Edwin Prescott was awarded a patent for the vertical loop Roller Coaster.
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Georgian heavyweight-lifting champion Lasha Talakhadze smashed a world record by lifting an incredible 473 kg.
Michael Phelps won the 100-meter butterfly swim in a record 50:58 at the Beijing Olympic finals.
Cyprus gained its independence from the United Kingdom.
The Junkers Ju 287, the first jet with forward-swept wings, made its first flight.
Nikephoros II Phokas was crowned emperor of the Byzantine Empire.
