TODAY: August 1

1716: The oldest surviving sporting contest, the Doggett’s Coat and Badge, for Thames scullers, was held for the first time.

1936: The 11th Olympics opened in Berlin, Germany. The Games were best remembered for Jesse Owens winning four gold medals.

1980: Sebastian Coe turned the tables on Steve Ovett (above) to win the 1,500 metres at the Moscow Olympics, after his great rival had beaten him in the 800m final six days earlier. 1989: Australia won the Fourth Test at Old Trafford to become the first side to regain the Ashes on English soil since 1934. 1996: America’s Michael Johnson broke the 200m world record by 0.30 seconds with a time of 19.32secs at the Atlanta Olympics. 2004: Mark Palios resigned as chief executive of the Football Association.