On this day: July 22
The 1518 Strasbourg Dancing Plague: the first well-documented outbreak of contagious dancing
In July 1518, residents of Strasbourg (then in the Holy Roman Empire) witnessed a sudden outbreak of involuntary, prolonged dancing that spread through the city for weeks. Contemporary accounts describe dozens of people dancing until exhaustion, and historians continue to debate its causes.
Athlete Collapses After Secretly Competing While Pregnant at 1936 Olympics
An athlete reportedly collapsed after competing while pregnant during the 1936 Berlin Olympics; contemporary reporting is sparse and some details remain uncertain. This summary outlines what is verifiable and where the historical record is unclear.
Athlete Collapses After Secretly Competing While Pregnant at 1936 Olympics
At the 1936 Berlin Olympics on July 22, an athlete who had concealed her pregnancy collapsed after competing; contemporary press and medical reports noted exhaustion and the physical risks women faced when competing while pregnant, though some details remain disputed.
Norway’s Utøya youth camp attacked in deadly 2011 massacre
On 22 July 2011 a gunman attacked a Labour Party youth camp on the island of Utøya after detonating a bomb in Oslo, killing 69 people on the island and wounding many others in a coordinated act of far-right terrorism.
Bombing at King David Hotel Disrupts Middle East Negotiations
On 22 July 1946 a bomb destroyed part of the southern wing of the King David Hotel in Jerusalem, killing and wounding civilians and officials and abruptly impacting British-Mandate administration and regional political talks.
Mass shooting on Utoya Island kills dozens during youth camp
On 22 July 2011, a gunman opened fire at a Labour Party youth camp on the island of Utoya, Norway, killing dozens and injuring many more in one of the country’s deadliest attacks.