Kids in the U.S. are not as fit as we might think, based on our the success of our athletic superstars. Why do we lag? It might have to do with inequality.
After the closing ceremony’s razzmatazz, what will be Rio’s legacy that lingers?
Jose Mendez/EPA
Extensive drug use was reported at the 1952 Helsinki Games, but it was the death of two athletes that finally galvanized international sporting authorities into taking action against doping.
It's time to finally put art on the Olympic map, prove the sceptics wrong, and renew and advance some of the more tired aspects of the Games staging process.
In Rio, only 12 sports contributed to the final medal haul.
Reuters/Chris Helgren
Racewalking has been part of the Olympic Games since 1904, but gets little respect in the United States. That might change if Americans knew a little more about it.
The average margin in gold medal games across the last four Olympics is 3.5 goals in men’s competition and 1.5 goals in women’s competition.
Reuters/Laszlo Balogh
Three things go a long way to deciding water polo medallists.
Does it make sense to target female athletes with high testosterone levels? Caster Semenya competes in the women’s 800-meter semifinal during the London Olympics.
Gary Hershorn/Reuters
Some women naturally produce high levels of testosterone. Why is this innate condition treated differently from other conditions that potentially enhance athletic performance?
Olympic rowers train in waters near Rio. The lack of sufficient treatment has raised health concerns for athletes.
Carlos Barria/Reuters
Expecting the rest of the world to adopt expensive, centralized sewage treatments systems common in the U.S. is not realistic.
Urban planning was once an Olympic event, although the first gold medal – awarded to Germany’s Alfred Hensel for the Nuremberg stadium – turned out to be an unfortunate choice.
Imagine cities competed to eliminate hunger, poverty, unemployment, crime and greenhouse emissions, and to offer housing and transport for all. Don't scoff – urban planning was once an Olympic event.
Athletes must execute their individualised race plan to the best of their ability to win.
Reuters/Michael Dalder
Australia has had a good start to the Rio Olympics. But does that mean that the strategy created in response to Australia's poor Olympic performance in 2012 is working?