To celebrate the sports event of the year Parade staffers pored through 80 years of magazine covers to pick a few of our favorites Olympics covers through the years. From the 1956 swimmer we thought could become the next Esther Williams to gymnastic icon Mary Lou Retton, Parade’s Olympic coverage spans the decades and the globe. Click “launch gallery” to see a few of our favorites from the Summer and Winter Games.

The Best Parade Magazine Olympics Covers Through the Years   Historic Olympics Magazine Covers - 13The Best Parade Magazine Olympics Covers Through the Years   Historic Olympics Magazine Covers - 40The Best Parade Magazine Olympics Covers Through the Years   Historic Olympics Magazine Covers - 91The Best Parade Magazine Olympics Covers Through the Years   Historic Olympics Magazine Covers - 2