United States at the 1896 Summer Olympics

Fourteen competitors from the United States competed in three sports at the 1896 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece. The Americans were the most successful athletes in terms of gold medals, beating host nation Greece, 11 to 10, despite fielding only 14 competitors compared to an estimated 169 Greek entrants. However, the Greeks' 46 total medals dwarfed the Americans' 20.

United States at the
1896 Summer Olympics
IOC codeUSA
NOCUnited States Olympic Committee
in Athens
Competitors14 in 3 sports
Medals
Ranked 1st
Gold
11
Silver
7
Bronze
2
Total
20
Summer Olympics appearances (overview)
Other related appearances
1906 Intercalated Games

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 for the first modern Olympic Games.

Medalists

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 C. Blake
Several members of America's first Olympic team
Medal Name Sport Event
 GoldThomas BurkeAthleticsMen's 100 metres
 GoldThomas CurtisAthleticsMen's 110 metre hurdles
 GoldThomas BurkeAthleticsMen's 400 metres
 GoldEllery ClarkAthleticsMen's high jump
 GoldEllery ClarkAthleticsMen's long jump
 GoldJames ConnollyAthleticsMen's triple jump
 GoldWilliam HoytAthleticsMen's pole vault
 GoldRobert GarrettAthleticsMen's discus throw
 GoldRobert GarrettAthleticsMen's shot put
 GoldJohn PaineShootingMen's 25 metre military pistol
 GoldSumner PaineShootingMen's 30 metre free pistol
 SilverHerbert JamisonAthleticsMen's 400 metres
 SilverArthur BlakeAthleticsMen's 1500 metres
 SilverJames ConnollyAthleticsMen's high jump
 SilverRobert GarrettAthleticsMen's high jump
 SilverRobert GarrettAthleticsMen's long jump
 SilverAlbert TylerAthleticsMen's pole vault
 SilverSumner PaineShootingMen's 25 metre military pistol
 BronzeFrancis LaneAthleticsMen's 100 metres
 BronzeJames ConnollyAthleticsMen's long jump

Results by event

Swimming

Williams competed in two swimming events, placing in neither.

Men
Athlete Event Final
Time Rank
Gardner Williams 100 metre freestyle Unknown 3–10
1200 metre freestyle Unknown

Athletics

Thomas Curtis
US athletic team

The United States squad of 11, which featured only one national champion, won nine gold medals in the twelve athletics events, with contributions from six different athletes. Six silver medals and two bronze medals also went to the Americans in athletics.

Track & road events
Athlete Events Heat Final
Time Rank Time Rank
Thomas Burke 100 m 11.8 1 Q 12.0
Francis Lane 12.2 1 Q 12.6
Thomas Curtis 12.2 1 Q Did not start
Thomas Burke 400 m 58.4 1 Q 54.2
Herbert Jamison 56.8 1 Q 55.2
Arthur Blake 1500 m n/a 4:34.0
Thomas Curtis 110 m hurdles 18.0 1 Q 17.6
William Hoyt Unknown 2 Q Did not start
Arthur Blake Marathon n/a Did not finish
James Connolly
Field events
Athlete Events Final
Result Rank
Ellery Clark Long jump 6.35
Robert Garrett 6.00
James Brendan Connolly 5.84
James Brendan Connolly Triple jump 13.71
Ellery Harding Clark High jump 1.81
James Brendan Connolly 1.65
Robert Garrett 1.65
William Hoyt Pole vault 3.30
Albert Tyler 3.20
Robert Garrett Shot put 11.22
Ellery Harding Clark Unknown 5–7
Robert Garrett Discus throw 29.15

Shooting

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.

Shooter Event Hits Score Rank
John Paine 25 m military pistol 25 442
Sumner Paine 23 380
Sumner Paine 30 m free pistol 24 442
Charles Waldstein 200 m military rifle Unknown 14–41

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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