This cover previewed the 2012 Summer Olympics and featured a rundown of the rivalry between top swimmers Ryan Lochte and Michael Phelps, arguing the two “are linked together like Olympic rings.”
See the History of the Olympics in TIME Covers
From the Paris games of 1924 to the present, TIME was there.
London, 2012: Swimming Rivalry
Full List
Olympic Covers
- Sochi, 2014: Terror Fears
- London, 2012: Swimming Rivalry
- Beijing, 2008: Basketball Player LeBron James
- Turin, 2006: Skier Bode Miller
- Athens, 2004: Swimmer Michael Phelps
- Salt Lake City, 2002: Figure Skater Sarah Hughes
- Salt Lake City, 2002: Figure Skaters Jamie Sale & David Pelletier
- Sydney, 2000: Track Star Marion Jones
- Atlanta, 1996: Track Star Michael Johnson
- Atlanta, 1996: Michael Johnson’s Golden Feat
- Atlanta, 1996: Gymnast Kerri Strug & Bombing Victim Alice Hawthorne
- Lillehammer, 1994: Figure Skaters Nancy Kerrigan & Tonya Harding
- Barcelona, 1992: Gymnast Kim Zmeskal
- Calgary, 1988: Figure Skater Debi Thomas
- Seoul, 1988: Track and Field Star Jackie Joyner-Kersee
- Sarajevo, 1984: Skiers Phil Mahre and Tamara McKinney
- Los Angeles, 1984: Organizer Peter Ueberroth
- Los Angeles, 1984: Soviets Boycott the Games
- Los Angeles, 1984: Track and Field Star Carl Lewis
- Los Angeles, 1984: Carl Lewis Claims Gold
- Lake Placid, 1980: Speed Skaters Eric and Beth Heiden
- Innsbruck, 1976: Skater Dorothy Hamill
- Montreal, 1976: Gymnast Nadia Comeneci
- Munich,1972: Swimmer Mark Spitz
- 1972 Munich Olympics Massacre
- Rome, 1960: Decathlete Rafer Johnson
- Melbourne, 1956: Shotputter Parry O’Brien
- Oslo, 1952: Ski Racer Andrea Mead Lawrence
- Helsinki, 1952: Decathlete Bob Mathias
- London, 1948: Track Star Mel Patton
- Swimmer Eleanor Holm, 1939
- Paris, 1924: Crew Captain James S. Rockefeller