5 Fascinating Olympic Facts

The Olympics in Rio are setting records as Americans are watching NBC in record numbers thanks to all the gold, silver and bronze American athletes have been winning in recent days.  It makes you proud to be an American.

Here are some little known facts about the Olympic Games:

• If you've wondered what those dark red circles covering Olympic athlete's bodies like Michael Phelps, it's called "cupping."  According to NBC's Bob Costas, the technique relies on suction cups that pull the skin back and looser muscles and tendons to make for a better performance.
• According to TotalSportek.com, "Americans who win gold at the Summer Olympics, get $25,000 prize, vs. $510,000 for gold medal winners from Azerbaijan, $314,000 fro Thailand athletes, Italy awards $180,000, France $65,000, and China $31,400."
•  According to Time Magazine, the actual scrap value of a gold medal won at the Olympics is $501. There hasn't been a solid gold medal in the Olympics since 1912.
• There are over 35 different sports being played in this year's games.  America's favorite Olympic events at the summer games with swimming on top, followed by gymnastics, basketball, track and field, and soccer.
• Least Favorite Olympic events to watch:  Statista.com lists: equestrian events, badminton, synchronized swimming, and canoeing.
• Time Magazine reports in it's 8/4 issue, athletes in the track and field events in the original Olympic games were naked.

[via NBC, TotalSportek.com, Time.com, Statista]