Wrestling
Old and long
In the Olympics in the antiquities was wrestling the most beloved sport (all the winners are known now). The longest match which is ever played was between Alfred Asikainen (Finland) and Martin Klein (USSR) in 1912. The match was won by Klein after 11 hours and 40 minutes. In the same year was there in the final of the Greco-Roman wrestling for heavyweights between Anders Ahlgren (Sweden) and Ivar Böhling (Finland) no winner. After nine hours became the match undecided and they both got the silver medal, the gold medal wasn't presentate.
One Olympics, never more work
In 1948 was the Turkish government so baffled about the prestations of their athletes (6 × gold, 4 × silver and 1 × bronze), that they them overloaded with gifts, including sums of money, so that the athletes didn't have to play ever.