1936 - First time, the Olympic cycling road-race is conducted as a mass-start event with Frenchmen Robert Charpentier and Guy Lapébie taking gold and silver respectively, and France winning the team’s gold medal

1979 - Birth of Sri Lankan fast-bowler Dinusha Fernando. He first announced his talent by making Mike Atherton his bunny during the warm-up matches that led up to the 2001 Test series. Made his debut in November 2003 where he made an instant impression, claiming 2/13 against England at Dambulla. He also played in the first two Tests, but bowled only 21 overs and was dropped later on

[caption id="attachment_154456" align="alignnone" width="455"] Happy birthday Dinusha Fernando - who removes Andrew Strauss here in his only ODI for Sri Lanka, in Dambulla in November 2003! He played in two Tests too, the same year[/caption]

1984 - The Famous Mary Decker-Zola Budd collision during women’s 3,000 m at the Los Angeles Olympics. During the race, with slightly more than three laps left, they collided

[caption id="attachment_154457" align="alignnone" width="454"] The Decker-Budd collision in 1984 Olympics: Running in the inside lane, Mary Decker’s right foot became intertwined with the left foot of Zola Budd. Decker stumbled, and, while attempting to right herself, she reached out, tearing the number 151 off Budd’s back as she fell to the ground. Decker tried to get up, but a hip injury left her sprawled out on the track in tears. A tearful Budd, bleeding from her ankle, continued the race, but the crash had clearly affected her as well[/caption]

1996 - New Zealand beats South Africa 29-18 in Cape Town to win the inaugural Tri Nations Rugby Series with an unbeaten record; All Blacks fly-half Andrew Mehrtens lands five penalties and two conversions

[caption id="attachment_154458" align="alignnone" width="454"] New Zealand beats South Africa 29-18 in Cape Town in 1996 to win the inaugural Tri Nations Rugby Series with an unbeaten record[/caption]

2000 - The last day of Test as well as international cricket for Sri Lanka’s World Cup-winning Skipper Arjuna Ranatunga, whose 28 not out at the SSC in Colombo helped draw the match and the series against South Africa. He was only 18 when he played in Sri Lanka’s very first Test, against England in 1982, and his appearance against Pakistan in 2000 made him the only man to play in his country’s first and 100th Tests. Over two decades, he was captain in 56 Tests and scored 5,105 runs in all

[caption id="attachment_154459" align="alignnone" width="456"] Tony Greig said on that day, “He added steel to the back of Sri Lanka’s cricket.” How true. On 10 August 2000, legendary Arjuna Ranatunga played his last international match of his 18-year career that changed the destiny of the island’s cricket[/caption]

2008 - American swimmer Michael Phelps wins the 400 m individual medley at the Beijing Olympics in world record 4:03.84 seconds

2014 - The Test between Sri Lanka and Pakistan in Galle sparked to life on the fifth day thanks to Rangana Herath, Pakistan’s unpredictability, and the weather. Pakistan went into the day needing to bat it out, but Herath picked up six wickets to dismiss them for 180. It left the hosts 99 to chase with rain closing in and the light fading. A big, dark cloud hung over the ground as Angelo Mathews swatted an unbeaten 25 off 13 to drag his side home with under five overs remaining. The rain pelted down seconds after the winning runs were scored!

[caption id="attachment_154460" align="alignnone" width="454"] A big, dark cloud hung over the ground as Angelo Mathews swatted an unbeaten 25 off 13 to drag his side home with under five overs remaining. The rain pelted down seconds after the winning runs were scored![/caption]

2016 - South Korean shooter Jin Jong-oh recovers from seventh place during the final to set an Olympic record 193.7 and win gold in men’s 50 m pistol at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics. He became the first shooter to win three consecutive Olympic gold medals in one event