It All Began in 1932.

When we think of Lake Placid and the Olympics, 1980 has become the benchmark of how we define the Winter Games with MOI (Miracle on Ice), and Eric Heiden's five gold medals.

But in many ways the modern Olympics began with Placid's 1932 Games. '32 was the first time the medals podium was used (see left as Placid native Jack Shea is the first athlete in Olympic history to stand on the "victor's podium" with his 500m speedskating win).

Placid was the first to broadcast over the airwaves (radio - 10 million listeners).

Other firsts:

• Women's speedskating.
• Two-man bobsled.
• Dog-sled racing. (Imagine drug-testing those athletes!).
• First and only athlete to win a gold medal in the summer AND winter games - Eddie Egan.
• First female flag-bearer (Britain).
• The first time figure skating was held indoors.
• First Olympics in North America.

And don't forget that Placid was the first Winter Games with corporate sponsors.

And yes...Coke was one of them.

-Scott