Australia at the 1896 Summer Olympics

One athlete from Victoria, a British colony which later formed part of Australia, competed at the 1896 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece. Edwin Flack was born in England and was resident in London in 1896, but spent most of his life in Australia and so is considered an Australian athlete by the International Olympic Committee.[1]

Australia at the
1896 Summer Olympics
IOC codeAUS
NOCAustralian Olympic Committee
Websitewww.olympics.com.au
in Athens
Competitors1 in 2 sports
Medals
Gold
2
Silver
0
Bronze
0
Total
2
Summer Olympics appearances (overview)
Other related appearances
1906 Intercalated Games
 Australasia (1908–1912)

The Union Flag was used as the flag for the Australian colonies as well as Great Britain and Ireland at the 1896 Summer Olympics.

Flack was the only competitor from an Australian colony. He entered five events, winning medals in three. The bronze medal in tennis, however, was part of a mixed team and therefore is not counted for Australia.

Medalists
Medal Name Sport Event
 Gold Edwin Flack Athletics 800 m
 Gold 1500 m

Results by event

Athletics
Main article: Athletics at the 1896 Summer Olympics
Edwin Flack

Both of Flack's gold medals came in the athletics competitions as he won both of his track races.

Athlete Events Heat Final
Result Rank Result Rank
Edwin Flack 800 m 2:10.0 1 2:11.0
1500 m N/A 4:33.2
Marathon N/A DNF -

Tennis
Main article: Tennis at the 1896 Summer Olympics

In the singles tournament, Flack lost the only match he competed in. His loss in the semifinals of the doubles competition, while carrying no prize at the time, earned him a retroactive bronze medal from the International Olympic Committee. This medal is counted for mixed team rather than Australia, however.

Player Event First round Quarterfinals Semifinals Finals
Opposition
Result		 Opposition
Result		 Opposition
Result		 Opposition
Result		 Rank
Edwin Flack Singles  Akratopoulos (GRE)
L		 Did not advance 8
Opponent nationWinsLossesPercent
 Greece01.000
Total01.000

Notes
  1. See, e.g., , the IOC medal chart for the 1896 Games listing Flack's two gold medals for Australia.

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 )
  • 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 )
  • 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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