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2022 Winter Olympics is set to take place in Beijing, China, from February 4 to 20, and it promises to be a spectacular event. But beyond the thrill of the competition, there are a lot of fascinating, lesser-known facts around the Winter Olympics. Here are some cool, interesting and strange facts that are worth knowing about the Winter Olympics, whether you're a die-hard winter sports fan or just a curious reader.
1. The first Winter Olympics were held in 1924 in Chamonix, France.
2. One of the most gruesome stories of the Winter Olympics involves the 1964 Austrian downhill ski team, which suffered a freak accident during a practice run. Two skiers were killed and one was seriously injured after a snow grooming machine failed to detect them on the slope.
3. The youngest gold medalist in Winter Olympics history is Finnish figure skater, Ilkka Elo, who won a gold medal in 1952 at the age of 1
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4. The oldest Olympic medalist is Swedish curler, Carl August Kronlund, who won a bronze medal at the 1924 Winter Olympics at the age of 5
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5. The fastest speed recorded by a skier in the Winter Olympics is 9
7.5 miles per hour, achieved by Austrian ski racer, Fritz Strobl, at the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics.
6. The Winter Olympics has only been canceled three times in history - in 1940 and 1944 because of World War II, and in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
7. The most successful Winter Olympian of all time is Norwegian cross-country skier, Marit Bjørgen, who won 15 medals, including 8 golds, between 2002 and 201
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8. The longest Olympic event is the cross-country skiing marathon, which is 50 kilometers long for men and 30 kilometers for women.
9. The first Winter Olympics to feature snowboarding was held in Nagano, Japan, in 199
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10 The 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics marked the first time North and South Korea marched under a unified flag since the 2006 Winter Olympics. 1
1. The Olympic flame is lit using the sun's rays in Olympia, Greece, and is then transported by relay to the host country, where it is used to light the Olympic cauldron at the opening ceremony. 1
2. The design of the Olympic medals changes every Winter Olympics, but they all feature the Olympic rings and the host city's emblem. 1
3. The United States has won the most medals in the Winter Olympics, with a total of 282 medals, including 105 golds. 1
4. As of 2021, only seven countries have won medals at every Winter Olympics - Australia, Austria, Canada, Finland, Norway, Sweden, and the United States. 1
5. The official mascots for the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics are Bing Dwen Dwen, a giant panda, and Shuey Rhon Rhon, a red lantern. In conclusion, the Winter Olympics is an event steeped in tradition, history and extraordinary feats of athleticism. As we gear up for the 2022 Beijing Games, it's worth remembering that there's always a little bit more to learn about this amazing competition. Whether you're a die-hard fan who knows every stat or just someone who loves to watch the spectacle, there's always something new to discover about the Winter Olympics.