Olympic records are the best performances in a specific event in that event's history in either the Summer Olympic Games or the Winter Olympic Games. As each type of Olympic Games occur only once every four years many of these records do not correspond with world records though they are considered important achievements in the careers of the athletes who are able to break or tie them.
The International Olympic Committee recognizes records only for certain events of certain sports. These include, but are not limited to:
- Archery (list)
- Athletics (list)
- Bobsleigh
- Cycling (list)
- Cross-country skiing
- Diving (list)
- Freestyle skiing (ski cross only)
- Luge
- Nordic combined
- Shooting (list)
- Short track speed skating (list)
- Ski jumping
- Speed skating (list)
- Snowboarding (parallel giant slalom and snowboard cross only)
- Swimming (list)
- Weightlifting (list)
Famous quotes containing the words olympic and/or record:
“Like Olympic medals and tennis trophies, all they signified was that the owner had done something of no benefit to anyone more capably than everyone else.”
—Joseph Heller (b. 1923)
“The first thing which I can record concerning myself is, that I was born.... These are wonderful words. This life, to which neither time nor eternity can bring diminution—this everlasting living soul, began. My mind loses itself in these depths.”
—Margaret Oliphant (1828–1897)