Columbia Encyclopedia

(Encyclopedia) Lewis, Carl (Frederick Carlton Lewis), 1961–, American sprinter and jumper, b. Birmingham, Ala. A star in high school and at the Univ. of Houston, he became possibly the greatest track athlete of al...

(Encyclopedia) Andrianov, Nikolai Yefimovich, 1952–2011, Russian gymnast. Andrianov excelled especially in the rings and floor exercises. He joined the Soviet national team in 1970 and won his first international ...

(Encyclopedia) Constantine II, 1940–2023, king of the Hellenes; also known as Constantine XIII. He was appointed regent in 1964 and succeeded to the throne the same ...

(Encyclopedia) George II, 1890–1947, king of the Hellenes (1922–23, 1935–47), successor and eldest son of King Constantine I. When Constantine I was forced by the Allies to abdicate in 1917, George, also suspe...

(Encyclopedia) Ueberroth, Peter Victor, 1937–, American business and sports executive, b. Evanston, Ill. As president of the organizing committee for the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, Ueberroth created a financially ...

(Encyclopedia) wrestling, sport in which two unarmed opponents grapple with one another. The object is to secure a fall, i.e., cause the opponent to lose balance and fall to the floor, and ultimately to pin the supi...

(Encyclopedia) Melankomas of Caria, d. c. a.d. 70, ancient Greek boxer. Known for his exceptional beauty, conditioning, and endurance, he is said to have always held his arms up high in defense, thus protecting his ...

(Encyclopedia) Bjørndalen, Ole Einar, 1974–, Norwegian biathlete, generally regarded as the greatest champion in the history of the biathlon, a combination of cross-country skiing and target-shooting. He competed...

(Encyclopedia) Tempe, Vale of, Gr. Témbi, valley, c.5 mi (8 km) long, E central Greece, NE Thessaly, between Mt. Olympus and Mt. Óssa. Traversed by the Piniós River, the valley is famous for its rugged grandeur. ...

(Encyclopedia) amateur, in sports, one who engages in athletic competition without material recompense. Upper-class Englishmen in the 19th cent. used the concept to help define their social status, first applying th...