Some of the standouts at the Seoul Games were world champion Serguei Bubka, winner of the pole vault; American swimmer Matt Biondi, winner of seven medals, including five gold, and Canadian sprinter Ben Johnson, winner of the 100 m with the incredible time of 9s79, world record at the time. However, the athlete tested positive for using anabolic steroids and the gold medal went to the American, Carl Lewis. This time Brazil won a gold medal in judo: Aurélio Miguel won in the middle-weight category. Brazilians also brought home two silver and three bronze medals.

Number of countries: 159
Sports: 25

Larry Bird, Michael Jordan and Magic Johnson. They were the main stars of the fabulous American basketball team, the greatest sensation at the 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games. The team, nicknamed the Dream Team, was comprised of NBA stars and it was one of the greatest highlights of this edition.

Brazil won its first gold medal in team sports in Barcelona. This great feat was achieved by the men's volleyball team, which helped make the sport popular in the country. Judo provided the other Brazilian gold medal, this time with Rogério Sampaio, in the light-weight category. With the silver medal in the 100 m freestyle, swimmer Gustavo Borges concluded the country's medal achievements in Barcelona.

Number of countries: 169
Sports: 28

At the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games, all of the countries affiliated with the International Olympic Committee were represented for the very first time. This edition also saw 79 different countries win medals, another record. Despite the tragedy that marred the competition, a bomb that killed one person and injured another 110, the Games were a huge success in public and organization.

The biggest highlight in the scope of sports was the performance by American Carl Lewis, who became the fourth athlete in history to win nine gold medals in Olympic Games. Atlanta represented a leap forward in Brazil's performance: it won an unprecedented 15 medals - three gold, three silver and nine bronze, a record. With beach volleyball now among the Olympic sports, there was an all Brazilian final with the first ever women's Olympic medal going to Brazil. Jacqueline Silva and Sandra Pires won the gold and Mônica Rodrigues and Adriana Samuel, the silver medal. They were the country's first women medal winners. The other two gold medals in Atlanta were won in yachting with Robert Scheidt, in the Laser class, and Marcelo Ferreira and Torben Grael, in the Star.

Number of countries: 197
Sports: 26

The joint parade by the South and North Korean delegations became one of the most unforgettable scenes at the Opening Ceremony for the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games. Another highlight involved the four participants from East Timor who paraded under the Olympic Flag and competed as "individual Olympic athletes". The Aborigine Cathy Freeman was given the honor to light the Olympic pyre at the Games opening ceremony. Ten days later, Freeman won the gold medal in the 400 m.

The Sydney edition saw two more great names: Australian swimmer Ian Thorpe, who at only 17 proved his fame as a phenomenon and won three gold medals; and Dutch swimmer Inge de Bruijn, who won the same number of gold medals. The Brazilian delegation performed very well, winning six silver and six bronze medals.

Number of countries: 199
Sports: 28

The first Olympic Games of the new millennium returned to Athens, their birthplace, and celebrated the record participation of 201 nations. American swimmer Michael Phelps was the individual highlight. He won six gold and two bronze medals, tying the record held by gymnast Aleksandr Dityatin.

Brazil won five gold medals, as well as two silver and three bronze medals. The Brazilian gold medalists were Ricardo and Emanuel, in beach volleyball; Rodrigo Pessoa, in the individual show jumping event (after the first place horse was disqualified for doping); Robert Scheidt, in the yachting Laser class; Marcelo Ferreira and Torben Grael, in the yachting Star class; and the men's volleyball team. Vanderlei Cordeiro de Lima's participation in the marathon was an unforgettable event. The athlete was leading the marathon on the last day of competition when an Irish priest broke through security and knocked the athlete down. Vanderlei was still able to return to the race and won the bronze, greatly cheered by the spectators. Because he decided to not protest the result, the Brazilian athlete was awarded the Baron de Coubertin medal for Olympic sportsmanship.

Number of countries: 201
Sports: 28

The 1968 Mexico City Olympic Games were the first to be held in Latin America. It was also the first time a woman, Mexican Norma Enriqueta Basilio, lit the Olympic Pyre at the opening ceremony.

American Bob Beamon was one of the edition's standouts. When he ran to make his long jump he was the great favorite, but no one ever imagined the greatness of his feat. Beamon jumped 8.90 m: 55 centimeters more than the previous world record. Brazilian Nelson Prudêncio guaranteed the silver jumping 17.27 m in the triple jump. The country won two more bronze medals in Mexico: in boxing, with flyweight Servílio de Oliveira, and in yachting, with Reinald Conrad and Bukhard Cordes, in the Flying Dutchman class.

Number of countries: 112
Sports: 20

The 1972 Munich Olympic Games were marked by the terrorist attack on the Olympic Village. In the scope of sports, the Munich Games were the stage for American swimmer Mark Spitz's show. He won an impressive seven gold medals, with seven world records, a unique achievement in the history of the Games. For the first time, the Summer Olympic Games had a mascot: a dog named Waldi. Nelson Prudêncio, in the triple jump, and Chiaki Ishii, in the middle-weight category in judo, won bronze medals for Brazil.

Number of countries: 121
Sports: 23

The 1976 Montreal Olympic Games were highlighted by Romanian Nadia Comaneci's participation. At the age of 14, she enchanted the world and ensured the first perfect score of "10" in the history of artistic gymnastics. She would go on to win six more perfect scores and finished the Games with three gold medals, one silver and one bronze.

Women began to compete in basketball, handball and rowing in Montreal. Brazil once again won two bronze medals: with João Carlos de Oliveira, João do Pulo, in the triple jump, and yachtsmen Reinaldo Conrad and Peter Ficker, in the Flying Dutchman class.

Number of countries: 92
Sports: 21

The 1980 Moscow Olympic Games were affected by the Cold War, which was at its peak at that time. Political disputes led to a boycott of the event by the United States. Because the Americans asked other countries to not send athletes to Moscow, the number of participating nations at the Games fell to 80, the lowest since 1956. One of the edition's highlights was the charismatic mascot, Mischa the bear, who said goodbye at the event in tears, during the wonderful display at Moscow Olympic Stadium.

Russian Aleksandr Dityatin won medals in all of the men's artistic gymnastics events and became the only athlete to win eight medals in a single edition of the Games (three gold, four silver and one bronze). Brazil once again won gold medals, this time in yachting, with Alexandre Welter and Lars Bjorkstrom in the Tornado class, and Marcos Pinto Rizzo Soares and Eduardo Penido in the 470 class. João do Pulo won his second bronze medal in the triple jump at the Olympic Games and the other Brazilian bronze medal was won by the men's 4x200 m freestyle swimming relay team.

Number of countries: 80
Sports: 21

Four years after the boycott led by the United States at the Moscow Games, the Communist Bloc did not go to the event held in Los Angeles. China did not adhere to the boycott and had a successful debut at the Olympic Games: 15 gold medals, eight silver and nine bronze.

At the Los Angeles Games, American Carl Lewis etched his name in the history books by equaling the feat achieved by his countryman Jesse Owens and winning four gold medals in track and field: 100 m, 200 m, 4 x 100 m relay and long jump. Brazil had an excellent performance with five silver and two bronze medals and the highlight going to Joaquim Cruz's gold medal in the 800 m.

Number of countries: 140
Sports: 23

Still depressed by the World War II bombing raids, London once again held the Olympic Games in 1948, twelve years after the previous edition. The English capital, although partially destroyed and without many funds for organization, was able to lodge all of the athletes and efficiently carried out the task of holding the Games. The 1948 Games were also the first to be broadcast by television.

Number of countries: 59
Sports: 17

Held at the outset of the Cold War, this edition was marked by the debut of the Soviet Union, which would dispute the largest number of medals over the following Games with the United States. The most memorable feat of the Helsinki Games was achieved by Czechoslovakian runner Emil Zapotek. He became the only person in history to win the 5000 m, the 10,000 m (an event he had already won in London in 1948) and the marathon during the same edition of the Games.

Number of countries: 69
Sports: 17

The first time the Olympic Games were held in the Southern Hemisphere was in 1956 in the Australian city of Melbourne. One of the Games' peculiarities was the equestrian events, which were not held in Australia. The country's quarantine laws were very strict regarding the authorization for foreign horses to enter the country and the solution found by the organizers was to transfer the equestrian events to Stockholm, Sweden, a few months prior to the beginning of the Games.

Number of countries: 72
Sports: 17

For the second consecutive time, the Rome Olympic Games saw the Soviet Union defeat the United States in the medals table. The Italian capital was also the stage that saw the birth of a phenomenon in the boxing ring: American Cassius Clay, who would later be immortalized as Muhammad Ali, his Muslim name. The boxer was the heavy-weight Olympic champion.

Another athlete who etched his name in the Games' history book was Ethiopian Abebe Bikila. Running barefoot, he won the marathon under intense 40°C heat, breaking the world record, and became the first African Olympic champion. The athlete was a member of Emperor Haile Selassie's personal guard, and he repeated his achievement four years later. Brazil won two bronze medals at that edition of the Games: with swimmer Manuel dos Santos Júnior, in 100 m freestyle, and with the men's basketball team.

Number of countries: 83
Sports: 17

The Japanese held the first Olympic Games on the Asian continent in Tokyo. Large investments were made for building gymnasiums and sports complexes as well as improvements in the city's public transportation. Judo and volleyball (first team sport disputed by women) became part of the Olympic Games in Tokyo.

Japan was the stage for memorable feats. Australian Dawn Fraser won her third consecutive gold medal in the 100 m freestyle, becoming the first woman swimmer to win a total of eight medals (four gold and four silver) at three editions of the Games. Russian gymnast Larisa Latynina added six new medals to her incredible collection: she won nine gold, five silver and four bronze medals at three Olympic Games, for a total of 18 medals. The Brazilian men's basketball team won its third Olympic bronze medal.

Number of countries: 93
Sports: 19

After eight years without competitions because of World War I, the world once again celebrated sports at the Olympic Games in Antwerp in 1920.

The Olympic flag was introduced at this edition. The flag, with the five rings representing the union of the five continents, was created by the Baron de Coubertin. It was also the first time an athlete swore the Olympic oath.

Brazil participated in the Games for the first time at this edition. There were a total of 21 Brazilian athletes and the country won three medals: gold, silver and bronze, all in shooting. The first Brazilian gold medal belongs to Guilherme Paraense, who won the rapid-fire pistol event (25 m).

Number of countries: 29
Sports: 22

Paris fez grandes investimentos em infra-estrutura para receber os Jogos Olímpicos de 1924. Os administradores montaram uma vila olímpica para abrigar os atletas (algo inédito até então) e capricharam na organização. Atletas de 44 países marcaram presença e cerca de mil jornalistas cobriram os Jogos, consolidando a competição como a maior do mundo.

Um dos destaques dessa edição foi o nadador norte-americano Johnny Weissmuller, que conquistou três medalhas de ouro para seu país nos 100 m e 400 m livres e no revezamento 4x100 m. Ele ainda participou da conquista para os Estados Unidos da medalha de bronze no pólo aquático. Mais tarde, Weissmuller estrelaria 14 filmes em Hollywood no papel de Tarzan. Um feito notável foi do corredor finlandês Paavo Nurmi: ele conquistou a medalha de ouro nos 1500 m e, apenas 55 minutos depois, voltou para a pista e venceu os 5000 m.

Número de países: 44
Esportes: 17

One of the Games greatest symbols debuted in the 1928 edition: the Olympic flame was lit for the first time in history. Athletes from 28 countries won medals in Amsterdam, a record that would last 40 years. The number of women athletes more than doubled compared to the previous edition and they participated for the first time in track and field and artistic gymnastic events.

The Amsterdam Olympic Games were held in peace and harmony. A curious and much remembered fact of this edition was the gesture by Australian Henry Pearce. During the quarter-finals of a rowing event, the competitor paused for a family of ducks to cross his lane. The noble gesture brought him praise and even greater applause when he would later win the gold medal.

Number of countries: 46
Sports: 14

The horrible economic depression that shook up the world after the Crash of 1929 made the 1932 Los Angeles Olympic Games the shortest ever until that time. Although the number of athletes was also affected, the level of competition was extremely high and 18 world records were either broken or tied. Electronic timing devices were officially introduced, and for the first time the winners could watch as their countries' flags were hoisted and hear their national anthems during the award ceremony.

The Brazilian delegation recorded an important victory at this edition: Brazilian swimmer Maria Lenk, who competed in the 100 m freestyle, 100 m backstroke 200 m breaststroke, and was the first Latin American woman to participate in the Olympic Games.

Japanese swimmer Kusuo Kitamura set a record in 1932 that still stands today. At the age of only 14, he won the 1500m freestyle and became the youngest man to win a gold medal in individual swimming events in the history of the Games.

Number of countries: 37
Sports: 14

The Berlin Olympic Games marked the beginning of the Olympic Torch Relay from Olympia, Greece, to the site of the Games. In order to reach Germany, the torch traveled over more than three thousand kilometers and across seven countries. The 1936 Games were also the first to be broadcast live: 25 large screens were distributed throughout Berlin so people could watch the events for free.

American Jesse Owens was one of the Games' highlights. He won four gold medals in the most traditional track and field events: 100 m, 200 m, 4 x 100 m relay and long jump.

Number of countries: 49
Sports: 19

Women debuted in 1900 when the Olympic Games were held in Paris. A total of 22 women were in the French capital and English tennis player Charlotte Cooper entered the history books as the first winner of a women's Olympic event. The second edition of the Games was integrated to the Paris World Expo, an enormous world commerce fair, and it ended up extending over a five month period.

American Ray Ewry was the highlight of the Paris edition: he won three standing jump events (a track and field modality that is no longer disputed) on the same day. The athlete had contracted polio as a young boy and it was believed he would never walk again. Ewry decided to exercise on his own and he overcame the disease and participated in three editions of the competition: a true representative of the spirit of the Olympic Games.

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Number of countries: 24
Sports: 18

The 1904 Olympic Games were also part of the World Expo and they extended over four and a half months. They marked the beginning of the gold, silver and bronze medals for the events. The competition also saw the debut of African competitors with the participation of two marathon runners, as well as boxing and decathlon competitors.

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Number of countries: 12
Sports: 17

The London Olympic Games saw the delegations parade at the opening ceremony with the flags of their respective countries for the very first time. This was the longest edition in the history of the Games: they extended over a six month period.

This fourth edition was highlighted by the remarkable performance of the American athlete, Ray Ewry, who won two gold medals in the standing jump, for a total of eight over the three editions of the Games, a record that has yet to be broken in individual competitions. The organizing committee for the London Games set the marathon distance at 42.195km for the first time and the event was won by the American, John Joseph Hayes. This became the official distance for the event starting at the 1924 Games.

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Number of countries: 22
Sports: 22

The 1912 Olympic Games were the first to have electronic devices to time the events. This timing was unofficial and served as a test for future editions of the Games. The Stockholm edition recorded the presence of countries from the five continents thanks to the unprecedented participation of Japan and they were considered a model of efficiency.

Another novelty at the Games was the participation of women in swimming competitions. -The biggest highlight of these Games was the American Indian, Jim Thorpe, winner of the pentathlon and the decathlon by great margins. At the award ceremony, the Swedish King referred to Thorpe as the world's greatest athlete.

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Number of countries: 28
Sports: 14