In late July 1996, more than 42,000 spectators gathered between the winding curves of U.S. Highway 64 and the mountainous woods of the Cherokee National Forest to watch athletes from 30 nations compete on the Ocoee River for the Summer Olympics whitewater slalom. The occasion marked the first, and so far only, instance of the event taking place on a natural river channel. To read the full story, click the link in our bio. Video by Brynn Meisse #chattanooga #ocoeeriver #whitewater #olympics #1996olympics