Antwerp 1920 Olympic Games
The athletics events at the Antwerp 1920 Olympic Games (Games of the VII Olympiad) were held between 15 and 23 August at the Olympisch Stadion in Antwerp, Belgium. Staged shortly after the end of World War I, the Games symbolised the return of international sport and Olympic competition, featuring 509 athletes from 25 nations across 29 athletics events.
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Photo: [1], Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Antwerp 1920 Olympic Games
Antwerp 1920 marked the first Olympic Games after the interruption caused by World War I and carried strong symbolic importance for the Olympic movement. The Olympic flag with its five rings was introduced for the first time, while the Olympic Oath was also officially presented during the opening ceremony. Despite difficult post-war conditions and limited preparation time, the Games successfully re-established international athletics competition.
The athletics programme produced several outstanding performances and multiple world records. Paavo Nurmi announced himself on the Olympic stage by winning gold in the 10,000 metres and the cross-country events, beginning one of the greatest Olympic careers in athletics history. Finland also dominated the throwing events, continuing the country’s emergence as a global athletics power.
World records were set in the men’s 110 metres hurdles by Earl Thomson (14.8), the 400 metres hurdles by Frank Loomis (54.0), the 4×100 metres relay by the United States (42.2), the marathon by Hannes Kolehmainen (2:32:35.8), and the pole vault by Frank Foss (4.09m). The Games also featured memorable victories from athletes such as Charles Paddock in the 100 metres and Albert Hill, who completed the 800m–1500m double for Great Britain.
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Men’s 100m final – Antwerp 1920 Olympic Games
| Position | Athlete | Country | Performance | Notes |
| 1 | Charles Paddock | USA | 10.8 | |
| 2 | Morris Kirksey | USA | 10.8 | |
| 3 | Harry Edward | GBR | 10.9e | 10.8 in the preliminaries |
| 4 | Jason Scholz | USA | 10.9e | 10.8 in the preliminaries |
| 5 | Emile Ali-Khan | FRA | 11.1e | |
| 6 | Loren Murchison | USA | 11.2e |
Men’s 200m final – Antwerp 1920 Olypic Games
| Position | Athlete | Country | Performance | Notes |
| 1 | Allen Woodring | USA | 22.0 | |
| 2 | Charles Paddock | USA | 22.0e | |
| 3 | Harry Edward | GBR | 22.2e | |
| 4 | Loren Muchison | USA | 22.2e | |
| 5 | George Davidson | USA | 22.4e | |
| 6 | Jack Oosterlaak | RSA | 22.4e |
Men’s 400m final – Antwerp 1920 Olympic Games
| Position | Athlete | Country | Performance | Notes |
| 1 | Bevil Rudd | RSA | 49.6 | |
| 2 | Guy Butler | GBR | 49.9e | |
| 3 | Nils Engdahl | SWE | 50.0e | 49.4 in the semifinal |
| 4 | Frank Shea | USA | 50.2e | |
| 5 | John Ainsworth-Davis | GBR | 50.4e | |
| 6 | Harry Dafel | RSA | 50.4e |
Men’s 800m final – Antwerp 1920 Olympic Games
| Position | Athlete | Country | Performance | Notes |
| 1 | Albert Hill | GBR | 1:53.4 | (official 1.53.4) |
| 2 | Earl Eby | USA | 1:53.7e | (offcial 1:53.4) |
| 3 | Benny Rudd | RSA | 1:53.7e | (offcial 1:53.6) |
| 4 | Edgar Mountain | GBR | 1:53.8e | (offcial 1:54.0) |
| 5 | Donald Scott | USA | 1:54.8e | (offcial 1:54.6) |
| 6 | Alnert Spott | USA | 1:56.4e | (offcial 1:56.0) |
| 7 | Adriann Paulen | NED | 1:56.4e | |
| 8 | Jean-Paul Esparbès | USA | 1:58.0e |
Men’s 1500m final- Antwerp 1920 Olympic Games
| Position | Athlete | Country | Performance | Notes |
| 1 | Albert Hill | GBR | 4:01.8 | |
| 2 | Philip Baker | GBR | 4:02.4e | |
| 3 | Lawrence Shields | USA | 4:03.1e | |
| 4 | Václav Vohlařík | TCH | 4:04.6e | (CZE) |
| 5 | Sven Lundgren | SWE | 4:06.3e | |
| 6 | André Audinet | FRA | 4:06.4e | |
| 7 | Arturo Porro | ITA | 4:06.6e | |
| 8 | Joie Ray | USA | 4:10.0e |
5000 metres final – Antwerp 1920 Olympic Games
| Position | Athlete | Country | Performance | Notes |
| 1 | Joseph Guillemot | FRA | 14:55.6 | |
| 2 | Paavo Nurmi | FIN | 15:00.0 | |
| 3 | Eric Backman | SWE | 15:13.0e | |
| 4 | Teodor Koskenniemi | FIN | 15:17.0e | |
| 5 | Joe Blewitt | GBR | 15:19.0e | |
| 6 | William Seagrove | GBR | 15:21.0e | |
| 7 | Carlo Speroni | ITA | uknown performance | |
| 8 | Alfred Nichols | GBR | uknown performance |
10,000 m. final – Antwerp 1920 Olympic Games
| Position | Athlete | Country | Performance | Notes |
| 1 | Paavo Nurmi | FIN | 31:45.8 | |
| 2 | Joseph Guillemot | FRA | 31:51.0e | |
| 3 | James Wilson | GBR | 31:56.0 | |
| 4 | August Maccario | ITA | 32:02.0e | |
| 5 | James Hatton | GBR | 32:05.0 | |
| 6 | Jean Manhes | FRA | 32:26.0e | |
| 7 | Heikki Limatainen | FIN | 32:28.0e | |
| 8 | Fre Faller | USA | 32:38.0e |
Men’s Marathon1 – Antwerp 1920 Olympic Games
| Position | Athlete | Country | Performance | Notes |
| 1 | Hannes Kolehmainen | FIN | 2:32:35.8 | |
| 2 | Jüri Lossmann | EST | 2:32:48.6 | |
| 3 | Valerio Arri | ITA | 2:36:32.8 | |
| 4 | August Broos | BEL | 2:39:25.8 | |
| 5 | Juho Tuomikoski | FIN | 2:40.18.8 | |
| 6 | Sofus Rose | DEN | 2:41.18.0 | |
| 7 | Joseph Organ | USA | 2:41:30.0 | |
| 8 | Rudolph Hansen | DEN | 2:41.39.4 |
1 Note: 42.75 kilometres
Men’s 3000m steeple chase final – Antwerp 1920 Olympic Games
| Position | Athlete | Country | Performance | Notes |
| 1 | Percy Hodge | GBR | 10:00.4 OR | |
| 2 | Patrick Flynn | USA | 10:21.0e | |
| 3 | Ernesto Ambrosini | ITA | 10:32.0e | |
| 4 | Gustaf Mattsson | SWE | 10:31.1e | |
| 5 | Michael Devaney | USA | 10:34.3e | |
| 6 | Albert Hulsebosch | USA | 10:37.7e | |
| 7 | Lars Hedwall | SWE | 10:42.2e | |
| 8 | Raymnond Watson | USA | 10:50.3e |
Men’s 110m hurdles final – Antwerp 1920 Olympic Games
| Position | Athlete | Country | Performance | Notes |
| 1 | Earl Thomson | CAN | 14.8 WR | |
| 2 | Harold Barron | USA | 15.0e | |
| 3 | Frederick Murray | USA | 15.2e | |
| 4 | Harry Wilson | NZL | 15.2e | |
| 5 | Walker Smith | USA | 15.3e | |
| 6 | Carl – Axel Christiernsson | SWE | 15.5e |
Men’s 400m hurldes final – Antwerp 1920 Olympic Games
| Position | Athlete | Country | Performance | Notes |
| 1 | Frank Loomis | USA | 54.0 WR | Loomis’s world record was slightly inferrior to Norton’s 54.2 over 440y, set at the Western US trials 2 months earlier. |
| 2 | John Norton | USA | 54.6e | |
| 3 | August Desch | USA | 54.7e | |
| 4 | “Géo” André | FRA | 54.8e | 1908 high jump silver medallist |
| 5 | Carl – Axel Christiernsson | SWE | 55.4e | |
| 6 | Charles Daggs | USA | 57.5e |
Men’s High Jump final – Antwerp 1920 Olympic Games
| Position | Athlete | Country | Performance | Notes |
| 1 | Raymond Landon | USA | 1.935 OR | |
| 2 | Harold Muller | USA | 1.90 | |
| 3 | Bo Ekelund | SWE | 1.90 | |
| 4 | Walter Whalen | USA | 1.85 | |
| 5 | John Murphy | USA | 1.85 | |
| 6 | Howard Baker | GBR | 1.85 | |
| 7 | Einar Thulin | SWE | 1.80 | |
| =7 | Pierre Lewden | FRA | 1.80 |
Men’s Pole Vault final – Antwerp 1920 Olympic Games
| Position | Athlete | Country | Performance | Notes |
| 1 | Frank Foss | USA | 4.09 WR | Foss’s winning margin was a record 39cm. He remains one of ony two men to have set a WR in Olympic competition (World Athletics, 2020) |
| 2 | Henry Petersen | DEN | 3.70 | |
| 3 | Edwin Myers | USA | 3.60 | |
| 4 | Edward Knourek | USA | 3.60 | |
| 5 | Ernfrid Rydberg | SWE | 3.60 | |
| 6 | Laurits Jørgensen | DEN | 3.60 | |
| 7 | Eldon Jenne | USA | 3.60 | |
| 8 | Georg Högström | SWE | 3.50 |
Men’s Long Jump final – Antwerp 1920 Olympic Games
| Position | Athlete | Country | Performance | Notes |
| 1 | William Pettersson | SWE | 7.15 | (Björneman) |
| 2 | Carls Johnson | USA | 7.095 | |
| 3 | Erik Abrahamsson | SWE | 7.08 | |
| 4 | “Dink” Templeton | USA | 6.95 | |
| 5 | Erling Aastad | NOR | 6.885 | |
| 6 | Rolf Franksson | SWE | 6.73 | |
| 7 | Sol Butler | USA | 6.60 | |
| 8 | Einar Ræder | NOR | 6.585 |
Men’s Triple Jump final – Antwerp 1920 Olympic Games
| Position | Athlete | Country | Performance | Notes |
| 1 | Vilho Tuulos | FIN | 14.505 | |
| 2 | Fole Janson | SWE | 14.48 | |
| 3 | Erick Almlöf | SWE | 14.27 | |
| 4 | Ivar Sahlin | SWE | 14.175 | |
| 5 | Sherman Landers | USA | 14.17 | |
| 6 | Dan Ahearn | USA | 14.08 | |
| 7 | Ossian Nylund | FIN | 13.74 | |
| 8 | Howard Baker | GBR | 13.675 |
Men’s Shot Put final – Antwerp 1920 Olympic Games
| Position | Athlete | Country | Performance | Notes |
| 1 | “Ville” Pörhölä | FIN | 14.81 OR | |
| 2 | Elmer Niklander | USA | 14.155 | |
| 3 | Harry Liversedge | USA | 14.15 | |
| 4 | Pat McDonald | USA | 14.08 | |
| 5 | Einar Nilsson | SWE | 13.87 | |
| 6 | Harald Tammer | EST | 13.605 | |
| 7 | George Bihlman | USA | not recorded | |
| 8 | Howard Cann | USA | not recorded |
Men’s Discus Throw final – Antwerp 1920 Olymic Games
| Position | Athlete | Country | Performance | Notes |
| 1 | Elmer Niklander | FIN | 44.685 | |
| 2 | Armas Taipale | FIN | 44.19 | WR holder since 1913 |
| 3 | August Pope | USA | 42.13 | |
| 4 | Osca Zallhagen | SWE | 41.07 | all marks except Zallhagen’s set in the qualif. round |
| 5 | Hans Tronner | AUT | 40.875 | |
| 6 | Allan Eriksson | SWE | 39.41 | |
| 7 | Valther Jensen | DEN | ||
| 8 | “Ville” Pörhölä | FIN |
Men’s Hammer Throw final – Antwerp 1920 Olympic Games
| Position | Athlete | Country | Performance | Notes |
| 1 | Pat Ryan | USA | 52.875 | WR holder since 1919 |
| 2 | Carl-Johan Lind | SWE | 48.43 | |
| 3 | Basil Bennet | USA | 48.25 | |
| 4 | Malcolm Svensson | SWE | 47.29 | |
| 5 | Matt McGrath | USA4 | 46.67 | |
| 6 | Tom Nicolson | GBR | 45.70 | |
| 7 | Nils Linde | SWE | uknown performace | |
| 8 | James McEacherm | USA | uknown performace |
Men’s Javelin Throw final – Antwerp 1920 Olympic Games
| Position | Athlete | Country | Performance | Notes |
| 1 | Jonni Myyrä | FIN | 65.78 OR | WR holrder (66.10, Stockholm 1919) |
| 2 | Urho Peltonen | FIN | 63.605 | |
| 3 | Pekko Johansson (Jaale) | FIN | 63.095 | set in the qualif. round |
| 4 | “Juho” Saaristo | FIN | 62.395 | |
| 5 | Aleksander Klumberg | EST | 62.30 | (Kolmpere) |
| 6 | Gunar Lindström | SWE | 60.21 | |
| 7 | Milton Angier | USA | 59.275 | |
| 8 | Erik Blomqvist | SWE | 58.18 |
Decathlon – Antwerp 1920 Olympic Games
| Position | Athlete | Country | Performance | Notes |
| 1 | Helge Løvland | NOR | 6803.355 (5803)1 | 100m 12.0 / LJ 6.28 / SP 11.19 / HJ 1.67 / 400m 54.8 / 110mH 16.2 / DT 37.34 / PV 3.20 / JT 48.01 / 1500m 4:48.4 |
| 2 | Brutus Hamilton | USA | 6771.085 (5739) | 11.4 – 6.325 – 11.81 – 1.60 – 55.0 – 17.3 – 36.14 – 3.30 – 48.08 – 4:57.8 |
| 2 | Bertil Ohlson | SWE | 6580.030 (5640) | 12.0 – 6.435 – 11.07 – 1.65 – 55.0 – 17.0 – 37.70 – 3.30 – 39.89 – 4:50.6 |
| 4 | “Gösta” Holmér | SWE | 6532.150 (5551) | 11.8 – 5.92 – 11.06 – 1.70 – 56.6 – 16.6 – 34.82 – 3.20 – 47.62 – 5:01.6 |
| 5 | Evert |Nilsson | SWE | 6433.530 (5371) | 12.2 – 5.67 – 11.39 – 1.75 – 66.7 – 20.0 – 34.77 – 3.40 – 49.28 – 4:45.6 |
| 6 | Valdemar Wickholm | FIN | 6405.460 (5630) | 11.6 – 6.12 – 11.44 – 1.60 – 52.8 – 16.8 – 32.30 – 3.00 – 42.76 – 4:45.6 |
| 7 | Eugen Vidal | USA | 6358.570 (5489) | 12.0 – 6.13 – 11.16 -1.65 – 55.7 – 17.1 – 37.30 – 3.30 – 35.32 – 4:46.6 |
| 8 | Erik Gyllenstolpe | SWE | 6331.435 (5482) | 12.0 – 6.35 – 10.69 – 1.65- 55.8 – 16.8 – 33.65 – 2.90 – 49.31 – 5:01.4 |
2 All marks have been re-scored on 1984/1998 tables, which take account the “odd” centimeter measurement for long throws.
4X100m. relay – Antwerp 1920 Olympic Games
| Position | Athlete | Country | Performance | Notes |
| 1 | Unoted States | USA | 42.2 WR | Charles Paddock, Jackson Scholz, Loren Muchison, Morris Kirksey |
| 2 | France | FRA | 42.5e | René Lorain, René Tirard, René Mourlon, Emile Ali-Khan |
| 3 | Sweden | SWE | 42.8e | Agne Holmström, William Petersson (Björneman), Sven Malm, Nils Sandström |
| 4 | Great Britain & Ireland | GBR | 43.0e | William Hill, Harold Abrahams, Denis Black, Victor d’ Arcy |
| 5 | Denmark | DEN | 43.3e | Henri Thorsen, Paul Hammer, Jean Proess, Alex Servais |
| 6 | Luxembourg | LUX | 43.6e | Jean Colbach, Paul Hammer, Jean Proess, Alex Servais |
4x400m relay, Antwerp 1920 Olympic Games
| Position | Athlete | Country | Performance | Notes |
| 1 | Great Britain & Ireland | GBR | 3:22.2 | Cecil Griffiths 50.6, Robert Lindsay 50.6, John Ainsworth- Davis 51.0, Guy Butler 50.0 |
| 2 | South Africa | RSA | 3:23.4e | Harry Dafel 51.6, Clarence Oldfield 51.2, Jack Oosterlaak 51.6, Bevil Rudd 49.0 |
| 3 | France | FRA | 3:23.9e | Géorge André 51.0, Gaston Féry 50.8, Maurice Delvart 51.3, André Devauz 50.8 |
| 4 | United States | USA | 3:24.0e | George Schiller 51.2, George Bretnail, Ted Meredith, Grank Shea |
| 5 | Sweden | SWE | 3:24.7e | Sven Krostrom, Sven Malm, Erik Sundblad, Nils Engdahl |
| 6 | Belgium | BEL | 3:25.5e | Jules Migeot, Omer Corteyn, Omer Smets, Francoia Morren |
Antwerp 1920 Olympic Games – Discontinued events
3000m Team Race
| Position | Athlete | Country | Points | Notes |
| 1 | United States | USA | 10 | Horace Brown (1/1) [8:54.4], Arie Schardt (3/3), Ivan Dresser (6/6) |
| 2 | Great Britain & Ireland | GBR | 20 | Joe Blewitt (5/5), Albert Hill (7/7), William Seagrove (8/9) |
| 3 | Sweden | SWE | 24 | Eric Backman (2/2), Sven Lundgren (10/13), Edvin Wide (12/15) |
| 4 | France | FRA | 30 | Armand Burtin (4/4), Gaston Heuet (11/14), Edmond Brossard (15/18) |
| 5 | Italy | ITA | 36 | Ernesto Ambrosini (9/11), Augusto Maccario (13/16), Carlo Speroni (14/17) |
Cross Country
| Position | Athlete | Country | Performance | Notes |
| 1 | Paavo Nurmi | FIN | 27:15.0 | |
| 2 | Eric Backman | SWE | 27:17.6 | |
| 3 | Heikki Liimatainen | FIN | 27:37.4 | |
| 4 | Jim Wilson | GBR | 27:45.2 | |
| 5 | Anton Hegarthy | GBR | 27:57.0 | (IRL) |
| 6 | Teodor Koskenniemi | FIN | 27:57.2 | |
| 7 | Julien Van Campenhout | BEL | 28:00.0 | |
| 8 | Gaston Heuet | FRA | 28:10.0 |
Cross Country – Team Race
| Position | Athlete | Country | Points | Notes |
| 1 | Finland | FIN | 10 | Paavo Nurmi (1/1), Heiki Lmatainen (3/3), Teodor Koskenniemi (6/6) |
| 2 | Great Britain & Ireland | GBR/IRL | 21 | Jim Wilson (4/4), Anton Hegarty IRL (5/5), Alfred Nichols (12/12) |
| 3 | Sweden | SWE | 23 | Eric Backman (2/2), Gustal Matsson (10/10), Hiding Ekman (11/11) |
| 4 | United States | USA | 36 | Patrick Flynn (9/9), Fred Faller (13/15), Max Bohland (14/16) |
| 5 | France | FRA | 40 | Gaston Heyet (8/8), Gustave Lauvaux (15/17), Joseph Servella (17/21) |
| 6 | Belgium | BEL | 48 | Julien Van Campenhout (7/7), Henri Smets (20/33), Aimé Proot (21/36) |
| 7 | Denmark | DEN | 55 | Albert Andersen (16/20), Henrik Sørensen (19/27) Jón Jónsen (20/28) |
56 Pound Weight Throw
| Position | Athlete | Country | Points | Notes |
| 1 | Pat McDonald | USA | 11.265 | besides the winner, all other marks set in the qualif. round |
| 2 | Pat Ryan | USA | 10.965 | |
| 3 | Carl-Johan Lind | SWE | 10.25 | |
| 4 | Archie McDiarmid | CAN | 10.12 | |
| 5 | Malcolm Svensson | SWE | 9.455 | |
| 6 | Johan Pettersson | SWE | 9.375 | |
| 7 | Edward Roberts | USA | 9.36 | |
| 8 | Elmer Niklander | FIN | 8.865 |
Pentathlon2
| Position | Athlete | Country | Places (1912 tables) | Notes |
| 1 | Eero Lehtonen | FIN | 14 (3771.74) | LJ 6.635/2 – JT 54.67/1 – 200m 23.0/1 – DT 34.64/7 – 1500m 4:40.2/2 |
| 2 | Everett Bradley | USA | 24 (3517.55) | 6.61/3 – 49.16/8 – 23.0/1 – 36.76/6 – 5:10.0/6 |
| 3 | Hugo Lahtinen | FIN | 26 (3576.305) | 6.59/4 – 54.25/3 – 23.6/5 – 31.12/13 – 4:36.0/1 |
| 4 | Robert LeGendre | USA | 26 (3534.365) | 6.505/5 – 44.60/11 – 23.0/1 37.39/4 – 4:46.0/5 |
| 5 | Helge Lovland | NOR | 27 (3695.375) | 6.32/7 – 53.13/4 – 24.0/10 – 39.51/2 4:45.8/4 |
| 6 | Brutus Hamilton | USA | 27 (3510.06) | 6.86/1 – 48.36/10 – 23.4/4 – 37.13/5 5:12.8/7 |
| 7 | Robert Olsson | SWE | 30 (3496.27) | 6.27/9 – 43.68/12 – 23.6/5 – 39.80/1 – 4:42.8/3 |
| 8 | Aleksandr Klumberg (Kolmpere) | EST | – (3002.48) | 6.25/10 – 60.76/1 – 25.3/12 – 38.62/3 – DNS |
2 Thε event was scored on a points place basis with low score winning. The top 12 after three events competed in the 4th discipline, with the top six advancing to compete in the final event. Ties on points were decided by using the coring on the 1912 decathlon tables, and so determined third place, but the scores shown are otherwise unofficial.
3000m Walk
| Position | Athlete | Country | Performance | Notes |
| 1 | Ugo Frigerio | ITA | 13:14.2 OR | |
| 2 | George Parker | AUS | 13:19.6e | |
| 3 | Richard Remer | USA | 13:22.2e | |
| 4 | Cecil McMaster | RSA | 13:23.6e | |
| 5 | Thomas Maroney | USA | 13:25.0e | |
| 6 | Charles Dowson | GBR | 13:28.0e | |
| 7 | William Hehir | GBR | 13:29.8e | |
| 8 | William Roelker | USA | 13:30.4e |
10,000m Walk
| Position | Athlete | Country | Performance | Notes |
| 1 | Ugo Frigerio | ITA | 48:06.2 | |
| 2 | Josheph Pearman | USA | 49:40.2e | |
| 3 | Charles Gunn | GBR | 49:43.9e | |
| 4 | Cecil McMaster | RSA | 50:04.0e | |
| 5 | William Hehir | GBR | 50:11.8e | |
| 6 | Thomas Maroney | USA | 50:24.4e | |
| 7 | Jean Seghers | BEL | 50:32.4e | |
| 8 | Antoine Doyen | BEL | 56:30:0e |
References
- International Olympic Committee, Antwerp 1920 Olympic Gamesy
- World Athletics (2020), Tokyo 2020 Statistics Handbook. Produced in Collaboration with ATFS, edited by Mark Butller
- World Athletics, (2016) IAAF Statistics Handbook (Special Edition), Games of the XXXI Olympiad – Rio 2016. Produced in Collaboration with ATFS, edited by Mark Butller.
- World Athletics, (2024), HERITAGE Progression of Athletics World Records (edition 2024)
See also:[London 1908 Olympic Games][Saint Louis 1904 Olympic Games]