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7. Margaret Abbott, the first female American to win a gold medal, never knew she was an Olympian as long as she was alive. After her death it was discovered that the Golf tournament she participated in was part of a poorly-organized 1900 Olympics.
The 1900 Olympics were the first in which women were allowed to participate in “ladylike” games such as golf, tennis and yachting. The games were organized in Paris, and were the only Olympic events in which valuable artifacts were give instead of actual medals. Margaret Abbott received a porcelain bowl for first place in Golf.
8. Ancient Olympics had mixed martial arts competitions too, known as Pankration. It was the only event that wasn’t reinstated after the revival of Olympic Games in 1896.
The Pankration included combat techniques from boxing and wrestling such as kicks and holds, locks and chokes. Except for gouging the eyes and biting the opponent every other technique was allowed. The term itself literally means “all of might”. After reinstating the games in the 19th century, the archbishop of Lyon, Pierre-Hector Coullié, declared that all events, except Pankration, would be accepted.
