Every four years, we watch. We marvel at badminton and wonder about the modern decathlon. With more than 300 gold medals awarded across 37 disciplines, our lives are suddenly much less productive. In this edition of "know your Olympic sport," we focus on the largest athletes in Beijing and how to keep them cool (not you, Yao).

Was it the foot? No matter the credentials of experts claiming otherwise, Big Brown’s failure to win the Triple Crown will forever be linked to that question. After dominating at the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness, Big Brown dived, finishing in last place despite being favored at 1-4 odds.