The Biggest Rivalries in Summer Olympics History

There's no denying the competitive spirit that flows throughout the Olympics, fueling elite athletes as they inch closer to gold. While some competitors imbue their sport with light-heartedness and laughter, others move forward with a furrowed brow, knowing they have longstanding rivalries to face.

When these rivalries arise, fans look into their favorite athletes' mindsets, realizing the reasons for disagreement and competition aren't limited to the sport. Cultural and political tensions play a role in rivalries as do doping scandals, which have led to gold medals being stripped away post-win.

With each of the Olympic Games, fans come to realize that it's not just about who wins gold. It's about who these elite athletes are, what stories they have to tell, and what they overcome on their way to victory. Their rivalries spark curiosity, whether they're solely focused on the sport or whether their ideologies lead them to these contentious moments.

To compile this list of the biggest rivalries in Summer Olympics history, 247 Tempo reviewed several sources, including sports and news publications like NBC News, South China Morning Post, and ESPN.

PARIS, FRANCE - AUGUST 10: Rayna Buckle and Kiera Gazzard of Team Australia compete in the Duet Free Routine on day fifteen of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Aquatics Centre on August 10, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)

• Sport: Swimming

Rayna Buckle and Kiera Gazzard of Team Australia are beautifully synchronized. Team USA has taken the lead in the Summer Olympics but Australia is not one to be left behind. They have come in second just behind Team USA with 21 medals (nine of them gold). NBC predicted that Australia would be taking home more gold medals at this year's Summer Olympics, though they believe that Team USA will still come out on top in total medals. At the tail end of July, Team USA appeared like the underdog behind Australia's gold medal lead. However, as the Summer Olympics came to an end, Team USA boasts eight gold medals and Australia has taken a familiar second place with a total of seven gold medals. The rivalry continues.

Ben Johnson of Canada celebrates winning gold in the Men's 100 metres final on 24 September 1988 during the XXIV Olympic Games at the Seoul Olympic Stadium in Seoul, South Korea. Ben Johnson was later disqualified for the illegal use of performance enhancing drugs.(Photo by Mike Powell/Getty Images)

• Sport: Men's 100 Meter

Ben Johnson of Canada celebrated winning gold in 1988 but was later disqualified for the illegal use of performance enhancing drugs. The Seoul 1988 Olympics were memorable for a variety of reasons, but one of the rivalries that caught the world's attention occurred between Ben Johnson and Carl Lewis. It took only 10 seconds for this rivalry to go down in history. Johnson and Lewis embarked on what became known as "the dirtiest race" ever because Lewis tested positive for stimulants and though he was initially suspended, that decision was overturned and he was allowed to participate in the race. Initially, Johnson won but two days later, his gold medal was taken from him and given to Lewis. As it turned out, six out of eight competitors tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs.

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - AUGUST 11: Silver medalist Audrey Tcheumeo of France, gold medalist Kayla Harrison of the United States and bronze medalists Mayra Aguiar of Brazil and Anamari Velensek of Slovenia celebrate on the podium after the women's -78kg judo contest on Day 6 of the 2016 Rio Olympics at Carioca Arena 2 on August 11, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)

• Sport: Women's Judo

Silver medalist Audrey Tcheumeo of France, gold medalist Kayla Harrison of the United States and bronze medalists Mayra Aguiar of Brazil and Anamari Velensek of Slovenia all pose in the photo above. At the 2016 Rio Games, Kayla Harrison and Mayra Aguiar came face to face to compete in women's judo. Their rivalry was long-standing and their match at the Olympics was fated. Just prior to the event, Harrison came out on top, beating Aguiar at the World Judo Masters tournament (held in Mexico). Though Harrison was celebrating a win, she was also well aware of the support Aguiar was to receive in Brazil since she had already experienced the deafening sound of booing from the crowd six years prior when she beat her in Sao Paulo. Nevertheless, Harrison won gold and Aguiar took bronze.

KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA - APRIL 07: Lee Chong Wei of Malaysia speaks to Lin Dan of China during the presentation ceremony on day six of the Badminton Malaysia Open at Axiata Arena on April 07, 2019 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. (Photo by Stanley Chou/Getty Images)

• Sport: Badminton

Lee Chong Wei of Malaysia speaks to Lin Dan of China during the presentation ceremony at the Badminton Malaysia Open in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in the image above. Lin Dan and Lee Chong Wei made it into the Badminton World Federation Hall of Fame with their combined 16 medals, including both the Olympics and World Championships. Although they both have impressive winning streaks, the rivalry between them has been ongoing for years. Instead of looking at the rivalry negatively, they each used it as fuel to propel themselves forward. They competed against one another between 2004 and 2018 and Dan won 28 out of their 40 games. The rivalry is over since Dan retired in 2020.

TOKYO, JAPAN - JULY 31: Sarah Sponcil 2. of Team United States and Ana Patricia Silva Ramos 1. of Team Brazil joust at the net during the Women's Preliminary - Pool D beach volleyball on day eight of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Shiokaze Park on July 31, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Buda Mendes/Getty Images)

• Sport: Women's Beach Volleyball

Sarah Sponcil 2. of Team USA and Ana Patricia Silva Ramos 1. of Team Brazil joust at the net during the Women's Preliminary at the he Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, perfectly demonstrating their competitive moments. Team USA and Brazil have been longtime rivals in the Olympics. Recently, Team USA came out on top with Kathryn Plummer leading the semifinal win over Brazil. Although there was a sliver of hope following that win, the Olympian's dreams of gold dissipated. Team USA did not make it to the podium this year—something that hasn't happened since the year 2000.

PARIS, FRANCE - AUGUST 09: Jordan Alejandro Diaz Fortun of celebrates winning the Gold medal in the Men's Triple Jump Final on day fourteen of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Stade de France on August 09, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

• Sport: Men's Triple Jump

Jordan Alejandro Diaz once proudly represented Cuba but after obtaining Spanish citizenship, he switched to represent the country of Spain. For years, Cuba came out on top in the triple jump. Though these Olympians come from a small Caribbean island, they are medal winners in all events. Of course, as successful as they are, they come in behind Team USA when it comes to the highest number of medals in the Americas. Sadly, Cuban hearts were broken when some of their famed Olympians pursued citizenship elsewhere and became representatives for their new countries of residence. As a result, the rivalry with Team USA has taken a turn.

PARIS, FRANCE - AUGUST 10: Bronze medalist Nikola Jokic of Team Serbia bites his medal while posing for a photo on the podium during the Men's basketball medal ceremony on day fifteen of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Bercy Arena on August 10, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

• Sport: Men's Basketball

Bronze medalist Nikola Jokic of Team Serbia bites his medal, following a long-time trend. This year, Serbia did not waste time making it clear that they were focused on the Summer Olympics. Nikola Jokic came onto the scene, proudly demonstrating why he is a worthy contender, especially against France's Victor Wembanyama. Although Serbia came in strong, France ultimately prevailed to go up against Team USA for gold. Serbia focused on and won bronze when they battled it out with Germany, eventually winning 93-83.

PARIS, FRANCE - AUGUST 03: Nadia Comăneci speaks during The Olympic Gala Of Champions at Four Season George V on August 03, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Victor Boyko/Getty Images for Sports for Peace)

• Sport: Gymnastics

Retireed gymnast, Nadia Comăneci, spoke during The Olympic Gala Of Champions at Four Season George V in Paris, France. But Nadia Comaneci was only 14 years old when she became a legend. It was 1976 when she scored a perfect 10 at the Summer Olympics. Representing Romania, she demonstrated her strength and skill. Soviet Nellie Kim matched Comaneci's energy, also scoring a perfect 10 that year. They were both accustomed to the satisfaction and pride of winning gold medals and both went on to celebrate more wins before eventually retiring.

MOSCOW, SOVIET UNION - JULY 26: Steve Ovett of Great Britain (279) wins the men's 800 metres final from teammate and silver medallist Sebastian Coe (254) and bronze medallist Nikolai Kirov (R) of the Soviet Union during the XXII Olympic Summer Games on July 26, 1980 in Moscow, Soviet Union. (Photo by Allsport/Getty Images)

• Sport: Men's 800 Meter

Steve Ovett of Great Britain (279), exhausted yet triumphant, wins the men's 800 meters final from teammate and silver medalist Sebastian Coe (254). The "800-meter duel" between Sebastian Coe and Steve Ovett occurred in 1980 at the Olympic Games. However, their rivalry started earlier in 1978, when they first met. They were competing at the European championships and first focused on one another. But that focus led to another runner taking the victory. After that, Coe and Ovett avoided racing together. Coe held world records but Ovett wasn't one to be left behind. With only a half second lead, Ovett ended up taking the gold medal home.

GWANGJU, SOUTH KOREA - JULY 21: (L-R Silver medalist Mack Horton of Australia and gold medalist Sun Yang of China competes in the *** on day one of the Gwangju 2019 FINA World Championships at Nambu International Aquatics Centre on July 21, 2019 in Gwangju, South Korea. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

• Sport: Swimming

Silver medalist Mack Horton of Australia and gold medalist Sun Yang of China stand side by side, though only one is smiling. Mack Horton made his displeasure known at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio, calling competitor Sun Yang a "drug cheat." Three years later in 2019, Horton stood strong with his convictions, refusing to stand on the podium alongside Yang. Horton had to field questions regarding their rivalry but ultimately decided to change the subject and focus on his training.