Summer Olympiad (1904)

The 1904 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the III Olympiad, celebrated in St. Louis, Missouri in the United States, at what is now known as Francis Field on the campus of Washington University in St. Louis. Of the 94 events generally considered to have been part of the Olympic program, only 42 included athletes who were not from the United States. The 1904 Olympics did have a few highlights. They were the first at which gold, silver and bronze medals were awarded for first, second and third place. Boxing and freestyle wrestling made their debuts. Marathon runners Len Tau and Jan Mashiani, Tswana tribesmen who were in St. Louis as part of the Boer War exhibit at the World’s Fair, became the first Africans to compete in the Olympics. One of the most remarkable athletes was the American gymnast George Eyser, who won six medals even though his left leg was made of wood. Chicago runner James Lightbody won the steeplechase and the 800m and then set a world record in the 1,500m.

Opening date

01 July 1904

Closing date

23 November 1904

Ceremonies

Official opening of the Games by: Mr. David Francis, president of Louisiana Purchase Exposition

Lighting the Olympic Flame by: The Olympic flame was first lit during the opening ceremony of the 1928 Olympic Games in Amsterdam.

Olympic Oath by: The first athletes' oath was sworn at the 1920 Olympic Games in Antwerp, Belgium.

Official Oath by: The first officials' oath was sworn at the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich.

Participations

12 NOCs (Nations)
651 athletes (6 women, 645 men)
91 events

Country of the host city: United States of America (USA)

Candidate cities: Chicago, Illinois (Chicago was chosen initially but it was decided to transfer to St Louis after a vote of 14 for and 2 against)

Sports

• Aquatics
• Archery
• Athletics
• Basketball
• Boxing
• Cycling
• Fencing
• Football
• Golf
• Gymnastics
• Lacrosse
• Roque
• Rowing
• Tennis
• Tug of War
• Weightlifting
• Wrestling

Highlights

• Archie Hahn (USA-athletics), the Milwaukee Meteor, was champion in the 60m, 100m and 200m. In this last race, he set a new Olympic record in 21.6 seconds, a record broken only 28 years later.

• In the discus, the American Martin Sheridan (opposite picture) won the decider and claimed the goldmedal. After he had thrown exactly the same distance as his compatriot, Ralph Rose (39.28m), the judges gave them both an extra throw to decide the winner.

• Three gold medals for Ramon Fonst - Cuban fencer Ramon Fonst won three gold medals at these Games. He had already won one gold medal and went on to win a silver medal four years later in Paris, the first medals for Cuba. He participated again at the Olympic Games in Paris in 1924.

Facts

• Four new sports were included in the Olympic Games at the 1901 IOC Session in Paris: boxing, dumbbells, freestyle wrestling and decathlon.

• Thomas Hicks of the United States won the marathon after the disqualification of his fellow countryman Fred Lorz (opposite picture, caricatured by Hugo Ewerien), who had covered a large part of the 42 kilometres in a car. He did at least get out just before the finish!

• First games at which gold, silver and bronze medals were awarded for first, second and third place.

• Boxing, dumbbells, freestyle wrestling, and the decathlon made their debuts.

• Chicago runner Jim Lightbody won the steeplechase and the 800 m and then set a world record in the 1500 m.

• One of the most remarkable athletes was the American gymnast George Eyser, who won six medals even though his left leg was made of wood.

• The organizers of the games held "Anthropology Days" on August 12 and 13. Various indigenous men from around the world, who were at the World's Fair as part of the exhibits, competed in various events for anthropologists to see how they compared to the white man.