Olympic flashback

This is the second in a series chronicling the history of swimming in the Olympic Games from Athens in 1896 all the way through Atlanta in 1996.

[Athens, Greece] Coluntries: 20

Top Medal-winning Nations: France 40

Though deemed unofficial by the International Olympic Committee, the Intercalated (or Interim) Games are deserving of special notice because they jump-started the Olympic tradition after momentum for the Games had waned in Paris and St. Louis.

These Games also saw the program of swimming events begin to take a more modern shape, with the inclusion of the 100, 400 and 1500 meter freestyles as well as a 4x 250 meter relay. Charles Daniels of the United States, Zoltan Halmay of Hungary and John Jarvis of Great Britain all medalled in Athens.

And just 10 years after the first modern Games, the Olympics were well on their way to becoming a global phenomenon. [London, Englan] Countries:22 Athletes: 2,035[1,999men;36 women Events: 110 Swimming Events: 6 [all men's] Top Medal-winning Nations: Great Britain 145 [56 gold-50 silver-39 bronze] United States 47 [23-12-12]

Sweden 22 [7-5-10]

White City Stadium, built for the London Games, included a velodrome, seating for over 68,000 spectators, and an unusually long 100-meter pool!

The host country's Henry Taylor emerged as the swimming star of the Games, taking first in the 400 meter free (5:36.8) and the 1500 meter free (22:48.4) and leading the British team to victory in the 4 x 200 meter freestyle relay.

In all, five of six events saw new world records, including one in the 100 free by American Charles Daniels, who led the back with a 1:05.6.

Interestingly, the 1908 Games were the first in which medals were given to the first three finishers. Previously, medals were only awarded to the firstand second-place finishers. [Stockholm, Sweden] Walter Bathe Countries; 28 Athletes

The 1912 Olympics in Stockholm are best remembered for Jim Thorpe's world record successes in the most demanding track and field events, the pentathlon and the decathlon.

The action in the pool was equally memorable-it was the first time that swimming events were held for women!

Australia's Fanny Durack raced to the first Olympic swimming medal for women, winning the 100 meter free in a time of 1:22.2 (equaling the men's winning time set by Alfred Hajos of Hungary in 1896).

Duke Kahanamoku, America's Hawaiian superstar, took the men's 100 free in 1:03.4, and Canada's

George Hodgson was a double winner, stroking to world records in the 400 (5:24.4) and 1500 (22:00) freestyles. Hodgson's Olympic records would stand until the 1924 Games.

Germany, led by Walter Bathe's 3:01.8 in the 200 and 6:29.6 in the 400, swept the breaststroke events.

[Berlin, Germany]

In ancient Greece, wars were suspended when the Olympic Games were held. This tradition did not continue in 1916. With World War I raging throughout Europe, the Games were cancelled instead of the War.

Copyright Sports Publications, Inc. Mar 2000
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