United States at the 1896 Summer Olympics

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United States at the Olympic Games

Flag of the United States
IOC code  USA
NOC United States Olympic Committee
external link
At the 1896 Summer Olympics in Athens
Competitors 14 in 3 sports
Medals
Rank: 1		 Gold
11		 Silver
7		 Bronze
2		 Total
20
Olympic history (summary)
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Winter Games
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Fourteen competitors from the United States competed in three sports at the 1896 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece. The Americans were the most successful nation in terms of gold medals, beating host nation Greece, 11 to 10. However, the Greeks' 46 total medals dwarfed the Americans' 20.

The United States team had 27 entries in 16 events, with 20 of the 27 resulting in top-three finishes.

Most of the American competitors were students at Harvard University or Princeton University or members of the Boston Athletic Association. The team trained at The Pennington School, in Pennington, New Jersey, while preparing in secret for the first modern Olympic Games.

Contents

[edit] Medals

Of the 14 Americans at the Athens Games, 12 won medals. Charles Waldstein, a shooter, and Gardner Williams, a swimmer, were the two who did not win any medals.

Several members of America's first Olympic team in 1896. Standing: T.E. Burke, Thomas P. Curtis, Ellery H. Clark. Seated: W.W. Hoyt, Sumner Paine, Trainer John Graham, John B. Paine, Arthur Blake
Several members of America's first Olympic team in 1896. Standing: T.E. Burke, Thomas P. Curtis, Ellery H. Clark. Seated: W.W. Hoyt, Sumner Paine, Trainer John Graham, John B. Paine, Arthur Blake

[edit] Gold

[edit] Silver

[edit] Bronze

[edit] Results by event

[edit] Athletics

Main article: Athletics at the 1896 Summer Olympics
Thomas Curtis
Thomas Curtis

The United States squad won nine gold medals in the twelve athletics (track and field) events, with contributions from six different athletes. Six silver medals and two bronze medals also went to the Americans in athletics.

Event Place Athlete Heat Final
100 metres 1st Tom Burke 12.0 seconds 12.0 seconds
3rd Francis Lane 12.2 seconds 12.6 seconds
– Thomas Curtis 12.2 seconds Did not start
400 metres 1st Tom Burke 58.4 seconds 54.2 seconds
2nd Herbert Jamison 56.8 seconds 55.2 seconds
1500 metres 2nd Arthur Blake No heats 4:34.0
110 metre hurdles 1st Thomas Curtis 18.4 seconds 17.6 seconds
– Welles Hoyt Unknown Did not start
Marathon – Arthur Blake No heats Did not finish
James Connolly
James Connolly
Event Place Athlete Best mark
Long jump 1st Ellery Clark 6.35 metres
2nd Robert Garrett 6.00 metres
3rd James Connolly 5.84 metres
Triple jump 1st James Connolly 13.71 metres
High jump 1st Ellery Clark 1.81 metres
2nd James Connolly 1.65 metres
Robert Garrett 1.65 metres
Pole vault 1st Welles Hoyt 3.30 metres
2nd Albert Tyler 3.20 metres
Shot put 1st Robert Garrett 11.22
– Ellery Clark Unknown
Discus throw 1st Robert Garrett 29.15 metres

[edit] Shooting

Main article: Shooting at the 1896 Summer Olympics

The Paine brothers contested only two events, taking the top two spots in the event in which they both competed, the military pistol. Sumner was the only one of the two to enter the free pistol, which he won. Waldstein was the third member of the American shooting contingent, competing in the military rifle event.

Event Place Shooter Score Hits
Military rifle – Charles Waldstein Unknown
Military pistol 1st John Paine 442 25
2nd Sumner Paine 380 23
Free pistol 1st Sumner Paine 442 24

[edit] Swimming

Main article: Swimming at the 1896 Summer Olympics

Williams competed in two swimming events, placing in neither.

Event Place Swimmer Time
100 metre freestyle – Gardner Williams Unknown
1200 metre freestyle – Gardner Williams Unknown

[edit] References

  • Lampros, S.P.; Polites, N.G.; De Coubertin, Pierre; Philemon, P.J.; & Anninos, C. (1897). The Olympic Games: BC 776 – AD 1896. Athens: Charles Beck.  (Digitally available at [1])
  • Mallon, Bill; & Widlund, Ture (1998). The 1896 Olympic Games. Results for All Competitors in All Events, with Commentary. Jefferson: McFarland. ISBN 0-7864-0379-9.  (Excerpt available at [2])
  • Smith, Michael Llewellyn (2004). Olympics in Athens 1896. The Invention of the Modern Olympic Games. London: Profile Books. ISBN 1-86197-342-X. 
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