If he achieved legendary status in his sport through bouts against Sonny Liston, Joe Frazier, Ken Norton or George Foreman, Muhammad Ali will also always remain indelibly linked to the great history of the Olympic Games, which he marked on two occasions and in two entirely different contexts, almost half a century apart.

It was not the Olympics which made Ali “The Greatest”, but his breakthrough role gave the boxer a unique place in Games folklore.

The Essential Olympic Stories podcast is brought to you by Eurosport in association with Bridgestone.

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At the Mexico Olympics of 1968, Bob Beamon redefined the boundaries of the possible by shattering the long jump world record with his first jump in the final.

The American’s leap of 8.90 metres pulverised the competition and was a staggering 55 centimetres better than the old benchmark.

This almost immeasurable record would endure for over two decades.

The Essential Olympic Stories podcast is brought to you by Eurosport in association with Bridgestone.

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Greg Louganis is the greatest diver of all time. First man to win the double double, at the Los Angeles and Seoul Olympics, the American took his discipline to fresh heights.

But the legendary Louganis did so while being weighed down by a heavy burden throughout the 80s: his HIV positive status, which he kept a secret.

The Essential Olympic Stories podcast is brought to you by Eurosport in association with Bridgestone.

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John Akii-Bua came from nowhere to write a major chapter in athletics history by becoming Uganda's first ever Olympic gold medallist.

His victory in the 400 metres hurdles with a world record time in Munich in 1972 saw Akii-Bua rise to prominence.

But his destiny oscillated between glory and tragedy, his life coming to an end too early, aged 47 years.

The Essential Olympic Stories podcast is brought to you by Eurosport in association with Bridgestone.

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Invariably seen as the best swimmer of the 20th century and Australia's greatest female athlete ever, Dawn Fraser was the first of only three swimmers in history to win individual gold medals for the same event – the 100-metre freestyle – at three successive Olympics.

But behind the unique glory of an indisputable champion lies a personality marked by minor scandal and ineffaceable pain.

The Essential Olympic Stories podcast is brought to you by Eurosport in association with Bridgestone.

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On July 23, 1996 Kerri Strug became America's golden girl.

The gymnast overcame pain to make history for the United States with an unprecedented victory in the all-around team competition at the Atalanta Olympics.

While not the most talented of the "Magnificent Seven" her courage saw the tiny 18-year-old become an icon. A quarter of a century on, the sight of Strug being carried to the podium by her coach – into a world of flowers, kisses, and celebrity endorsements – remains etched in the memory.

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At the age of just 14, the revolutionary gymnast Nadia Comăneci captured the Olympic imagination by achieving the impossible with a perfect and unprecedented 10 during the Montréal Games.

If the Romanian phenomenon stunned the entire world in Canada, her story reached far beyond that magical summer of 1976.

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On July 27, 1996 in Atlanta, Canadian sprinter Donovan Bailey became only the second person to hold all major titles in the 100 metres concurrently. On a night that was as remarkable as it was improbable, the world champion became an Olympic champion and world record holder to go down as a sprint legend. Maxime Dupuis details his ascent.

However, the night was equally remembered for a catastrophic meltdown from Linford Christie, in the twilight of his eventful career...

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When the Olympic Games were first held in Tokyo, in 1964, the Japanese only had eyes for judo, which was being included as an official sport for the first time.

Japan's judokas were tipped to pull off a clean sweep of four gold medals – but a giant Dutchman blocked the hosts' way.

This was how Anton Geesink plunged an entire country into unimaginable despair by winning the prestigious open weight division judo gold.

The Essential Olympic Stories podcast is brought to you by Eurosport in association with Bridgestone.

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From his lofty perch of 23 Olympic titles and 28 medals, Michael Phelps is unique.

The swimmer dominated the Olympics like no other during his immense career, which reached its peak at the Beijing Games in 2008 when he turned a race that had been lost into a stunning victory, forever captured for eternity.

The American went to China with one goal: a clean sweep of eight gold medals to eclipse the old record of his compatriot Mark Spitz. And, boy, did he do it.

But it all came down to a tiny margin of 0.01 seconds, a mere half-flap of his butterfly wings.

The Essential Olympic Stories podcast is brought to you by Eurosport in association with Bridgestone.

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