any that followed. Swimming events were staged in the River Seine, alongside other exhibitions.
During one race, a fire broke out in a nearby riverside structure where thick smoke drifted across the venue, and sparks landed dangerously close to spectators.
The crowd panicked, with some leaping into the water to escape. Several people were injured in the rush, though no deaths were officially recorded.
The incident highlighted the absence of safety planning, which was typical of the loosely organized 1900 Games. (More to come…)
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8️⃣ Spectator Killed by Javelin – (1982)
When: September 1982
Where: Rome, Italy – Stadio Olimpico
During the 1982 World Student Games at Rome’s Olympic Stadium — the same venue used for the 1960 Olympics — a javelin throw took a tragic turn. The spear veered off its intended path and struck a field judge in the chest.
The impact caused catastrophic injuries, and despite immediate medical attention, he did not survive. The event sent shockwaves through the athletics community, leading to stricter enforcement of safety zones and better training for officials working near throwing areas.
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9️⃣ American Rower Drowns – (1924)
When: 1924 Summer Olympics
Where: Paris, France – Seine River
Training for the rowing events of the 1924 Olympics was intense, with athletes spending hours on the Seine River.
During one such session, an American rower’s boat capsized (turned over) in unexpectedly rough conditions.
The strong currents quickly swept him away from the other rowers, and without nearby rescue boats or lifeguards, precious minutes were lost.
By the time help arrived, he had drowned. The tragedy underscored the lack of proper safety measures in water sports during the early Olympic era.
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🔟 Greek Weightlifter Death – (1970)
When: Mid-1970s (pre-1976 Olympics)
Where: Montreal, Canada – Pre-Olympic training facility
In the build-up to the 1976 Olympics, the Greek weightlifting team was in heavy training. One lifter, attempting a record-breaking clean, collapsed mid-lift.
His aorta had ruptured — a rare but deadly medical event linked to extreme strain on the body.
Despite rapid medical intervention, he died on the spot. The incident raised awareness about hidden cardiovascular risks in elite strength athletes and prompted stricter medical screenings in the sport.
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Some Thoughts
As you witnessed, many such events happened where nothing went as planned for the athletes, and also some things were not in their hands. Such events show us that no matter how prepared we might be, tragedy can haunt us from anywhere.
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—DHANYAVAAD—