Even if you only think about some of those sports every four years, there's no denying that the Olympic games have a special kind of romance attached to them. Athletes spend years honing their skills, practicing again and again to reach the peak of their abilities. But at the end of the day, they’re still people.
So we’ve gathered some fascinating stories of Olympic athletes, past and present, and what they’re up to when they aren’t competing for medals. Get comfortable as you scroll through, upvote your favorite examples and be sure to share your own thoughts in the comments section down below.