Track-and-field
Mother
Track-and-field is the mother of the sports at the Olympics since 1896. From 1920 to 1982 were the Olympics, the World Championship of track-and-field too.
Number 1
The very first Olympics gold medal winner James Connolly (VS) won the triple jump. So track-and-field was the very first Olympic sport too.
By the Olympics everybody thinks actually of track-and-field, but that is not true. There are enough other sports. While track-and-field makes thinking still the most to the old Olympics at the mountain Olympus.
Strange events
In 1908 there were 4 participants in the 400m final. Three Americans and one Englishman. The arbiters were very prejudiced, and yes indeed, there happened something again. The arbiters said that one American the Englishman hindered (the Olympics were namely in Great Britain) and the final had to be overwalked (the one who hindered was disqualified). But the two other Americans refused to walk-over and the Englishman was proclaimed as the winner.
The winner of the 110m hurdle, jumped with a Bible in the hand, because they played at the day of the Lord (Sunday).
Unique
Al Oerter (USA) managed it to win at 4 consecutive Olympics the same part. The discus was for him 4× gold at the periode of 1956-1968.