United States at the 1908 Summer Olympics
The United States competed at the 1908 Summer Olympics in London, England. During the opening ceremony, American athletes did not dip their flag to the British royalty in support of the Irish boycott over Great Britain's refusal to grant Irish independence.[1]
United States at the 1908 Summer Olympics | |
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Flag of the United States (despite receiving the 46th star on July 4, 1908 after Oklahoma gained statehood, the 45-star flag was used in the early days of the games) | |
IOC code | USA |
NOC | United States Olympic Committee |
in London | |
Competitors | 112 |
Medals Ranked 2nd |
|
Summer Olympics appearances (overview) | |
Other related appearances | |
1906 Intercalated Games |
Medalists
Results by event
Archery
The United States had one archer present in 1908. The 19-year-old Richardson had already won an Olympic bronze medal, in the team event at the 1904 Summer Olympics. He competed in both events open to men, taking the bronze medal in the York rounds and 15th place in the Continental style.
Event | Place | Archer | Score |
---|---|---|---|
Men's double York round | 3rd | Henry B. Richardson | 760 |
Men's Continental style | 15th | Henry B. Richardson | 171 |
Athletics
American track & field athletes continued to dominate the sport, taking more than twice as many championships as the next most successful nation, host Great Britain.
Running
Event | Place | Athlete | Heats | Semifinals | Final |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Men's 100 metres | 2nd | James Rector | 10.8 seconds (=OR) 1st, heat 15 | 10.8 seconds (=OR) 1st, semifinal 3 | 10.8 seconds (=OR) |
4th | Nate Cartmell | 11.0 seconds 1st, heat 3 | 11.2 seconds 1st, semifinal 4 | 11.0 seconds | |
Semi- finalist | William W. May | 11.2 seconds 1st, heat 6 | 11.0 seconds 2nd, semifinal 1 | Did not advance | |
Harold Huff | 11.4 seconds 1st, heat 12 | 11.1 seconds 2nd, semifinal 3 | |||
Lawson Robertson | 11.4 seconds 1st, heat 13 | 11.2 seconds 2nd, semifinal 4 | |||
Nathaniel Sherman | 11.2 seconds 1st, heat 14 | 11.3 seconds 2nd, semifinal 2 | |||
Lester Stevens | 11.2 seconds 1st, heat 8 | Unknown 4th, semifinal 1 | |||
Robert Cloughen | 11.0 seconds 1st, heat 5 | Did not start —, semifinal 1 | |||
William Hamilton | 11.2 seconds 1st, heat 11 | Did not start —, semifinal 2 | |||
Heats | Edgar Kiralfy | Unknown 4th/5th, heat 4 | Did not advance | ||
Men's 200 metres | 2nd | Robert Cloughen | 23.4 seconds 1st, heat 8 | 22.6 seconds 1st, semifinal 3 | 22.6 seconds |
3rd | Nate Cartmell | 23.0 seconds 1st, heat 4 | 22.6 seconds 1st, semifinal 2 | 22.7 seconds | |
Semi- finalist | William Hamilton | 22.4 seconds 1st, heat 10 | Unknown 2nd, semifinal 1 | Did not advance | |
Nathaniel Sherman | 22.8 seconds 1st, heat 12 | Unknown 2nd, semifinal 2 | |||
Harold Huff | 22.8 seconds 1st, heat 2 | Unknown 3rd, semifinal 2 | |||
Heats | Lawson Robertson | Unknown 2nd, heat 3 | Did not advance | ||
William W. May | Unknown 2nd, heat 11 | ||||
Men's 400 metres | Finalist[2] | John Taylor | 50.8 seconds 1st, heat 4 | 49.8 seconds 1st, semifinal 3 | Did not start |
William Robbins | 50.4 seconds 1st, heat 7 | 49.0 seconds 1st, semifinal 4 | Did not start | ||
John Carpenter | 49.8 seconds 1st, heat 14 | 49.4 seconds 1st, semifinal 1 | Disqualified | ||
Semi- finalist | Horace Ramey | 51.0 seconds 1st, heat 9 | Unknown 2nd, semifinal 3 | Did not advance | |
Ned Merriam | 52.2 seconds 1st, heat 13 | Unknown 3rd, semifinal 1 | |||
John Atlee | 50.4 seconds 1st, heat 11 | Unknown 3rd, semifinal 4 | |||
William C. Prout | 50.4 seconds 1st, heat 8 | Unknown 4th, semifinal 2 | |||
Heats | Paul Pilgrim | Unknown 2nd, heat 1 | Did not advance | ||
Frederick de Selding | Unknown 2nd, heat 15 | ||||
Men's 800 metres | 1st | Mel Sheppard | None held | 1:58.0 1st, semifinal 2 | 1:52.8 (OR) |
6th | John Halstead | 2:01.4 1st, semifinal 3 | Unknown | ||
7-8 | Clarke Beard | 1:59.2 1st, semifinal 5 | Did not finish | ||
Semi- finalist | Harry Coe | Unknown 2nd, semifinal 4 | Did not advance | ||
Joseph Bromilow | Unknown 2nd, semifinal 7 | ||||
Lloyd Jones | Unknown 3rd, semifinal 4 | ||||
Francis Sheehan | Unknown 3rd, semifinal 8 | ||||
James Lightbody | Unknown 4th, semifinal 1 | ||||
— | Charles French | Did not finish —, semifinal 5 | |||
Horace Ramey | Did not finish —, semifinal 7 | ||||
Men's 1500 metres | 1st | Mel Sheppard | None held | 4:05.0 (OR) 1st, semifinal 2 | 4:03.4 (=OR) |
7-8 | James P. Sullivan | 4:07.6 1st, semifinal 1 | Did not finish | ||
Semi- finalist | James Lightbody | Unknown 2nd, semifinal 1 | Did not advance | ||
John Halstead | Unknown 2nd, semifinal 2 | ||||
Harry Coe | Unknown 2nd, semifinal 4 | ||||
— | Frank Riley | Did not finish —, semifinal 3 | |||
Men's 110 metre hurdles | 1st | Forrest Smithson | 15.8 seconds 1st, heat 10 | 15.4 seconds (OR) 1st, semifinal 2 | 15.0 seconds (WR) |
2nd | John Garrels | 16.2 seconds 1st, heat 2 | 15.8 seconds 1st, semifinal 4 | 15.7 seconds | |
3rd | Arthur Shaw | Walkover 1st, heat 14 | 15.6 seconds 1st, semifinal 1 | 15.8 seconds | |
4th | William Rand | 15.8 seconds 1st, heat 5 | 15.8 seconds 1st, semifinal 3 | 16.0 seconds | |
Semi- finalist | Leonard Howe | 15.8 seconds 1st, heat 13 | Unknown 3rd, semifinal 2 | Did not advance | |
Men's 400 metre hurdles | 1st | Charles Bacon | 57.0 seconds (OR) 1st, heat 3 | 58.8 seconds 1st, semifinal 2 | 55.0 seconds (OR) |
2nd | Harry Hillman | 59.2 seconds 1st, heat 6 | 56.4 seconds (OR) 1st, semifinal 1 | 55.3 seconds | |
Semi- finalist | Harry Coe | 58.8 seconds 1st, heat 2 | Unknown 2nd, semifinal 1 | Did not advance | |
Men's 3200 metre steeplechase | 3rd | John Eisele | None held | 11:13.6 1st, semifinal 2 | 11:00.8 |
Semi- finalist | Gale Dull | Unknown 2nd, semifinal 4 | Did not advance | ||
James Lightbody | Unknown 2nd, semifinal 6 | ||||
Roger Spitzer | Unknown 3rd, semifinal 5 | ||||
Charles Hall | Unknown 4th, semifinal 5 | ||||
— | Edward Carr | Did not finish —, semifinal 1 | |||
George Bonhag | Did not finish —, semifinal 4 | ||||
Men's medley relay | 1st | William Hamilton Nate Cartmell John Taylor Mel Sheppard | None held | 3:27.2 1st, semifinal 3 | 3:29.4 |
Men's 3 mile team race[3] | 2nd | John Eisele | None held | 14:55.0 2 points, team=10 | 14:41.8 4 points, team=19 |
George Bonhag | 14:56.4 5 points, team=10 | 15:05.0 6 points, team=19 | |||
Herbert Trube | 14:55.0 3 points, team=10 | 15:11.0 9 points, team=19 | |||
No place | Gale Dull | 15:37.4 No score, team=10 | 15:27.0 No score, team=19 | ||
Harvey Cohn | Did not start No score, team=10 | 15:40.2 No score, team=19 | |||
Men's 5 miles | 8th | Frederick Bellars | None held | Unknown 2nd, semifinal 2 | Unknown |
10-12 | Edward Carr | Unknown 2nd, semifinal 3 | Did not start | ||
Semi- finalist | Charles Hall | Unknown 4th, semifinal 3 | Did not advance | ||
Men's marathon | 1st | Johnny Hayes | None held | 2:55:18.4 | |
3rd | Joseph Forshaw | 2:57:10.4 | |||
4th | Alton Welton | 2:59:44.4 | |||
9th | Lewis Tewanima | 3:09:15.0 | |||
14th | Sidney Hatch | 3:17:52.4 | |||
— | Tom Morrissey | Did not finish | |||
Michael Ryan | Did not finish | ||||
J. J. Lee | Did not start | ||||
Frederick Lorz | Did not start | ||||
W. O'Mara | Did not start | ||||
Alexander Thibeau | Did not start | ||||
W. Wood | Did not start | ||||
Jumping
Event | Place | Athlete | Height/ Distance |
---|---|---|---|
Men's high jump | 1st | Harry Porter | 1.90 metres |
5th | Herbert Gidney | 1.85 metres | |
Tom Moffitt | 1.85 metres | ||
7th | Neil Patterson | 1.83 metres | |
Men's long jump | 1st | Frank Irons | 7.48 metres |
2nd | Daniel Kelly | 7.09 metres | |
4th | Edward Cook | 6.97 metres | |
5th | John Brennan | 6.86 metres | |
7th | Frank Mount Pleasant | 6.82 metres | |
12th | Sam Bellah | 6.64 metres | |
21-32 | John O'Connell | Unknown | |
Men's triple jump | 5th | Platt Adams | 14.07 metres |
6th | Frank Mount Pleasant | 13.97 metres | |
8th | John Brennan | 13.59 metres | |
9th | Martin Sheridan | 13.42 metres | |
16th | Frank Irons | 12.67 metres | |
17th | Sam Bellah | 12.55 metres | |
18-20 | Nathaniel Sherman | Unknown | |
Men's pole vault | 1st | Edward Cook | 3.71 metres |
Alfred Carlton Gilbert | 3.71 metres | ||
3rd | Clare Jacobs | 3.58 metres | |
6th | Sam Bellah | 3.50 metres | |
12th | Thomas Jackson | 3.05 metres | |
Men's standing high jump | 1st | Ray Ewry | 1.57 metres |
2nd | John Biller | 1.55 metres | |
4th | Leroy Holmes | 1.52 metres | |
5th | Platt Adams | 1.47 metres | |
8th | Frank Irons | 1.42 metres | |
16th | Martin Sheridan | 1.37 metres | |
19-23 | Lawson Robertson | Unknown | |
Men's standing long jump | 1st | Ray Ewry | 3.33 metres |
3rd | Martin Sheridan | 3.23 metres | |
4th | John Biller | 3.21 metres | |
6th | Platt Adams | 3.11 metres | |
Leroy Holmes | 3.11 metres | ||
8-25 | Frank Irons | Unknown | |
Sigmund Muenz | Unknown | ||
Throwing
Event | Place | Athlete | Distance |
---|---|---|---|
Men's shot put | 1st | Ralph Rose | 14.21 metres |
3rd | John Garrels | 13.18 metres | |
4th | Wesley Coe | 13.07 metres | |
6th | Bill Horr | 12.83 metres | |
8th | Lee Talbott | 11.63 metres | |
9-25 | Wilbur Burroughs | Unknown | |
Martin Sheridan | Unknown | ||
Men's discus throw | 1st | Martin Sheridan | 40.89 metres |
2nd | Merritt Giffin | 40.70 metres | |
3rd | Bill Horr | 39.45 metres | |
5th | Arthur Dearborn | 38.52 metres | |
6th | Lee Talbott | 38.40 metres | |
9th | John Flanagan | 37.80 metres | |
10th | Wilbur Burroughs | 37.43 metres | |
12-42 | Platt Adams | Unknown | |
John Garrells | Unknown | ||
Simon Gillis | Unknown | ||
Men's hammer throw | 1st | John Flanagan | 51.92 metres |
2nd | Matthew McGrath | 51.18 metres | |
5th | Lee Talbott | 47.86 metres | |
6th | Bill Horr | 46.97 metres | |
7th | Simon Gillis | 45.59 metres | |
10-19 | Benjamin Sherman | Unknown | |
Men's Greek discus | 1st | Martin Sheridan | 37.99 metres |
2nd | Bill Horr | 37.32 metres | |
4th | Arthur Dearborn | 35.65 metres | |
8th | Wilbur Burroughs | 32.81 metres | |
11-23 | Platt Adams | Unknown | |
John Garrels | Unknown | ||
Cycling
Event | Place | Cyclist | Heats | Semifinals | Final |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Men's 660 yards | Semi- finalist | George Cameron | 1:05.2 1st, heat 15 | Unknown 3rd, semifinal 3 | Did not advance |
Men's 20 kilometres | 4th | Louis Weintz | None held | 33:39.8 1st, semifinal 3 | Unknown |
Semi- finalist | George Cameron | 33:39.2 2nd, semifinal 4 | Did not advance | ||
Men's 100 kilometres | — | Louis Weintz | None held | Did not finish —, semifinal 2 | Did not advance |
Men's sprint | Semi- finalist | George Cameron | 1:29.4 1st, heat 8 | Unknown 2-4, semifinal 2 | Did not advance |
Heats | Louis Weintz | Unknown 3rd, heat 13 | Did not advance | ||
Men's team pursuit | — | Unknown | Did not start —, heat 2 | Did not advance | |
Diving
The Americans sent two divers in 1908. Gaidzik made it to the finals in both diving events, after a successful protest in the platform competition. He won a bronze medal in the springboard after tying with the third-place German diver.
Event | Place | Diver | Preliminary groups | Semi- finals | Final |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Men's 10 metre platform | 5th | George Gaidzik | 81.80 points 1st, group 1 | 61.0 points 3rd, semifinal 2 | 56.30 points |
18th | Harold Grote | 62.80 points 3rd, group 5 | Did not advance | ||
Men's 3 metre springboard | 3rd | George Gaidzik | 82.80 points 1st, group 1 | 85.60 points 1st, semifinal 2 | 80.80 points |
9th | Harold Grote | 79.50 points 2nd, group 5 | 74.50 points 5th, semifinal 2 | Did not advance | |
Figure skating
Event | Place | Skater | Score |
---|---|---|---|
Men's individual | 6th | Irving Brokaw | 232.0 |
Jeu de paume
In the jeu de paume competition, Gould won the gold medal while Sands was eliminated in the first round by the eventual silver medallist.
Event | Place | Player | Round of 16 | Quarter- finals | Semi- finals | Final/ Bronze match |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Jeu de paume | 1st | Jay Gould | Bye | Defeated Pennell 6-3, 6-3, 6-2 | Defeated Page 6-1, 6-0, 6-0 | Defeated Miles 6-5, 6-4, 6-4 |
9th | Charles Sands | Lost to Miles 6-3, 6-3, 6-3 | Did not advance | |||
Opponent nation | Wins | Losses | Percent |
---|---|---|---|
Great Britain | 3 | 1 | .750 |
Total | 3 | 1 | .750 |
Shooting
Event | Place | Shooter | Score |
---|---|---|---|
Men's 1000 yard free rifle | 2nd | Kellogg Casey | 93 |
11th | William Leuschner | 89 | |
13th | Charles Benedict | 88 | |
Ivan Eastman | 88 | ||
Charles Jeffers | 88 | ||
16th | Charles Winder | 87 | |
19th | Harry Simon | 86 | |
24th | Edward Greene | 84 | |
John Hessian | 84 | ||
Men's 300 metre free rifle | 2nd | Harry Simon | 887 |
16th | Edward Greene | 792 | |
29th | John Hessian | 746 | |
Men's team military rifle | 1st | William Leuschner William Martin Charles Winder Kellogg Casey Ivan Eastman Charles Benedict | 2537 |
Men's moving target small-bore rifle | 10th | Walter Winans | 13 |
Men's disappearing target small-bore rifle | 19th | Walter Winans | 30 |
Men's single-shot running deer | 6th | Walter Winans | 21 |
Men's double-shot running deer | 1st | Walter Winans | 46 |
Men's individual pistol | 3rd | James Gorman (sport shooter) | 485 |
4th | Charles Axtell | 480 | |
8th | Irving Calkins | 457 | |
9th | John Dietz | 455 | |
19th | Thomas LeBoutillier | 436 | |
21st | Reginald Sayre | 430 | |
38th | Walter Winans | 368 | |
Men's team pistol | 1st | James Gorman Irving Calkins John Dietz Charles Axtell | 1914 |
Swimming
Event | Place | Swimmer | Heats | Semifinals | Final |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Men's 100 metre freestyle | 1st | Charles Daniels | 1:05.8 1st, heat 5 | 1:10.2 1st, semifinal 2 | 1:05.6 |
4th | Leslie Rich | 1:14.6 1st, heat 9 | 1:10.8 2nd, semifinal 2 | Unknown | |
Semi- finalist | Harry Hebner | 1:11.0 1st, heat 6 | 1:11.8 3rd, semifinal 1 | Did not advance | |
Heats | Conrad Trubenbach | Unknown 3-5, heat 2 | Did not advance | ||
Robert Foster | Unknown 3-4, heat 4 | ||||
Men's 400 metre freestyle | Heats | Budd Goodwin | Unknown 3rd, heat 1 | Did not advance | |
Conrad Trubenbach | Unknown 3rd, heat 4 | ||||
Men's 1500 metre freestyle | Heats | James Greene | 28:09.0 2nd, heat 5 | Did not advance | |
Men's 100 metre backstroke | Heats | Augustus Goessling | 1:29.0 2nd, heat 6 | Did not advance | |
Men's 200 metre breaststroke | Heats | Augustus Goessling | Unknown 3rd, heat 2 | Did not advance | |
Men's 4x200 metre freestyle relay | 3rd | Harry Hebner Budd Goodwin Charles Daniels Leslie Rich | None held | 11:01.4 2nd, semifinal 2 | 11:02.8 |
Tug of war
Event | Place | Athletes | Quarterfinals | Semifinals | Final |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Tug of war | 5th | Wilbur Burroughs, Wesley Coe, Arthur Dearborn, John Flanagan, Bill Horr, Matthew McGrath, Ralph Rose, Lee Talbott | Lost to Great Britain Liverpool Police | Did not advance | |
Wrestling
Event | Place | Wrestler | Round of 16 | Quarter- finals | Semi- finals | Final |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Freestyle bantamweight | 1st | George Mehnert | Bye | Defeated Sprenger | Defeated Côté | Defeated Press |
Freestyle featherweight | 1st | George Dole | Defeated Cockings | Defeated Webster | Defeated McKie | Defeated Slim |
Freestyle lightweight | 5th | John Krug | Defeated Hoy | Lost to Wood | Did not advance | |
Freestyle middleweight | 5th | John Craige | Bye | Lost to Andersson | Did not advance | |
Frederico Narganes | Bye | Lost to Beck | ||||
Freestyle heavyweight | 9th | Lee Talbott | Lost to O'Kelly | Did not advance | ||
Opponent nation | Wins | Losses | Percent |
---|---|---|---|
Canada | 1 | 0 | 1.000 |
Great Britain | 7 | 3 | .700 |
Sweden | 0 | 1 | .000 |
Total | 8 | 4 | .667 |
Notes
- About.com, The History of the Olympics: 1908 - London, England
- Carpenter was disqualified for interference in the first running of the final, prompting a second running. Taylor and Robbins were eligible to run, but refused in protest against the exclusion of Carpenter.
- The 3 mile team race used a point-for-place system with only the top three runners from each 5-man team counting. The International Olympic Committee only considers those three (Eisele, Bonhag, and Trube for the United States) to be medallists.
Sources
- Cook, Theodore Andrea (1908). The Fourth Olympiad, Being the Official Report. London: British Olympic Association.
- De Wael, Herman (2001). "Top London 1908 Olympians". Herman's Full Olympians. Retrieved 29 May 2006.