Olympic Baby Names

As the Olympic games draw to a close, so does Nameberry�s Olympic baby names coverage. This time with a look back to Games of the past. We perused the records going back to 1896, in search of the most unusual and interesting of past Gold Medalists� names. With such a wide-ranging international roster, we were able to mine some pretty exotic (in our culture, anyway) nuggets. Girls Annegret Richter -- West Germany, track and field, 1972 Antonella Bellutti -- Italy, racing cyclist, 1996 Beezie Madden (born Elizabeth) -� US, equestrian show jumping team, 2008 Clover Maitland -� Australia, field hockey, 1996 and 2000 Ellina Zvereva -� Belarus, discus throwing, 2000 Faustine Merret -- France, windsurfing, 2004 Fernanda Ribeiro -- Portugal, 10,000 meter race (established a new record), 1996 Fleur Mellor -- Australia, track and field, 1956 Janica Kostelic -- Croatia, Alpine skiing, 2002 Jearl Miles -- US, track and field, 1996 and 2000 Liliya Nuritdinova -� Unified Team, track and field, 1992 Margitta Gummel -- East Germany, shot put, 1968 Maritza Mart�n �- Cuba, discus throwing, 1992 Mildrette Netter -- US, track and field, 1968 Oksana Baiul -- Ukraine, figure skating, 1994 (at age 16) Ondina Valla -� Italy, track and field, 1936 Petra Felke -� East Germany, javelin throw, 1988 Picabo Street -� US, ski racing, 1998 Rhi (Rhiannon) Jeffrey -- US, swimming, 2004 Sanya Richards -- US, track and field, 2004 and 2008 Savatheda Fynos -- Bahamas, track and field, 2000 S�verine Vandenhende -- France, judo, 2000 Sonja Henie -- ice skating, Norway, 1928, 1932, 1936 -- became a movie star Susi Susanti (born Lucia) -- Indonesia, badminton, 1992 Tenley Albright -- US, figure skating, 1956 Torah Bright -- Australia, snowboarding, 2010 Viorica Viscopoleanu -� Roumania, long jump, 1968 Wyomia Tyus -- US, track and field, 1968 Xenia Stad-de-Jong -- Netherlands, track and field, 1948 Boys Apolo Anton Ohno -- US, speed skating, 2002 and 2006 Bevil Rudd -- South Africa, track and field, 1920 Bode Miller (born Samuel Bode) -- US, ski racing, 2010 Bruny Sorin -- Canada, track and field, 1996 Cael Sanderson -- US, wrestling, 2004 Commodore Cochran�US, track and field, 1924 Daley Johnson -- (born Francis), UK, decathlon, 1980, 1984 Danyon Loader -- New Zealand, swimming, 1996 Delfo Cabrera -- Argentina, marathon racer, 1948 Duke Kahanamoku -- Hawaii, swimming, 1912, 1920 (he was named not for Hawaiian royalty, but after his father who had been christened �Duke� following the visit of the Duke of Edinburgh to Hawaii in 1869). Eero Lehtonen -- Finland, pentathlon, 1920 and 1924 Foy Draper -- US, track and field, 1936 Gaston Reiff -- Belgium, track and field, 1948 Gillis Grafstr�m -- Sweden, figure skating, 1920, 1924, 1928 Guinn Smith (born Owen Guinn) -- US, pole vault, 1948 Harri Larva (born Harry) -- Finland, track and field�28 Ilia Kulik -- Russia figure skating, 1998 Ilmari Salminen -- Finland, track and field, 1936 Ingo Weissenborn -- Germany, fencing, 1992 Ivano Brugnetti -- Italy, race walking, 2004 Jaak Uudmae -- Estonia, long jump, 1980 Jacobus �Jim� Thorpe -- US�decathlon, 1912 Jasey-Jay Anderson -- Canada, snowboarding, 2010 Josy Barthel (born Joseph) -- Luxembourg, track and field, 1952 Kiko Sanchez (born Francis) -- Spain, sailing, 1992 Livio Berruti -- Italy, track and field, 1960 Lones Wigger -� US, shooting, 1965 Maurizio Damiliano -- Italy, race walking, 1980 Mikio Oda -- Japan, triple jump, 1928 Million Wolde -- Ethiopia, track and field, 2000 Ollan Cassell -- US, track and field, 1964 Paavo Nuirmi -- Finland, track and field, 1920, 1924, 1928 Parry O�Brien -- US, shot put, 1952, 1956 Rafer Johnson -- US, decathlon, 1960 Sabin Carr -- US, pole vault, 1927 Spyridon Louis -- Greek, marathon, 1896 (first modern day Olympic marathon) Tamio Kono �- US, weight lifting, 1952, 1956 Thane Baker (born Walter Thane) �- US, track and field, 1956 Usain Bolt -- Jamaica, track and field, 2008 Xeno M�ller -- Swiss, rowing, 1996