Ever notice how many people love to watch the Olympics even though they don’t normally watch sports? That’s because the Olympics are more than just another competition between a couple of rival teams. This is an event where the best athletes in the world have a chance to write their own illustrious page in the history books.
However, while everyone remembers the Olympics as a time of triumph, it can also be a time of tragedy. Some athletes come for the gold and walk away with nothing but heartache. Which athletes are we talking about, and what awful tragedies did they endure? Keep reading to find out!
Dutch gymnasts murdered by Nazis
Back in 1928, the Dutch Olympic gymnastics team made a major impression on the entire world. They earned the gold that year and made countless headlines. Because of that constant coverage, it was well known that five of these athletes as well as their coach were Jewish, something that would make them targets 12 years later.
It was in 1940 that the Nazis invaded the Netherlands. When this happened, the coach and all his players except Elka de Levie were sent to labor camps due to their heritage. Horrifically, they all died in the camps, making this undoubtedly the darkest part of Olympic history.