London 1908 Olympic Games Results of all athletics event

London 1908 Olympic Games

The athletics events at the London 1908 Olympic Games (Games of the IV Olympiad) were held at the newly built White City Stadium between 13 and 25 July, featuring 446 athletes from 20 nations across 26 events. Originally awarded to Rome before being relocated to London following the eruption of Mount Vesuvius, the 1908 Games marked a major step in the organisation and international growth of the modern Olympic movement.

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London 1908 Olympic Games

London 1908 introduced several important developments in Olympic athletics and is widely regarded as one of the first truly large-scale modern Olympic Games. The White City Stadium became an iconic venue of the era, featuring a cinder track measuring one-third of a mile (536.448m) per lap. The Games also helped establish more standardised international competition rules during a formative period for global athletics.

One of the most historic moments came in the marathon, where the distance was extended to 26 miles 385 yards (42.195 km) so the race could start at Windsor Castle and finish in front of the royal box inside the stadium. This became the official marathon distance still used today. The dramatic finish of Italian runner Dorando Pietri, who collapsed multiple times before crossing the line and was later disqualified after receiving assistance, remains one of the most famous moments in Olympic history.

The athletics programme expanded further compared to previous editions, while the level of international competition also improved significantly. The United States topped the athletics medal table, though British athletes also enjoyed strong success on home soil. London 1908 represented a transition from the experimental character of the early Olympic Games toward a more structured and globally recognised international athletics competition.

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Men’s 100m final – London 1908 Olympic Games

Position	Athlete	Country	Performance	Notes
1	Reggie Walker	RSA	10.7e OR	10.8 OR in first and second round heats
2	James Rector	USA	10.8e
3	Robert Kerr	CAN	10.8e
4	Nate Cartmell	USA	11.0

Competitors: 62, Countries: 17, Finalists: 4 – 22 Jul 1908

Men’s 200m final – London 1908 Olypic Games

Position	Athlete	Country	Performance	Notes
1	Robert Kerr	CAN	22.6	22.2 in the first round heats
2	Robert Cloughen	USA	22.6e
3	Nate Cartmell	USA	22.7e
4	Fay Moulton	GBR	22.8e-

Competitors: 43, Countries: 15, Finalists: 4 – 23 Jul 1908

Men’s 400m final¹ – London 1908 Olympic Games

Position	Athlete	Country	Performance	Notes
1	Wyndham Halswelle	USA	50.0

Competitors: 37, Countries: 11, Finalists: 1 – 25 Jul 1908

Wyndham Halswelle running alone in the final of the 400 metre race at the London 1908 Olympic Games — Wyndham Halswelle in the final of the 400 metre race at the London 1908 Olympic Games. London.
Photo taken from the IOC archives., Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

_¹ It was the most controversial event of the London Games. The final resulted in the disqualification of American runner John Carpenter, who had blocked British athlete Wyndham Halswelle in a manoeuvre that was legal under American rules but prohibited by the British rules under which the race was run.

The race was not run in lanes and the starter warned the runners against jostling, but subsequently events were to show that the warning was not heeded. Coming into the home-straight, Halswelle made a move to pass Carpenter who responded by starting on a crab-like course across the track and within 30 metres he had forced Halswelle to within 18 inches of the outside edge of the track. At this point, one of the umpires signaled to the judges to break the tape and after an hour of deliberation a verdict of “No Race” was declared and Carpenter was disqualified. (Olympedia).

As part of the disqualification of Carpenter, a second final race was ordered. Halswelle was to face the other two finalists again. These men, William Robbins and John Taylor, were both Americans and decided not to contest the repeat of the final to protest against the judges’ decision. (World Athletics, 2020)

Men’s 800m final – London 2008 Olympic Games

Position	Athlete	Country	Performance	Notes
1	Mel Sheppard	USA	1.52.8 WR
2	Emilio Lungi	ITA	1:54.2
3	Hans Braun	GER	1:55.2
4	Ödön Bodor	HUN	1:55.4
5	Theodore Just	GBR	1:56.4e
6	John Halstead	USA		performance not recorded
	Clark Beard	USA	DNF
	Ian Fairbrain- Crowford	GBR	DNF

Competitors: 62, Countries: 17, Finalists: 4 – 22 Jul 1908

Men’s 1500m final- London 1908 Olympic Games

Position	Athlete	Country	Performance	Notes
1	Mel Sheppard	USA	4:03.4 OR
2	Harold Wilson	GBR	4.03.6e
3	Norman Hallows	GBR	4.04.0e
4	John Tait	CAN	4.06.8e
5	Ivo Fairnairm-Crawford	GBR	4.07.6e
6	Joe Deakin	GBR	3:07.9e
	James Sullivan	USA		uknown position
	Victor Loney	GBR		uknown position

Competitors: 38, Countries: 10, Finalists: 8 – 21 Jul 1908

Men’s Marathon² – London 1908 Olympic Games

Position	Athlete	Country	Performance	Notes
1	John Hayes	USA	2:55:18.4 OR
2	Charles Hefferon	RSA	2:56:06.0
3	Joseph Forshaw	USA	2:57:10.4
4	Alton Welton	USA	2:59:44.4
5	William Wood	CAN	3:01.44.0
6	Frederick Simpson	CAN	3:04:28.2
7	HarryLawson	CAN	3:06.37.2
8	John Svanberg	SWE	3:07.50.8

Competitors: 56, Countries: 16 – 24 Jul 1908

²Note: Italian Dorando Pietri took the lead of the race at 25 miles and entered the stadium exhausted by his efforts, where he turned the wrong way. At the urging of the officials he turned and quickly collapsed. He was helped to his feet and fell three more time before crossing the line 32 second ahead of Irish born John Hayes. Pietri had to be disqualified for receiving assistance, but so impressed the Royal family that he was presented with a gold cup by the Queen.” (World Athletics, 2020)

Men’s 110m hurdles final – London 1908 Olympic Games

Position	Athlete	Country	Performance	Notes
1	Forrest Smithson	USA	15.0 WR
2	John Carrels	USA	15.7e
3	Athur Shaw	USA	15.8e
4	William Rand	USA	16.0e

Competitors: 26, Countries: 11, Finalists: 4 – 25 Jul 1908

Men’s 400m hurdles final – London 1908 Olympic Games

Position	Athlete	Country	Performance	Notes
1	Charles Bacon	USA	55.0 WR	the 1st ratified 400m hurdles world record
2	Harry Hillman	USA	55.3e
3	Jimmey Tremeer	GBR	57.0e
4	Leslie Burton	GBR	58.0

Competitors: 15, Countries: 6, Finalists: 4 – 22 Jul 1908

Men’s High Jump final – London 1908 Olympic Games

Position	Athlete	Country	Performance	Notes
1	Harry Porter	USA	1.905 OR
2	Con Leahy	GBR	1.88	(IRL)
=2	István Somodi	HUN	1.88
=2	“Géo” André	FRA	1.88
5	Herbert Gidney	USA	1.853
=5	Tom Moffitt	USA	1.853
7	Neil Patterson	USA	1.83

Competitors: 22, Countries: 10, Finalists: 7 – 21 Jul 1908

Men’s Pole Vault final – London 1908 Olympic Games

Position	Athlete	Country	Performance	Notes
1	Edward Cook	USA	3.71 OR
=1	Alfred Gilbert	USA	3.71 OR
3	Edward Archibald	CAN	3.58
=3	Bruno Söderström	SWE	3.58	set in the qualif. round
=3	Charles Jacobs	USA	3.58
6	Yorgos Banikas	GRE	3.50
=6	Neil Patterson	USA	3.50
8	Károly Szathmáry	HUN	3.35

Competitors: 15, Countries: 7, Finalists: 8 – 24 Jul 1908

Men’s Long Jump final – London 1908 Olympic Games

Position	Athlete	Country	Performance	Notes
1	Frank Irons	USA	7.48 OR	also 7.44 (OR) in the qualif. round
2	Daniel Kelly	USA	7.09
3	Calvin Bricker	CAN	7.08
4	Edward Cook	USA	6.97
5	John Nrennan	USA	6.86
6	Frank Mount Pleasant	USA	6.82
7	Albert Weinstein	GRE	6.77
8	Tim Ahearne	GBR	6.72	(IRL)

Competitors: 31, Countries: 9, Finalists: 3 (top 3 jumpers of the qualification rounds allowed three further jumps in the final) – 22 Jul 1908

Men’s Triple Jump final – London 1908 Olympic Games

Position	Athlete	Country	Performance	Notes
1	Tim Ahearne	GBR	14.91 OR	(IRL)
2	Garfield MacDonald	CAN	14.76
3	Edvard Larsen	NOR	14.395
4	Calvin Bricker	CAN	14.095
5	Plat Adams	USA	14.07
6	Frank Mount Pleasant	USA	13.97
7	Karl Fryksdahl	SWE	13.645
8	John Brennan	USA	13.59

Competitors: 19, Countries: 7, Finalists: 3 (top 3 jumpers of the qualification rounds allowed three further jumps in the final) – 25 Jul 1908

Men’s Shot Put final – London 1908 Olympic Games

Position	Athlete	Country	Performance	Notes
1	Ralph Rose	USA	14.21
2	Denis Horgan	GBR	13.62	(IRL) set in the qualif. round
3	John Garrels	USA	13.18	set in the qualif. round
4	Wesley Coe	USA	13.07
5	Edmond Barrett	GBR	12.89
6	“Bill” Horr	USA	12.83
7	Jalmari Sauli	FIN	12.58
8	Lee Talbot	USA	11.63

Competitors: 26, Countries: 8, Finalists: 3 (top qualifiers Rose, Horgan and Garrels allowed three additional shots in the final) – 24 Jul 1908

Men’s Discus Throw final, London 1908 Olymic Games

Position	Athlete	Country	Performance	Notes
1	Martin Sheridan	USA	40.89
2	Merritt Giffin	USA	40.70	set in the qualific. round
3	“Bill” Horr	USA	39.44
4	Verner Järvinen	USA	39.42
5	Athur Dearborn	USA	38.52
6	Lee Talbott	USA	38.40
7	György Luntzer	HUN	38.34	(Juraj Luntzer)
8	André Tison	FRA	38.30

Competitors: 41, Countries:11, Finalists: 3 – 16 Jul 1908

London 1908 Olympic Games, Martin Sheridan. Photo: Martin_Sheridan.jpg: unknownderivative work: MachoCarioca, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Martin John Sheridan was an Irish-American athlete, the greatest all-round athlete of his time. A five-time Olympic gold medalist, with a total of nine Olympic medals, Sheridan is considered one of the greatest figures that ever represented USA. He won the discus throw event at the 1904, 1906, and 1908 Summer Olympics as well as the shot put at the 1906 Olympics and the Greek discus in 1908.

To these five gold medals he added three silver medals in 1906 in the stone throw and the standing jumps and a bronze medal in the standing long jump in 1908. During the centrury, only two Americans achieved to gather more than his 9 Olympic Medals im track & field; Ray Ewry and Carl Lewis.

The discus was undoubtedly Sheridan’s best event; in addition to his three Olympic titles and four AAU championships, he improved the world best in the discus 15 times between 1902 and 1909. Sheridan almost certainly missed another gold medal, when he was forced to withdraw from the 1906 pentathlon due to injury.

Men’s Hammer Throw, London 1908 Olympic Games

Position	Athlete	Country	Performance	Notes
1	John Flanagan	USA	51.92 OR	all marks besides Flanagan’s set in the qualif. round
2	Matt McGrath	USA	51.18
3	“Con” Walsh	CAN	48.50
4	Tom Nicolson	GBR	48.09
5	Lee Talbot	USA	47.86
6	Albert “Bill” Horr	USA	46.94
7	Simon Gillis	USA	45.58
8	Eric Lemming	SWE	43.05

Competitors: 18, Countries: 8, Finalists: 3 – 14 Jul 1908

Men’s Javelin Throw, final – 1908 Olympic Games

Position	Athlete	Country	Performance	Notes
1	Eric Lemming	SWE	54.825 OR	all marks besides the winner’s set in the qualif. round
2	Ame Halse	NOR	50.57
3	Otto Nilsson	SWE	47.10
4	Asrne Salovaara	FIN	45.89
5	Arms Pesonen	FIN	45.18
6	Juho Halme	FIN	44.96
7	Jalmari Sauli	FIN		performance not registered
8	Evert Jakobsson	FIN		performance not registered

Competitors: 16, Countries: 6, Finalists: 3 – 24 Jul 1908

London 1908 Olympic Games – Discontinued events results

Three Miles Team Race

Position	Athlete	Country	Points	Notes
1	Great Britain & Ireland	GBR/IRL	6	Joe Deaking (1/14:39.6) Archie Robertsom (2/14:41:0), Bill Goels (3/14:41/6)
2	United States	USA/FRA	19	John Elsele (4), George Bonhag (6), Herbert Trube (9)
3	France	FRA	32	Louis de Fleurac (8), Joseph Dreher (11), Paul Lizandler (13)

Competitors: 28, Countries: 6, – 15 Jul 1908

Five Miles

Position	Athlete	Country	Performance	Notes
1	Emil Voigt	GBR	25:11.2
2	Edward Owen	GBR	25:24.0
3	John Svanberg	SWE	25:37.2
4	Charlels Hefferon	RSA	25:44.0
5	“Archie” Robertson	GBR	26:13.0
6	Frederick Meadows	CAN		performances from 6th to 8th places not registered
7	John Fitzerald	CAN
8	Frederick Bellars	USA

Competitors: 35, Countries: 14 – 18 Jul 1908

3200m steeplechase

Position	Athlete	Country	Performance	Notes
1	Athur Russel	GBR	10:47.8
2	“Archie” Robertson	GBR	10:48.4e
3	John Eisele	USA	11.00.8e
4	Guy Holdaway	GBR		performances from 4th to 6th places not registered
5	Harry Sewell	GBR
6	William Galbraith	CAN

Competitors: 24, Countries: 6, Finalists: 6 – 18 Jul 1908

Standing High Jump

Position	Athlete	Country	Performance	Notes
1	Ray Ewry	USA	1.575
2	Kostas Tsiklitiras	GRE	1.55	set in the qualif. round
=2	John Biller	USA	1.55
4	Leroy Holmes	USA	1.525	set in the qualif. round
5	Platt Adams	USA	1.47
=5	Georges “Géo” André	FRA	1.47
=5	Alfred Motté	FRA	1.47
8	Léon Dupont	BEL	1.42
=8	Walter Hendrson	GBR	1.42
=8	Wilhelm Blystad	NOR	1.42
=8	Frank Irons	USA	1.42
=8	Arthur Mallwitz	GER	1.42
=8	Svend Langkjær	DEN	1.42

Competitors: 23, Countries: 11 – 23 Jul 1908

Standing Long Jump

Position	Athlete	Country	Performance	Notes
1	Ray Ewry	USA	3.335
2	Kostas Tsiklitiras	GRE	3.235	set in the qualif. round
3	Martin Sheridan	USA	3.225	set in the qualif. round
4	John Biller	USA	3.215
5	Ragknar Ekberg	SWE	3.195
6	Platt Adams	USA	3.11
=6	LeRoy Holmes	USA	3.11

Competitors: 26, Countries: 11 – 20 Jul 1908

Discus Throw, Greek Style³

Position	Athlete	Country	Performance	Notes
1	Martin Sheridan	USA	38.00
2	Albert “Bill” Horr	USA	37.32
3	Verner Järvinen	FIN	36.48
4	Arthur Dearborn	USA	35.65
5	Mihalis Dorizas	GRE	33.34
6	Nikolaos Yeorgantas	GRE	33.20
7	Imre Mudin	HUN	33.11
8	Wilbur Burroughs	USA	32.81

Competitors: 25, Countries: 9 – 18 Jul 1908

³ Note: The athletes threw from a raised wooden pedestal which sloped forward, and had to throw from a position similar to statue of Discobolus, but without spinning (World Athletics, 2020)

Javelin Throw, Free Style

Position	Athlete	Country	Performance	Notes
1	Eric Lemming	SWE	54.44
2	Mihalis Dorizas	GRE	51.36
3	Arne Halse	NOR	49.73
4	Haralambos Zouras	GRE	48.61
5	Hugo Wieslander	SWE	47.55
6	Armas Pesonen	FIN	46.04
7	Istvan Mudin	HUN	45.95
8	Jalmari Sauli	FIN	43.31

Competitors: 32, Countries: 9 – 15 Jul 1908

3500m Walk

Position	Athlete	Country	Performance	Notes
1	George Larner	GBR	14:55.0
2	Ernest Webb	GBR	15:07.4
3	Harry Kerr	NZL	15:43.4
4	George Goulding	CAN	15:49.8
5	Arthur Rowland	NZL	16.07.0
6	Charles Vestergaard	DEN	17:21.8
7	Einar Rothman	SWE	17:50.0

Competitors: 23, Countries: 8, Finalists: 9 – 14 Jul 1908

Medley Relay

Position	Athlete	Country	Performance	Notes
1	United States	USA	3:29.4	William Hamilton, Nate Cartmell, John Taylor, Mel Sheppard
2	Germany	GER	3:32.4	Arthur Hoffmann, Hans Eicke, Otto Triloff, Hanns Braun
3	Hungary	HUN	3:32.5	Pál Simon, Frigyes Mezei, József Nagy, Ödön Bodor

Competitors: 28, Countries: 7, Finalists: 12/3 – 25 Jul 1908

References

International Olympic Committee, London 1908 Legacy
Olympedia – Martin Sheridan
Olympedia `- Wyndham Halswelle
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

London 1908 Olympic Games

London 1908 Olympic Games

Men’s 100m final – London 1908 Olympic Games

Men’s 200m final – London 1908 Olypic Games

Men’s 400m final1 – London 1908 Olympic Games

Men’s 800m final – London 2008 Olympic Games

Men’s 1500m final- London 1908 Olympic Games

Men’s Marathon2 – London 1908 Olympic Games

Men’s 110m hurdles final – London 1908 Olympic Games

Men’s 400m hurdles final – London 1908 Olympic Games

Men’s High Jump final – London 1908 Olympic Games

Men’s Pole Vault final – London 1908 Olympic Games

Men’s Long Jump final – London 1908 Olympic Games

Men’s Triple Jump final – London 1908 Olympic Games

Men’s Shot Put final – London 1908 Olympic Games

Men’s Discus Throw final, London 1908 Olymic Games

Men’s Hammer Throw, London 1908 Olympic Games

Men’s Javelin Throw, final – 1908 Olympic Games

London 1908 Olympic Games – Discontinued events results

Three Miles Team Race

Five Miles

3200m steeplechase

Standing High Jump

Standing Long Jump

Discus Throw, Greek Style3

Javelin Throw, Free Style

3500m Walk

Medley Relay

References

Men’s 400m final¹ – London 1908 Olympic Games

Men’s Marathon² – London 1908 Olympic Games

Discus Throw, Greek Style³