Olympics | smithsonianmag.comhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/rss/tag/olympics/RSS feed for OlympicsenTue, 05 May 2026 14:06:27 +0000This Stockholm Neighborhood Was Built on Ambitious Sustainability Goals. When It Came Up Short, It Doubled Down and Became a Blueprint for Othershttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/innovation/this-stockholm-neighborhood-was-built-on-ambitious-sustainability-goals-when-it-came-up-short-it-doubled-down-and-became-a-blueprint-for-others-180988672/The original plan for Hammarby Sjöstad was for an eco-village aimed at attracting the Olympics. They never came, but the locals moved in and, with upgrades, hope to be carbon neutral by 2030Tue, 05 May 2026 14:06:27 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/innovation/this-stockholm-neighborhood-was-built-on-ambitious-sustainability-goals-when-it-came-up-short-it-doubled-down-and-became-a-blueprint-for-others-180988672/This Rare Silver Medal From the First Modern Olympic Games in 1896 Just Sold at Auctionhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/this-rare-silver-medal-from-the-first-modern-olympic-games-in-1896-just-sold-at-auction-180988307/At the time, athletes received silver medals for winning first place. The Olympics didn't introduce gold medals until 1904Mon, 09 Mar 2026 18:24:03 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/this-rare-silver-medal-from-the-first-modern-olympic-games-in-1896-just-sold-at-auction-180988307/What Is Skimo? The Newest Olympic Sport Has a Long History in Europehttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/innovation/what-is-skimo-the-newest-olympic-sport-has-a-long-history-in-europe-180988209/With roots in military training, high-endurance ski mountaineering is finally catching on in the United StatesTue, 17 Feb 2026 20:38:43 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/innovation/what-is-skimo-the-newest-olympic-sport-has-a-long-history-in-europe-180988209/What Is a Stoat? Learn Five Fun Facts About the Adorable Weasels Chosen as the Olympic Mascotshttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/what-is-a-stoat-learn-five-fun-facts-about-the-adorable-weasels-chosen-as-the-olympic-mascots-180988156/Milo and Tina, a pair of sibling stoats, are representing this year’s winter games in ItalyFri, 06 Feb 2026 20:52:01 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/what-is-a-stoat-learn-five-fun-facts-about-the-adorable-weasels-chosen-as-the-olympic-mascots-180988156/If Microbes Entered the Olympics, These One-Celled Superstars Would Win Goldhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/if-microbes-entered-the-olympics-these-one-celled-superstars-would-win-gold-180988135/They race, they spin, they shoot. Meet the organisms for which physical prowess is more than sport—it’s a matter of life and deathFri, 06 Feb 2026 12:30:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/if-microbes-entered-the-olympics-these-one-celled-superstars-would-win-gold-180988135/This Magnificent Mural by Leonardo da Vinci Will Go on Display for a Brief Window During the Winter Olympics in Milanhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/this-magnificent-mural-by-leonardo-da-vinci-will-go-on-display-for-a-brief-window-during-the-winter-olympics-in-milan-180988058/Guided tours will take visitors onto scaffolding to view the rare artwork inside Sforza Castle, which is currently undergoing restorationsTue, 27 Jan 2026 21:33:42 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/this-magnificent-mural-by-leonardo-da-vinci-will-go-on-display-for-a-brief-window-during-the-winter-olympics-in-milan-180988058/See the Blades That Carried Boitano to Gold in the ‘Battle of the Brians’ in the 1988 Olympicshttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/see-blades-carried-brian-boitano-gold-battle-brians-1988-olympics-180987840/The American’s fabled rivalry with Canadian Brian Orser reached its pinnacle in Calgary on these skates, now part of the Smithsonian collectionWed, 14 Jan 2026 12:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/see-blades-carried-brian-boitano-gold-battle-brians-1988-olympics-180987840/Archaeologists Are Digging Up Scotland's Very First Outdoor Skateparkhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/archeologists-are-digging-up-scotlands-very-first-outdoor-skatepark-180987231/Kelvin Wheelies skatepark, which hosted the country's first national skateboarding competition, has been buried under rubble for decadesThu, 28 Aug 2025 14:52:28 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/archeologists-are-digging-up-scotlands-very-first-outdoor-skatepark-180987231/World's First 'Robot Olympics' Featured Soccer, Kickboxing and Lots of Falling Downhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/worlds-first-robot-olympics-features-soccer-kickboxing-and-lots-of-falling-down-180987199/Hundreds of humanoids from 16 countries stumbled over each other while competing in the World Humanoid Robot Games in BeijingTue, 19 Aug 2025 19:59:56 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/worlds-first-robot-olympics-features-soccer-kickboxing-and-lots-of-falling-down-180987199/This Rare Gold Medal From the 1904 Olympics Sold for More Than $500,000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/rare-gold-medal-1904-olympics-sold-more-than-500000-180985877/The artifact, from the first Games held in the United States, reaped the third-highest price ever fetched for an Olympic medal at auctionThu, 23 Jan 2025 16:26:58 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/rare-gold-medal-1904-olympics-sold-more-than-500000-180985877/