The Story Of The Olympic Games

THE STORY of the OLYMPIC GAMJiS R. D. BINFIELD Geoffrey Cumberlege OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS 1948 This Book is dedicated to the President and Members of my club, St. Marys Hornsey Harriers, a small club in the right tradition, and to my son, James. R. D. B. CONTENTS Chapter f Page INTRODUCTION . . . . . . . . .... . . ix I THE ANCIENT GAMES . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 II THE REVIVAL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 III THE TRACK EVENTS 34 IV THE MARATHON 57 V WALKING EVENTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63 VI THE FIELD EVENTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66 VII WOMENS EVENTS 80 VIII THE MODERN PENTATHLON . . . . . . . . . . . . 83 IX CYCLING. By W. J. Mills 85 X WRESTLING. By George Mackenzie 93 XI WEIGHT-LIFTING. By Oscar State 99 XII SWIMMING. By Janet Bassett-Lowke 103 XIII ROWING. By Jack Beresford 113 XIV CANOEING. By John W. Dudderidge 123 XV YACHT RACING. By Frank Eyre 129 XVI HOCKEY 133 XVII ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL . . . . ., . . . . 134 XVIII FENCING 136 XIX BOXING 140 XX OTHER COMPETITIONS 144 XXI OLYMPIC STAMPS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 146 METRICAL CONVERSION TABLES . . . . . . . . 149 SOME TECHNICAL TERMS . . . . . . . . . . 153 OLYMPIC GAMES, 1948 157 THE MARATHON COURSE, 1948 183 THE ROAD WALK COURSE, 1948 184 LIST OF PLATES PLATE 1 Scene in a wrestling school from a wine-jar, about 530 B. C.. . A long distance race about 470 B. C.. 2 Members of the International Olympic Committee, 1896. Loues wins the marathon of 1896. 3 The British team parade at Berlin. The Olympic fire at Berlin. 4 Jesse Owens, starting in the 100 m. at Berlin. P. Williams Canada wins the 1928 100 m. The 100 m. final of 1932. 5 J. Woodruff U. S. A. winning the 800 m. at Berlin. Douglas Lowe, winner of the1924 800 m. Americas record-breaking 400 m. relay team at Berlin. 6 Albert Hill G. B. wins the 800 m. at Antwerp. W. Roberts hands over in the 1,600 m. relay at Berlin. 7 Lovelocks 1,500 m. 1936, the end of the first lap. The finish. Cunningham congratulates the winner. 8 Percy Hodge wins the steeplechase at Antwerp. Ritola and Nurmi, in the 10,000 m. at Amsterdam. Iso-Hollo Finland takes the water-jump. 9 How the recording camera settles close finishes. 10 L. Lehtinen Finland in the 5,000 m. at Los Angeles. 11 12 13 14 FACING PAGE 17 Paul Popper o Keystone Central Press Central Press V 33 Central Press Paul Popper Central Press V 48 Paul Popper Paul Popper Sport and General 49 Associated Press Central Press V 64 Paul Popper Central Press Central Press 65 Paul Popper Planet News 80 Central Press Glen Hardin U. S. A. holder of the Olympic 400 m. hurdles record. Associated Press Tom Hampson G. B. wins the 800 m. at Los Angeles. Central Press J The runners in the 5,000 m. final at Berlin. Paul Popper R. M. N. Tisdall wins the 400 m. hurdles at Los Angeles. Central Press J The 1908 Marathon. Central Press Dorando finishes. Topical Press 81 85 K. Son Japan and E. Harper G. B. in the Berlin Marathon. Paul Poppet Planet News I G. E. Larner G. B. winning the 10 miles walk in 1908. Central Press f Harold Whitlock G. B. wins the 50 km. walk at Berlin. Planet News Three high jumpers. Cornelius Johnson U. S. A., winner at Berlin. Associated Press 1 H. M. Osborn U. S. A. wins in 1924 Central Press Dorothy Odam G. B. who finished second at Berlin. Associated Press vii LIST OF PLATES PLATE FACING PAGE 15 L. Long Germany and Jesse Owens in the long jump at Berlin. I Associated Press Central Press V 96D. Hart Hubbard U. S. A. wins at Paris in 1924. Central Press 16 Three pole-vaulters at Berlin. Earl Meadows U. S. A., the winner. Paul Popper S. Nishida of Japan, second. Paul Popper 97 F. R. Webster, Britains finest vaulter. Central Press 17 Hammer, discus and javelin J. Flanagan U. S. A., winner in 1900, 1904 and 1908. Topical Press K. Carpenter U. S. A., who won at Berlin. Paul Popper v 1 1 6 Lemming Sweden, winner in 1908. Central Press 18 Helen Stephens U. S. A. wins the womens 100 m. at Berlin. Paul Popper 1 1 7 Heat of the womens 80 m...