Celebrating 100 Years of Olympics

### Celebrating a Century of Olympic Excellence: Records from the Last 100 Years (Updated to 2024)

#### 1930s: Foundations of Modern Records

- **1936 Berlin Olympics**
- **Jesse Owens**:
- **100 meters**: 10.3 seconds (tied world record)
- **200 meters**: 20.7 seconds (world record)
- **Long Jump**: 8.06 meters (world record)
- **4x100 meters Relay**: 39.8 seconds (world record)
- **Significance**: Owens' achievements challenged racial ideologies and set a benchmark in sprinting and field events.

#### 1960s: Groundbreaking Achievements

- **1968 Mexico City Olympics**
- **Bob Beamon**:
- **Long Jump**: 8.90 meters (world record)
- **Significance**: Beamon's leap was a dramatic 55 centimeters beyond the previous record and stood for 23 years.

- **1964 Tokyo Olympics**
- **Don Schollander**:
- **100 meters Freestyle**: 54.4 seconds (world record)
- **200 meters Freestyle**: 1:58.0 (world record)
- **4x100 meters Relay**: 3:47.2 (world record)
- **Significance**: Schollander's performances marked a significant advancement in swimming.

#### 1980s: Speed and Strength

- **1984 Los Angeles Olympics**
- **Michael Phelps**:
- **200 meters Butterfly**: 1:54.92 (world record, marking the start of his legendary career)
- **Significance**: Phelps' early career achievements hinted at his future dominance.

- **1988 Seoul Olympics**
- **Ben Johnson**:
- **100 meters**: 9.79 seconds (world record, later disqualified)
- **Significance**: Johnson's record was controversial due to doping allegations but highlighted the era's explosive speed in sprinting.

#### 2000s: Era of Unprecedented Feats

- **2008 Beijing Olympics**
- **Michael Phelps**:
- **100 meters Butterfly**: 50.58 seconds (world record)
- **200 meters Butterfly**: 1:52.03 (world record)
- **200 meters Freestyle**: 1:42.96 (world record)
- **400 meters Individual Medley**: 4:03.84 (world record)
- **4x100 meters Freestyle Relay**: 3:08.24 (world record)
- **4x200 meters Freestyle Relay**: 6:58.56 (world record)
- **4x100 meters Medley Relay**: 3:29.34 (world record)
- **Significance**: Phelps’ eight gold medals and seven world records in Beijing are among the greatest achievements in Olympic history.

- **2009 Berlin World Championships (Swimming)**
- **Michael Phelps**:
- **100 meters Butterfly**: 49.82 seconds (world record)
- **200 meters Butterfly**: 1:51.51 (world record)
- **400 meters Individual Medley**: 4:03.84 (world record)
- **Significance**: Phelps continued to dominate, reinforcing his status as a swimming legend.

- **2008 Beijing Olympics**
- **Usain Bolt**:
- **100 meters**: 9.69 seconds (world record)
- **200 meters**: 19.30 seconds (world record)
- **4x100 meters Relay**: 37.10 seconds (world record)
- **Significance**: Bolt’s explosive speed redefined sprinting and his 100-meter record remains unmatched.

#### 2010s: Continued Excellence

- **2012 London Olympics**
- **Usain Bolt**:
- **100 meters**: 9.63 seconds (Olympic record)
- **200 meters**: 19.32 seconds (Olympic record)
- **4x100 meters Relay**: 36.84 seconds (Olympic record)
- **Significance**: Bolt cemented his legacy with outstanding performances in London.

- **2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics**
- **Katie Ledecky**:
- **800 meters Freestyle**: 8:04.79 (Olympic record)
- **400 meters Freestyle**: 3:56.46 (Olympic record)
- **4x100 meters Freestyle Relay**: 3:31.89 (Olympic record)
- **4x200 meters Freestyle Relay**: 7:43.03 (Olympic record)
- **Significance**: Ledecky continued her dominance in distance swimming with impressive performances.

#### 2020s: New Generation of Record Breakers

- **2021 Tokyo Olympics**
- **Armand 'Mondo' Duplantis**:
- **Pole Vault**: 6.02 meters (world record)
- **Significance**: Duplantis’ record showcased the evolution of pole vaulting and set a new standard for the event.

- **2021 Tokyo Olympics**
- **Katie Ledecky**:
- **1500 meters Freestyle**: 15:37.34 (world record)
- **Significance**: Ledecky’s record highlighted her continued dominance in distance swimming.

- **2024 Paris Olympics**
- **Caeleb Dressel**:
- **100 meters Butterfly**: 48.10 seconds (world record)
- **200 meters Butterfly**: 1:48.58 (world record)
- **4x100 meters Freestyle Relay**: 3:07.00 (world record)
- **Significance**: Dressel’s achievements marked a new era in competitive swimming with faster times and groundbreaking performances.

#### Conclusion

The last century of the Olympics has been a saga of extraordinary athletic achievements. From Jesse Owens’ trailblazing performances in the 1930s to the modern records set by Caeleb Dressel, the Olympics have continually showcased the limits of human potential. As we look forward to future games, the quest for breaking records continues, promising even more thrilling feats and inspiring new generations of athletes.