A judge, left, checks the weapon of Soviet pentathlete Boris Onischenko
You almost have to admire the chutzpah of the Soviet modern pentathlete Boris Onischenko. He left the 1976 Montreal Olympics in disgrace when it was discovered that during the épée part of the competition, he’d equipped his sword with a button that allowed him to trigger the electronic scoring system at will. Newspapers labeled him “Disonischenko” and “Boris the Cheat,” while the U.S.S.R.’s volleyball team threatened to throw him out of a hotel window if their paths crossed. The real shame of it was that Onischenko was a truly talented athlete who’d already earned his country a gold at the previous games, in Munich. As a result, the rules of the sport changed, banning grips that could hide wires or switches. It’s been said that Onischenko was banished to the Siberian salt mines, but that has never been confirmed.