berlin 1936 Olympic Games Results of all athletics event

Berlin 1936 Olympic Games

The 1936 Olympic Games were held in Berlin, Germany, from 1 to 16 August and remain one of the most significant editions in Olympic history. Organized under the Nazi regime of Adolf Hitler, the Games were intended to showcase Germany’s power and prestige to the world. A total of 3,963 athletes from 49 nations competed, while the athletics programme featured 29 events. Despite the political backdrop, the Games produced some of the most memorable performances ever seen at the Olympic Games.

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Berlin 1936 Olympic Games

The undisputed star of the athletics competitions was Jesse Owens of the United States, who won four gold medals in the 100m, 200m, long jump and 4x100m relay. His achievements became one of the defining stories of the Games, as they directly challenged Nazi theories of racial superiority that dominated Germany at the time.

Finland maintained its tradition of excellence in distance running with victories in the 5,000m, 10,000m and 3,000m steeplechase, while Germany achieved notable success in several field events, including the shot put, hammer throw and javelin throw. In the women’s events, Helen Stephens won the 100 metres for the United States, while German athletes claimed victories in both the discus throw and javelin throw.

The Berlin Games also introduced the first Olympic torch relay from Olympia to the host city, establishing a tradition that has been followed at every Summer Olympic Games since. Combined with their political significance, impressive organization and remarkable athletic achievements, the 1936 Olympics remain one of the most studied and discussed editions of the modern Olympic era.

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Men’s 100m final – Berlin 1936 Olympic Games (+2.7 m/s)

Position	Athlete	Country	Performance	Notes
1	Jesse Owens	USA	10.3w	10.2 OR in 1st round (12th heat)
2	Ralph Metcalfe	USA	10.4
3	Martinus Osendarp	NED	10.5
4	Frank Wykoff	USA	10.6
5	Erch Borchmeyer	GER	10.7
6	Lennard Strandberg	SWE	10.9

Competitors: 62, Countries: 30, Finalists: 6 – 3 Aug 1936

Men’s 200m final – Berlin 1936 Olympic Games

Position	Athlete	Country	Performance	Notes
1	Jesse Owens	USA	20.7 OR	also 21.1 OR in the preliminaries
2	Mack Robinson	USA	21.1
3	Martinus Osendarp	NED	21.3
4	Paul Hänni	SUI	21.6
5	Lee Orr	CAN	21.6
6	Wijnand van Beveren	NED	21.9

Competitors: 44, Countries: 22, Finalists: 6 – 5 Aug 1936

Men’s 400m final – Berlin 1936 Olympic Games

Position	Athlete	Country	Performance	Notes
1	Archie Williams	USA	46.5	(46.66)
2	Godfrey Brown	GBR	46.7	(46.68)
3	James LuValle	USA	46.8	(46.84)
4	Bill Roberts	GBR	46.8	(46.87)
5	William Fritza	CAN	47.8
6	John Loaring	USA	48.2

Competitors: 42, Countries: 25, Finalists: 6 – 7 Aug 1936

Men’s 800m final – Berlin 1936 Olympic Games

Position	Athlete	Country	Performance	Notes
1	John Woodruff	USA	1:52.9
2	Mario Lanzi	GBR	1:53.3
3	Phil Edwards	USA	1:53.6
4	Kazimiertz Kucharski	GBR	1:53.8
5	Charle Hornbostel	CAN	1:54.6
6	Harry Williamson	USA	1:55.8
7	Juan Carlos Anderson	ARG
8	Gerald Backhouse	AUS

Competitors: 42, Countries: 23, Finalists: 9 – 4 Aug 1936

Men’s 1500m final- Berlin 1936 Olympic Games

Position	Athlete	Country	Performance	Notes
1	Jack Lovelock	NZL	3:47.8 WR	the first time the 1500m WR was broken oficially in the Olympic Games (WA, 2020)
2	Glnn Cunningham	USA	3:48.4
3	Luigi Becalli	ITA	3:49.2
4	Archie San Romani	USA	3:50.0
5	Phil Edwards	CAN	3:50.4
6	Jessy Cornes	GBR	3:51.4
7	Miklos Szabo	HUN	3:53.0
8	Robert Goix	FRA	3:53.8

Competitors: 36, Countries: 22, Finalists: 12 – 6 Aug 1936

5000m. final – Berlin 1936 Olympic Games

Position	Athlete	Country	Performance	Notes
1	Gunnar Höckert	FIN	14:22.2 OR
2	Lauri Lehtinen	FIN	14:25.8
3	Henry Johnson	SWE	14:29.0	Henry Johnson Kälarne
4	Kohei Murakoso	JPN	14:30.0
5	Józef Noji	POL	14:33.4
6	Ilmari Salminen	FIN	14:39.8
7	Umberto Cerati	ITA	14:44.4
8	Louis Zamperini	USA	14:46.8

Competitors: 41, Countries: 23, Finalists: 15 – 7 Aug 1936

10,000 m. final – Berlin 1936 Olympic Games

Position	Athlete	Country	Performance	Notes
1	Ilmari Salminen	FIN	30:15.4
2	Arvo Askola	FIN	30:15.6
3	Volmari Iso-Holl	FIN	30:20.2
4	Kohei Murakoso	JPN	30.25.0
5	Alec Burns	GBR	30.58.2
6	Juan Carlos Zabala	ARG	31:22.0
7	Max Gebhardt	GER	31:29.6
8	Donald Lash	USA	31:39.4

Competitors: 30, Countries: 18 – 2 Aug 1936

Men’s Marathon – Berlin 1936 Olympic Games

Position	Athlete	Country	Performance	Notes
1	Sohn Kee – Chung	JPN	2:31:36 OR	(Kitei Son, KOR)
2	Ernie Harper	GBR	2:31:55
3	Nam Sung – Yong	JPN	2:32.12	(Shoryu Nam, KOR)
4	Erkki Tamila	FIN	2:32:41
5	Väinö Muinonen	FIN	2:35.42
6	Johannes Coleman	RSA	2:37:28
7	Donald Robertson	GBR	2:39:38
8	Henry Gibson	RSA	2:41:35

Competitors: 56, Countries: 27 – 9 Aug 1936

Men’s 3000m steeplechase final – Berlin 1936 Olympic Games

Position	Athlete	Country	Performance	Notes
1	Volmari Iso Hollo	FIN	9:03.8 WR
2	Tom Kalle Tuominen	FIN	9:06.8
3	Alfred Dompert	GER	9.07.2
4	Martii Matilainen	FIN	9.09.0
5	Harold Manning	USA	9:11.2
6	Lars Larsson	SWE	9:16.6
7	Voldemars Vitols	LAT	9:18.8
8	Glen Dawson	USA	9.21.2

Competitors: 28, Countries: 13, Finalists:12 – 8 Aug 1936

Men’s 110m hurdles final – Berlin 1936 Olympic Games

Position	Athlete	Country	Performance	Notes
1	Forrest Twons	USA	14.2
2	Don Finlay	GBR	14.4
3	Frederick Pollard	USA	14.4
4	Hakan Lidman	SWE	14.4
5	John Thornton	GBR	14.7
6	Larry O’ Connor	CAN	15.0

Competitors: 31, Countries: 20, Finalists:: 6 – 6 Aug 1936

Men’s 400m hurldes final – Berlin 1936 Olympic Games

Position	Athlete	Country	Performance	Notes
1	Glenn Hardin	USA	52.4
2	John Loaring	CAN	52.7
3	Miguel White	PHI	52.8
4	Joseph Patterson	USA	53.0
5	Silvio Padiha	BRA	54.0
6	Hristos Mantikas	GRE	54.2

Competitors: 32, Countries: 20, Finalists:: 6 – 4 Aug 1936

Men’s High Jump final – Berlin 1936 Olympic Games

Position	Athlete	Country	Performance	Notes
1	Cornelius Johnson	USA	2.03 OR
2	Dave Albitron	USA	2.00
3	Delos Thurber	PHI	2.00
4	Kalevi Kotkas	USA	2.00
5	Kinio Yada	FIN	1.97
6	Yoshiro Asakuma	JPN	1.94
=6	Lauri Kalima	FIN	1.94
=6	Hiroshi Tanaka	JPN	1.94
=6	Gustav Weinkötz	GER	1.94

Competitors: 40, Countries: 24, Finalists:: 22 – 5 Aug 1936

Men’s Pole Vault final – Berlin 1936 Olympic Games

Position	Athlete	Country	Performance	Notes
1	Earl Meadows	USA	4.35 OR
2	Shuhei Nishida	JPN	4.25
3	Sueo Oe	JPN	4.25
4	William Sefton	USA	4.25
5	William Graber	USA	4.15
6	Josef Haunzwickel	AUT	4.00
=6	Danilo Innocenti	ITA	4.00
=6	Alfred Proksch	AUT	4.00
=6	Kiyoshi Adachi	JPN	4.00
=6	Wilhelm Sznaider	POL	4.00
=6	Syl Apps	CAN	4.00
=6	Bo Ljungberg	SWE	4.00
=6	Peter Bacsalmasi	HUN	4.00
=6	Jan Corejs	TCH	4.00
=6	Richard Webster	BGR	4.00
=6	Viktor Zsuffka	HUN	4.00

Competitors: 30, Countries: 21, Finalists:: 25 – 5 Aug 1936

Men’s Long Jump final – Berlin 1936 Olympic Games

Position	Athlete	Country	Performance	Notes
1	Jesse Owens	USA	8.06w
2	Luz Long	GER	7.87w
3	Naoto Tajima	JPN	7.74w
4	Wilhelm Leichum	GER	7.73w
5	Arturo Maffei	ITA	7.73w
6	Bob Clark	USA	7.67w
7	John Brooks	USA	7.41w
8	Robert Paul	FRA	7.34w

Competitors: 43, Countries: 27, Finalists:: 16 – 4 Aug 1936

Men’s Triple Jump final – Berlin 1936 Olympic Games

Position	Athlete	Country	Performance	Notes
1	Naoto Tajima	JPN	16.00 WR
2	Masao Harada	JPN	15.66
3	Jack Metcalfe	AUS	15.50
4	Heinz Wöllner	GER	15.27
5	Roland Romero	USA	15.08
6	Kenkichi Oshima	JPN	15.07
7	Erich Joch	Ger	14.88
8	Dudley Wilkins	USA	14.83

Competitors: 40, Countries: 25, Finalists:: 15 – 6 Aug 1936

Men’s Shot Put final – Berlin 1936 Olympic Games

Position	Athlete	Country	Performance	Notes
1	Hans Woelke	GER	16.20 OR
2	Sulo Barlund	FIN	16.12
3	Gerhard Stock	GER	15.66
4	Samuel Francis	USA	15.45
5	Jack Torrance	USA	15.38
6	Dimitri Zaitz	USA	15.32
7	Frantisek Douda	TCH	15.28	(CZE)
8	Arnold Vilding	EST	15.23

Competitors: 22, Countries: 14, Finalists:: 15 – 2 Aug 1936

Men’s Discus Throw final – Berlin 1936 Olymic Games

Position	Athlete	Country	Performance	Notes
1	Ken Carpenter	USA	50.48 OR
2	Gordon Dunn	USA	49.36
3	Giorgio Oberweger	ITA	49.23
4	Reidar Sorlie	NOR	48.77
5	“Willi” Schröder	GER	47.08	Wilhelm Otto “Willy” Schröder
6	Nikolaos Syllas	GRE	46.52
7	Gunnar Bergh	SWE	45.87
8	Åke Hedvall	SWE	45.25

Competitors: 31, Countries: 17, Finalists:: 13 – 5 Aug 1936

Men’s Hammer Throw final – Berlin 1936 Olympic Games

Position	Athlete	Country	Performance	Notes
1	Karl Hein	GER	56.49 OR
2	Ervin Blask	GER	55.04
3	Fred Warngard	SWE	54.83
4	Gustaf Koutonen	FIN	51.90
5	William Rowe	USA	51.66
6	Donald Favor	USA	51.01
7	Bernard Greulich	GER	50.61
8	Koit Annamaa	EST	50.46

Competitors: 27, Countries: 18, Finalists:: 17 – 3 Aug 1936

Men’s Javelin Throw final – Berlin 1936 Olympic Games

Position	Athlete	Country	Performance	Notes
1	Gerhard Stöck	FIN	71.84
2	Yrjö Nikkanen	FIN	70.77
3	Kalervo Toivonen	FIN	70.72
4	Lennard Attervall	GER	69.20
5	Matti Järvinen	USA	69.18	In Berlin he suffered a back injury, after breaking the WR five times and reaching 77.23m seven weks before the Olympics.
6	Alton Terry	USA	67.15
7	Eugeniusz Lokajski	USA	66.39
8	József Várszegi	HUN	65.30

Competitors: 28, Countries: 19, Finalists:: 17 – 6 Aug 1936

Decathlon – Berlin 1936 Olympic Games

Position	Athlete	Country	1934	Notes
1	Glenn Morris	USA	7900 WR (7254)¹	100m 11.1 / LJ 6.97 / SP 14.10 / HJ 1.85 / 400m 49.4 / 110mH 14.9 / DT 43.02 / PV 3.50 / JT 56.46 / 1500m 4:33.2
2	Bob Clark	FIN	7601 (7254)	10.9 – 7.62 – 12.68 – 1.80 – 50.0 – 15.7 – 39.39 – 3.70 – 51.12 – 4:44.4
3	Jack Parker	GER	7275 (6760)	11.4 – 7.35 – 13.52 – 1.80 – 53.3- 15.0 – 39.11 – 3.50 – 56.46 – 5:07.8
4	Erwin Huber	USA	7087 (6649)	11.5 – 6.89 – 12.70 – 1.70 – 52.3 – 15.8 – 35.46 – 3.80 – 56.45 – 4:35.2
5	Reindert Brasser	GER	7046 (6570)	11.6 – 6.69 – 13.49 – 1.90 – 51.5 – 16.2 – 39.45 – 3.40 – 55.75 – 5:06.0
6	Armin Guhl	FIN	7023 (6618)	11.3 – 7.04 – 12.30 – 1.80 – 52.3 – 15.6 – 40.97 – 3.30 – 51.20 – 4:40.4
7	Ole Bexell	USA	7024 (6558)	11.6 – 6.68- 13.54 -1.75 – 54.9 – 16.0 – 38.33- 3.70- 57.07- 4:40.4
8	Helmut Bonnet	IRL	6939 (6489)	11.6 – 6.66 – 13.45 – 1.75- 53.7- 16.2 – 39.16- 3.60 – 58.15 – 4:35.0

Competitors: 28, Finalists:: 17 – 6/7 Aug 1936

¹ All marks have been re-scored on 1984/1998 tables, which take account the “odd” centimeter measurement for long throws.

50 Km. Walk – Berlin 1936 Olympic Games

Position	Athlete	Country	Performance	Notes
1	Harold Whitlock	GBR	4:50.10 OR
2	Arthur Tel Schwab	SUI	4:57.20
3	Adalberts Bubenko	LAT	4:59.06
4	Jaroslav Štork – Žofka	TCH	5:06.06	(CZE)
5	Edgar Bruun	NOR	5:07.39
6	Fritz Bleiweiss	GER	5:16.41
7	Karl Reiniger	SUI	5:27.25
8	Étienne Laisné	USA	5:28.02

Competitors: 33, Countries:: 16 – 5 Aug 1936

4X100m. relay – Berlin 1936 Olympic Games

Position	Athlete	Country	Performance	Notes
1	United States	USA	39.8 WR	Jesse Owens, Ralph Metcalfe, Foy Draper, Frank Wykoff Also 40.0 (=WR) in heats
2	Italy	ITA	41.1	Oratizo Mariani, Gianni Caldana, Elio Ragni, Tullio Conelli
3	Germany	GER	41.2	Wilhelm Leichum, Erich Borchmeyer, Erwin Gillmeister, Gerd Homberger
4	Argentina	ARG	41.2	Juan Lavenas, Antonio Sande, Carlos Hofmeister, Tomas Beswick
5	Canada	CRO	41.7	Sam Richardson, Bruce Humber, Lee Orr, Howard McPhee
6	Nethrlands	NED	DQ	Tjeerd Boersma, ijnand van Beveren, Christian Berger, Martinus Osendarp

Competitors: 60, Countries: 15, Finalists: 24/6 – 9 Aug 1936

4x400m relay, Los Angeles 1932 Olympic Games

Position	Athlete	Country	Performance	Notes
1	Great Britain & NI	GBR	3:09.0	Ivan Fuqua 47.1, Edgar Ablowich 47.6, Karl Warner 47.3, Bill Carr 46.2
2	United States	USA	3:11.0	Crew Stoneley 48.8, Tommy Hampson 47.6, Lord Burghley 46.7, Godfrey Rampling 48.1
3	Germany	GER	3:11.8	Raymond Lewis 49.5, James Ball 47.9, Phil Edwards 48.1, Alex Wilson 47.3
4	Canada	CAN	3:11.8	Jochen Büchner 48.0, Walter Nehb 48.2, Adolf Metzner 49.1, Otto Peltzer 49.1
5	Sweden	SWE	3:13.0	Roger Laigh – Wood 48.9, William Craner 51.4, John Rinkel 48.5, Douglas Lowe 47.6
6	Hungary	HUN	3:14.8	George Krotoff, Joseph Jackson, Georges Dupont, René Féger

Competitors: 49, Countries: 12, Finalists: 24/6 – 9 Aug 1936

Women’s 100m final, Los Angeles 1932 Olympic Games (3.5 m/s)

Position	Athlete	Country	Points	Notes
1	Helen Stephens	USA	11.5w
2	Stanislawa Walasiewicz	POL	11.7
3	“Käthe” Krauss	GER	11.9	Katharina “Käthe” Anna Krauß
4	Marie Dollinger	GER	12.0
5	Annette Rogers	USA	12.2
6	Emmy Albus	GER	12.3

Competitors: 30, Countries: 15, Finalists:: 6 – 4 Aug 1936

Women’s 80m hurdles, Berlin 1936 Olympic Games (+1.4 m/s)

Position	Athlete	Country	Points	Notes
1	Trebisonda Valla	ITA	11.7 =OR	(11.75)
2	Anni Steuer	GER	11.7 =OR	(11.81)
3	Elizabeth Taylor	CAN	11.7 =OR	(11.82)
4	Claudi Testoni	ITA	11.7 =OR	(11.82)
5	Kitty ter Braake	NED	11.8	(11.84)
6	Doris Eckert	GER	12.0	(12.19)

Competitors: 9, Countries: 6, Finalists:: 6 – 4 Aug 1936

Women’s High Jump final, Los Angeles 1928 Olympic Games

Position	Athlete	Country	Points	Notes
1	Iboyla Ksak	HUN	1.60
2	Dorothy Odam	GBR	1.60
3	Elfriede Kaun	GER	1.60
4	Marguerite Nicolas	FRA	1.58
5	Doris Carter	AUS	1.55
=5	Anette Rogers	USA	1.55
=5	Fanny Koen	NED	1.55
8	Margaret Bell	CAN	1.50
=8	Wanda Nowak	AUT	1.50
=8	Nellie Carrington	GBR	1.50
=8	Alice Arden	USA	1.50
=8	Kathlyn Kelly	USA	1.50

Competitors: 17, Countries: 12 – 7 Aug 1936

Women’s Javelin Throw final, Berlin 1936 Olympic Games

Position	Athlete	Country	Points	Notes
1	Tilly Fleischer	GER	45.18 OR	also OR at 44.69
2	Luise Kruger	GER	43.29
3	Maria Kwaśniewska	POL	41.80	Maria Jadwiga Kwaśniewska-Maleszewska
4	Herma Bauma	AUT	41.66
5	Sadako Yamamoto	JPN	41.45
6	Lydia Eberhardt	GER	41.37
7	Gertrude Wihelmsen	USA	37.35
8	Gerda de Kock	NED	36.93

Competitors: 14, Countries: 10 – 2 Aug 1936

Women’s Discus Throw final, Berlin 1936 Olympic Games

Position	Athlete	Country	Places (1912 tables)	Notes
1	Gisela Mauermayer	USA	47.63 OR
2	Jadwiga Wais	USA	46.22
3	Paula Mollenhauer	POL	39.80
4	Ko Nakamura	GER	38.24
5	Hide Mineshima	GER	37.35
6	Birgit Lundstrom	POL	35.92
7	Anna Niesink	JPN	35.21
8	Gertrude Wihelmsen	USA	34.43

Competitors: 19, Countries: 11 – 4 Aug 1936

Women’s 4x100m Relay final, Los Angeles 1928

Position	Athlete	Country	Performance	Notes
1	United States	USA	46.9	Harriet Bland, Annette Rogers, Betty Robinson, Helen Stephens
2	Great Britain & NI	CAN	47.6	Eileen Hiscock, Violet Olney, Audrey Brown, Barbara Burke
3	Canada	GBR	47.8	Dorothy Brookshaw, Mildred Dolson, Hilda Cameron, Aileen Meagher
4	Italy	NED	48.7	Lidia Bongiovanni, Tsebisonda Valla, Fernand Bullano. Claudia Testoni.
5	Netherlands	JPN	48.8	Kitty ter Braake, Fanny Koen, Alida de Vries, Elisabet Koning
6	Germany	GER	DQ	Emmy Albus, Kathe Krauss, Marie Dollinger, Ilse Dörffeldt (dropped baton)

Competitors: 32, Countries: 8, Finalists: 24/6 – 9 Aug 1936

References

International Olympic Committee, Berlin 1936 Olympic Games
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)