Events in Sport

Events 1 - 100 of 1,075

Corbett KOs Sullivan

1892-09-07 James Corbett KOs 4 to 1 favourite and defending champion John L. Sullivan in 21 rounds at the Olympic Club, New Orleans for world heavyweight boxing title; Sullivan's only defeat and his last fight

• 1892-11-23 Pierre de Coubertin launches plan for modern Olympic Games at the Union des Sociétés Françaises de Sports Athlétiques AGM
• 1894-06-23 The International Olympic Committee is founded at the Sorbonne, Paris, at the initiative of Baron Pierre de Coubertin
• 1896-04-06 First modern Summer Olympic Games open in Athens, Greece; American athlete James Connolly becomes first modern Olympic champion when he wins triple jump (then 2 hops and a jump); later 3rd in long jump, 2nd in high jump
• 1896-04-07 American athlete Robert Garrett wins the throwing double at the Athens Olympics by taking out the shot putt (11.22m); wins the discus the previous day

First Olympic 1500m

1896-04-07 Australian athlete Edwin Flack wins gold in the first Olympic 1500m final at inaugural modern Games in Athens; goes on to win 800m two days later

• 1896-04-09 Australian athlete Edwin Flack claims the middle distance double at the Athens Olympics winning the 800m final in 2:11.0; his 2nd victory of the Games after success in the 1500m
• 1896-04-09 Greek shooter Pantelis Karasevdas scores a perfect 40 hits to win the military rifle event at the Athens Olympics; Greek 1-2-3 with Pavlos Pavlidis and Nicolaos Trikupis taking out the minor placings
• 1896-04-10 American athlete Thomas Burke claims the sprint double at the Athens Olympics winning the 100m final in 12.0s; his 2nd victory of the Games after success in the 400m
• 1896-04-10 High jumper Ellery Clark leads an American sweep of the placings with a leap of 1.81m at the Athens Olympics; his 2nd victory of the Games after taking out the long jump

1st Olympic Marathon

1896-04-10 Spyridon Louis of Greece wins inaugural Olympic marathon (2:58:50) in Athens; runs last lap accompanied by Constantine I

• 1896-04-11 Hungarian swimmer Alfréd Hajós beats Otto Herschmann of Austria by 0.6s to win the inaugural Olympic 100m freestyle final in 1:22.2 at the Athens Games; also takes out the 1,200m on the same day
• 1896-04-11 Irish tennis player John Boland, representing Great Britain wins both the men's singles and doubles finals at the Athens Olympics; Dionysios Kasdaglis of Greece loses both matches
• 1896-04-15 I (modern) Summer Olympic Games close at the Panathenaic Stadium in Athens, Greece; USA wins gold medal count, 11; Greece wins total medal count, 46; IOC has retroactively assigned gold, silver & bronze medals to 3 best placed athletes in each event
• 1900-05-20 Second modern Summer Olympics (Games of the II Olympiad) opens in Paris and continues for 5 months
• 1900-05-25 Retired London fire master Eyre Massey Shaw aged 70 reputedly becomes oldest gold medalist in Olympics for sailing (disputed)

1st Individual Female Olympic Champion

1900-07-11 Charlotte Cooper beats Hélène Prévost to become the 1st female Olympic tennis champion and the 1st individual female Olympic champion in any sport

• 1900-07-19 Luxembourg born Michel Théato representing France wins Paris Olympics marathon in 2:59:45 ahead of another French athlete Émile Champion
• 1900-08-19 Start of first and only Olympic cricket match, Great Britain beats France by 158 runs in Paris
• 1900-08-20 Great Britain beats France by 158 runs in Paris; cricket's only appearance at an Olympic Games
• 1900-10-28 II Summer (Modern) Olympic Games, Paris, France: competition ends after 5 months; no opening or closing ceremonies conducted
• 1900-10-28 II Summer Olympic Games close at the Vélodrome de Vincennes, Paris, France

• 1904-08-30 American runner Thomas Hicks wins marathon gold medal in a time of 3:28:53 over a 40k course at the St. Louis Olympics
• 1904-09-03 For the only time in Olympic Games history, there is a throw-off in the discus final after Americans Martin Sheridan & Ralph Rose tie with a best throw of 128' 10½" in St. Louis; Sheridan wins with 127' 10¼"
• 1904-11-23 III Summer Olympic Games close at Washington University in St. Louis Francis Olympic Field
• 1906-04-22 Intercalated Games opens in Athens
• 1906-11-19 London selected to host 1908 Olympics
• 1908-04-27 IV Summer (Modern) Olympic Games open in London
• 1908-07-24 American Johnny Hayes wins London Olympic marathon in Games record 2:55:18.4 after Dorando Pietri of Italy disqualified for receiving assistance before the finish line
• 1908-10-31 IV Summer Olympic Games close at White City Stadium in London, England

Jim Thorpe Forfeits Olympic Gold

1909-06-16 Jim Thorpe makes his pro baseball pitching debut for Rocky Mount (ECL) with 4-2 win, this will cause him to forfeit his Olympic gold medals

• 1912-02-13 Olympic boxing gold medallist Johnny Douglas takes 5/46 as England cricket team regains Ashes with an innings and 225 run 4th Test win over Australia in Melbourne
• 1912-07-06 V Summer (Modern) Olympic Games officially open Stockholm, Sweden; events conducted prior to the ceremony dating back to 5 May
• 1912-07-07 American athlete Jim Thorpe wins 4 of 5 events to win the Pentathlon gold medal at the Stockholm Olympics, medal stripped 1913 (played pro baseball), reinstated 1982
• 1912-07-11 There are 6 medallists in the Stockholm Olympic pole vault; American Harry Babcock takes gold (3.95m); countrymen Frank Nelson and Marc Wright dead-heat for silver; 3-man dead-heat for bronze
• 1912-07-14 Kenneth McArthur runs Olympic record marathon (2:36:54.8)
• 1912-07-15 American athlete Jim Thorpe is placed in top 4 in all 10 events, for an Olympic record 8,413 points to win the Decathlon gold medal at the Stockholm Olympics, medal stripped 1913 (played pro baseball), reinstated 1982
• 1912-07-22 V Summer Olympic Games close at the Stockholms Olympiastadion, Sweden
• 1913-01-26 Jim Thorpe relinquishes his 1912 Olympic medals for playing 2 seasons of semi-professional baseball before competing in the Olympics
• 1913-02-01 American all-round athlete Jim Thorpe signs to play baseball with the NY Giants; unlike his other sporting endeavours the Olympic-medal winner's career in MLB was uninspiring (1913-19)
• 1915-03-19 VI Summer (Modern) Olympic Games: IOC President Pierre de Coubertin writes to Associated Press indicating 1916 Berlin Games won't take place because of WWI
• 1919-04-05 Antwerp is officially declared the host city for the Games of the 7th Olympiad to be conducted in 1920; first post WWI Olympics
• 1920-04-25 Magda Julin of Sweden beats teammate Svea Norén for the gold medal in women's singles figure skating at the Antwerp Olympics
• 1920-04-26 Husband and wife team Ludowika & Walter Jakobsson representing Finland, win the pairs skating gold medal at the Antwerp Olympics; Ludowika is the only German-born athlete at the Games
• 1920-04-26 Ice hockey makes its Olympic debut at the Antwerp Games with center Frank Fredrickson scoring 7 goals in Canada's 12-1 drubbing of Sweden in the gold medal match
• 1920-04-27 Sweden takes the figure skating double at the Antwerp Olympics when Gillis Grafström wins his first of 3 consecutive men's gold medals; Magda Julin earlier wins the women's singles event
• 1920-08-14 VII Summer Olympic Games open in Antwerp, Belgium; first time Olympic Oath voiced, doves released to symbolise peace, and Olympic Flag flown
• 1920-08-23 American swimmer Warren Kealoha wins first of 2 consecutive Olympic gold medals in the 100m backstroke, beating teammate Ray Kegeris at the Antwerp Games
• 1920-08-25 American swimmer Norman Ross wins his first of 3 gold medals at the Antwerp Olympics in dominating men's 1,500m freestyle; also wins 400m freestyle and 4 x 200m freestyle relay

1st US Female Olympic Champion

1920-08-25 Ethelda Bleibtrey leads an American medal sweep of the Antwerp Olympics women's 100m freestyle with a world record 1:13.6; first US female Olympic champion

• 1920-08-25 Swedish divers sweep the medals in the men's plain high diving event at the Antwerp Olympics; Arvid Wallman wins gold ahead of teammates Nils Skoglund & John Jansson
• 1920-08-27 American diver Louis Kuehn leads a US medal sweep in the men's 3m springboard event at the Antwerp Olympics; teammates Clarence Pinkston & Louis Balbach take the minor medals
• 1920-08-28 American swimmer Norman Ross wins his 2nd of 3 gold medals at the Antwerp Olympics; beats teammate Ludwig Langer in the men's 400m freestyle; also wins 1,500m and 4 x 200m freestyle relay
• 1920-08-28 Ethelda Bleibtrey leads an American medal sweep of the Antwerp Olympic women's 300m freestyle with a world record swim of 4:34.0
• 1920-08-29 An American sweep of the medals in the men's 100m freestyle at the Antwerp Olympics; Duke Kahanamoku sets world record 1:00.4 in defending his 1912 gold medal
• 1920-08-29 An American sweep of the medals in the women's 3m springboard diving event at the Antwerp Olympics; Aileen Riggin wins gold ahead of teammates Helen Wainwright & Thelma Payne
• 1920-08-29 Ethelda Bleibtrey wins her 3rd gold medal of the Antwerp Olympics; teams with Irene Guest, Frances Schroth & Margaret Woodbridge in American 4 x 100m freestyle relay team; world record 5:11.6
• 1920-08-29 Swedish swimmer Håkan Malmrot completes the breaststroke double at the Antwerp Olympics beating teammate Thor Henning in the 200m; also beats Henning for gold in the 400m
• 1920-09-12 VII Summer Olympic Games close at the Olympisch Stadion in Antwerp, Belgium
• 1921-01-29 Great Olympic Blowdown: Hurricane force winds hit US Pacific Northwest states of Washington and Oregon [1]

• 1924-02-03 Canada beats United States, 6-1 to retain the Olympic ice hockey gold medal (won at 1920 Summer Games) at the Chamonix Games; Canadian LW Harry Watson top scores with 46 points
• 1924-02-03 Switzerland claims the inaugural Olympic bobsleigh gold medal at the Chamonix Games, ahead of Great Britain and Belgium
• 1924-05-04 VIII Summer Olympic Games open at Olympic Stadium of Colombes, Paris, France

Nurmi Runs Three World Records

1924-06-19 Paavo Nurmi runs world record 1500m of 3:52.6; 50 minutes later sets 5,000m WR 14:28.2; also runs WR 3-mile time 14:02.00 within that event in Finnish Olympic trials in Helsinki

• 1924-07-13 Albin Stenroos wins Olympic marathon (2:41:22.6)
• 1924-07-27 VIII Summer Olympic Games close at the Stade Olympique Yves-du-Manoir in Paris, France
• 1925-09-01 Pierre de Coubertin steps down as chairman of International Olympic Committee; replaced by Henri de Baillet-Latour of Belgium
• 1926-02-10 Building of Olympic Stadium Amsterdam, begins

Olympic Gold

1928-02-13 Clas Thunberg of Finland wins his 4th Olympic gold medal when he dead-heats with Norway’s Bernt Evensen in the 500m speed skating at the St. Moritz Winter Games

• 1928-02-13 Legendary Norwegian speed skater Ivar Ballangrud wins the first of 2 straight 5,000m Olympic gold medals when he beats Julius Skutnabb of Finland by 9 seconds in St. Moritz
• 1928-02-19 Canada retains the Olympic ice hockey title when they rout Switzerland, 13-0 in the final round in St. Moritz; Canadian left-wing Dave Trottier top scores with 15 points
• 1928-02-19 Gillis Grafström of Sweden wins his 3rd consecutive Olympic men’s figure skating gold medal at St. Moritz; one of only 2 athletes to win gold at both Winter & Summer Games (won figure skating Antwerp 1920)
• 1928-02-19 World champion French team Andrée Joly and Pierre Brunet win the Olympic pairs figure skating gold medal at the St. Moritz Winter Games; the couple marry in 1929 and take 2nd straight gold in 1932
• 1928-07-28 IX Summer Olympic Games open in Amsterdam, Netherlands
• 1928-07-31 Halina Konopacka of Poland hurls a discus world record of 39.62m to win the first gold medal in women's Olympic athletics at the Amsterdam Games
• 1928-07-31 In the first women’s Olympic track event, American sprinter Elizabeth Robinson equals her own world record 12.2s to win 100m gold medal in Amsterdam; Canadians Fanny Rosenfeld & Ethel Smith dead-heat (12.3s)
• 1928-08-01 Americans sweep medals at a rainy Olympic pole vault final in Amsterdam with Sabin Carr gold, from William Droegemuller and Charles McGinnis
• 1928-08-03 Ray Barbuti wins 400m in 47.8 at the Amsterdam Olympics, the only individual track event won by an American at the Games
• 1928-08-12 IX Summer Olympic Games close at the Olympisch Stadion in Amsterdam, Netherlands
• 1931-04-28 Program for woman athletes approved for 1932 Olympics track & field
• 1931-07-23 France announces it can't afford to send a team to the 1932 Los Angeles Olympics due to the Great Depression. They eventually do manage to send a team.
• 1932-02-06 1st Olympic dog sled race at Lake Placid, New York (demonstration sport)
• 1932-02-09 USA enters Olympic 2-man bobsled competition for 1st time
• 1932-02-12 Karl Schäfer of Austria wins the first of 2 consecutive men’s figure skating Olympic gold medals at the Lake Placid Winter Games in the United States

Olympic Gold

1932-02-12 Sonja Henie of Norway wins her 2nd of 3 consecutive Olympic gold medals in women’s figure skating at the Lake Placid Winter Games; beats Austria’s Fritzi Burger into 2nd place for 2nd straight Games

• 1932-02-12 World champion French husband and wife team Pierrre and Andrée Brunet win their 2nd consecutive Olympic pairs figure skating gold medal at the Lake Placid Games
• 1932-02-13 A 2-2 final round tie with the US is good enough for Canada to clinch its 4th consecutive Olympic ice hockey gold medal at Lake Placid; Canadian center Walter Monson is tournament top scorer with 11 points

• 1932-07-30 X Summer Olympic Games open in Los Angeles, California
• 1932-08-03 Official automatic timing & photo-finish camera for track events is used for the 1st time at Los Angeles Olympics, instrumental in changing 110m hurdles final, review gives Donald Finley bronze ahead of American Jack Keller
• 1932-08-14 X Summer Olympic Games close at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
• 1933-10-19 Berlin Olympic Committee vote to introduce basketball in 1936
• 1935-10-17 Pacific Association of AAU votes not to participate in Berlin Olympics
• 1936-02-08 German alpine skier Christi Cranz wins the inaugural Olympic women’s combined gold medal at the Garmisch-Partenkirchen Winter Games ahead of teammate Käthe Grasegger
• 1936-02-09 German skier Franz Pfnür wins the inaugural Olympic men’s combined gold medal at the Garmisch-Partenkirchen Winter Games ahead of teammate Gustav Lantschner
• 1936-02-14 Karl Schäfer of Austria wins his 2nd consecutive men’s figure skating Olympic gold medal at the Garmisch-Partenkirchen Winter Games in Germany
• 1936-02-14 Norwegian speed skater Ivar Ballangrud sets Olympic record 17:24.3 to win the 10,000m at the Garmisch-Partenkirchen Winter Games; his 3rd gold medal from 4 events and 4th career Olympic gold
• 1936-02-15 Great Britain’s 0-0 tie with the US is enough to clinch their first ever Olympic ice hockey gold medal at the Garmisch-Partenkirchen Winter Games; breaks Canada’s 4 straight Games golden streak

Birthdays in Sport

Birthdays 1 - 100 of 2,799

• 1835-02-15 Demetrius Vikelas, Greek businessman and writer (first President International Olympic Committee 1894-1896), born in Ermoupoli, Greece (d. 1908)
• 1849-03-02 Robert Means Thompson, American US Navy officer, lawyer, business magnate, and administrator (American Olympic Association), born in Corsica, Pennsylvania (d. 1930)
• 1862-02-27 Anastasios Metaxas, Greek architect (restored Panathinaiko Stadium 1896 Olympics Athens) and shooter (Olympic bronze trap, single shot 1908), born in Athens, Greece (d. 1937)
• 1863-01-01 Pierre de Coubertin, French educator and historian (founder International Olympic Committee; President IOC 1896–1925), born in Paris, France (d. 1937)
• 1863-11-29 Spyridon Samaras, Greek composer (Olympic Hymn), born in Corfu, Greece (d. 1917)
• 1866-02-24 Hubert Van Innis, Belgian archer (6 x Olympic gold, 3 x silver 1900, 20), born in Elewijt, Belgium (d. 1961)
• 1868-10-28 James Connolly, American athlete and author, 1st Modern Olympic Champion in 1896, born in Boston, Massachusetts (d. 1957)
• 1869-10-03 Alfred Flatow, German gymnast (Olympic gold 1896), born in Danzig, Prussia (d. 1942)
• 1870-09-07 Thomas Curtis, American athlete (Olympic 1896 Gold), born in San Francisco, California (d. 1944)

• 1870-11-21 Sigfrid Edström, Swedish sports official (4th President International Olympic Committee 1952-64), born in Morlanda, Sweden (d. 1964)
• 1872-02-24 John Arthur Jarvis, English swimmer (Olympic gold 1,000m, 4,000m, water polo 1900), born in Leicester, England (d. 1933)
• 1873-01-12 Spyridon Louis, Greek athlete who won the 1st modern Olympics marathon in 1896, born in Marousi, Greece (d. 1940)
• 1873-10-14 Ray Ewry, American track and field athlete (8 Olympic golds 1900, 04, 08), born in Lafayette, Indiana (d. 1937)

• 1873-11-24 Herbert Roper Barrett, British tennis player (Wimbledon doubles 1909, 12, 13; Wimbledon singles 1908, 11 runner-up; Olympic gold indoor doubles 1908), born in London, England (d. 1943)
• 1874-03-29 Ioannis Georgiadis, Greek fencer (Olympic gold sabre 1896), born in Tripoli, Greece (d. 1960)
• 1875-01-15 Tom Burke, American athlete (Olympic gold 100m, 400m 1896), born in Boston, Massachusetts (d. 1929)
• 1875-04-02 William Donne, English cricket batsman, (Olympic gold 1900) and administrator (President England Rugby Football Union), born in Wincanton, England (d. 1934)
• 1876-01-11 Thomas Hicks, English athlete (Olympic gold marathon 1904), born in Birmingham, England (d. 1952)
• 1876-02-09 Martin Stixrud, Norwegian figure skater and coach (Olympic bronze 1920, coached Sonja Henie), born in Oslo, Norway (d. 1964)
• 1876-03-01 Henri de Baillet-Latour, Belgian aristocrat (3rd President International Olympic Committee 1925-42), born in Brussels, Belgium (d. 1942)
• 1876-09-11 Stan Rowley, Australian athlete (Olympic gold 5,000m team, bronze 60m, 100m, 200m 1900), born in Young, Australia (d. 1924)
• 1876-12-12 Alvin Kraenzlein, American track and field athlete (4 Olympic gold 1900), born in Minneapolis, Minnesota (d. 1928)
• 1877-08-07 Ulrich Salchow, Swedish figure skater (Olympic gold men's singles 1908; 10 x World C'ship gold), born in Copenhagen, Denmark (d. 1949)
• 1878-02-01 Alfréd Hajós, Hungarian swimmer (Olympic gold 100/200m 1896), soccer forward (1 cap) and manager (Hungary 1906), born in Budapest, Hungary (d. 1955)
• 1878-03-22 Michel Théato, Luxembourgian athlete (Olympic gold representing France, marathon 1900), born in Luxembourg City, Luxembourg (d. 1923)
• 1878-06-15 Margaret Abbott, American golfer (1st American woman to win Olympic event, golf 1900), born in Calcutta, India (d. 1955)
• 1878-08-31 Frank Jarvis, American athlete (Olympic gold 100m 1900), born in California, Pennsylvania (d. 1933)
• 1878-10-16 Maxie Long, American athlete (Olympic gold 400m 1900), born in Waverley, Massachusetts (d. 1959)
• 1879-06-01 Max Emmerich, American athlete and gymnast (Olympic gold, triathlon 1904), born in Indianapolis, Indiana (d. 1956)
• 1880-07-24 Kristian Hellström, Swedish athlete (Olympic bronze 1,500m 1906) and executive (first Secretary-General International Association of Athletics Federations 1913-14), born in Stockholm, Sweden (d. 1946)
• 1880-09-14 Archie Hahn, American athlete (Olympic gold 60m, 100m, 200m 1904), born in Dodgeville, Wisconsin (d. 1955)
• 1880-11-03 Edward Barrett, Irish heavyweight wrestler and all-round sportsman (Olympic gold tug-of-war 1908), born in Ballyduff, County Kerry (d. 1932)
• 1881-02-02 Karl Frederick, American pistol shooter (Olympic gold 1920), born in Chateaugay, New York (d. 1963)
• 1881-05-29 Frederik Septimus Kelly, Australian-British composer and rower (Summer Olympic gold, 1908), born in Sydney, Australia (d. 1916)
• 1881-09-08 Harry Hillman, American athlete (Olympic gold 400m, 200/400m hurdles 1904; silver 400m hurdles 1908), born in Brooklyn, New York (d. 1945)
• 1881-10-28 Bruno Söderström, Swedish athlete (Olympic silver pole vault & bronze javelin 1906; bronze pole vault 1908; popularized bowling in Sweden), born in Stockholm, Sweden (d. 1969)
• 1881-11-03 George Mehnert, American wrestler (Olympic gold flyweight 1904, bantamweight 1908), born in Newark, New Jersey (d. 1948)
• 1882-03-16 Jim Lightbody, American athlete (Olympic gold 800m, 1500m, 2590m Steeplechase 1904), born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (d. 1953)
• 1882-04-01 Paul Anspach, Belgian fencer (Olympic gold individual epée, team epée 1912), born in Burcht, Belgium (d. 1981)
• 1882-05-30 Wyndham Halswelle, British athlete (Olympic gold 400m 1908), born in London, England (d. 1915)
• 1882-06-09 Robert Kerr, Canadian sprinter (1909 Olympics), born in Enniskillen, Northern Ireland (d. 1963)
• 1882-06-24 Carl Diem, German sports executive (Sec Gen Organising Committee 1936 Berlin Olympics; creator Olympic torch relay), born in Würzburg, Germany (d. 1962)
• 1882-09-03 Johnny Douglas, English cricket all-rounder, captain (23 Tests, 1 x 100, 45 wickets; Essex CCC) and boxer (Olympic gold middleweight 1908), born in London, England (d. 1930)
• 1883-09-05 Mel Sheppard, American athlete (Olympic gold 800m, 1,500m, medley relay 1908; 4x400 metre relay 1912), born in Deptford Township, New Jersey (d. 1942)
• 1883-10-26 Paul Pilgrim, American athlete (Olympic gold 1904, 06), born in New York City (d. 1958)
• 1884-02-08 Reginald "Snowy" Baker, Australian boxer (Olympic silver middleweight 1908), rugby union halfback (2 caps) and actor (The Sword of Valor), born in Sydney, Australia (d. 1953)
• 1884-10-06 Lloyd Spooner, American sports shooter (4 x Olympic gold, 1 x silver, 2 x bronze 1920), born in Tacoma, Washington (d. 1966)
• 1885-03-23 Platt Adams, American field athlete (Olympic gold standing high jump 1912), born in Belleville, New Jersey (d. 1961)
• 1885-03-24 Charlie Daniels, American swimmer (Olympic gold 220yd, 440yd, 4x50yd freestyle 1904, 100m freestyle 1908), born in Dayton, Ohio (d. 1973)
• 1885-10-16 Dorando Pietri, Italian athlete (Olympic-famous DQ gold marathon 1908), born in Correggio, Italy (d. 1942)
• 1886-03-05 Paul Radmilovic, Welsh swimmer (Olympic gold GB 4×200m freestyle 1908; gold GB water polo 1908, 12, 20), born in Cardiff, Wales (d. 1968)

Jim Thorpe (1887-1953)

1887-05-28 American all-round athlete (Olympic gold decathlon, pentathlon 1912; College & Pro Football Hall of Fame), born in Indian Territory, Oklahoma

• 1887-09-28 Avery Brundage, American businessman (5th President International Olympic Committee 1952-72), born in Detroit, Michigan (d. 1975)
• 1888-01-04 Arthur Berry, English football player (Olympic gold 1908, 12), born in Liverpool, England (d. 1953)
• 1888-02-02 Frederick Lane, Australian swimmer (Olympic gold 200m freestyle, 200m obstacle 1900), born in Sydney, Australia (d. 1969)
• 1888-05-11 Willis Augustus Lee, American World War II admiral (Guadalcanal) and sport shooter (5 Olympic golds 1920), born in Natlee, Kentucky (d. 1945)
• 1888-10-30 Konstantinos Tsiklitiras, Greek athlete (Olympic gold standing long jump, bronze high jump 1912, 2 silver 1908), born in Pylos, Greece (d. 1913)
• 1889-03-16 Reggie Walker, South African athlete (Olympic gold 100m 1908), born in Durban, South Africa (d. 1951)
• 1889-03-24 Albert Hill, English athlete (Olympic gold 800m, 1500m 1920), born in London (d. 1969)
• 1889-04-30 Rudolph Simonsen, Danish composer (Olympic Arts bronze, 1928 - Symphony No. 2 (Hellas)), and educator (Royal Danish Academy, 1916-47), born in Copenhagen, Denmark (d. 1947)
• 1889-06-21 Ralph Craig, American athlete (Olympic gold 100/200m 1912), born in Detroit, Michigan (d. 1972)
• 1889-08-10 Irene Steer, Welsh swimmer (Olympic gold GB 4 x 100m relay 1912), born in Cardiff, Wales (d. 1977)
• 1889-09-20 Charles Reidpath, American athlete (Olympic gold 400m, 4×400m relay 1912), born in Buffalo, New York (d. 1975)
• 1889-10-04 John B. Kelly, American rower and father of Grace Kelly (3 x Olympic gold 1920, 24), born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (d. 1960)
• 1889-12-09 Hannes Kolehmainen, Finnish long-distance runner (Olympic gold 1912), born in Kuopio, Finland (d. 1966)
• 1890-08-24 Duke Kahanamoku, American swimmer, surfer (Olympic gold 100m freestyle 1912, 20; 4x200m freestyle relay 1920), born in Honolulu, Hawaii (d. 1968)
• 1891-01-23 Jüri Lossmann, Estonian athlete (Olympic silver marathon 1920), born in Kabala, Estonia (d. 1984)
• 1891-02-04 Jüri Lossmann, Estonian marathon runner (Olympic-silver 1920), born in Kabala, Governorate of Livonia (d. 1984)
• 1891-04-01 Frank Rankin, Canadian Hockey Hall of Fame rover (Toronto Eatons, Toronto St. Michael's Majors) and coach (Toronto Granites-Canada Olympic gold 1924), born in Stratford, Ontario (d. 1932)
• 1891-09-26 Alfred Lane, American sharp shooter (Olympic gold 1912, 20), born in New York (d. 1965)
• 1892-01-13 Paul Smart, American yachtsman (Olympic gold star class 1948), born in Yarmouth County, Nova Scotia (d. 1979)
• 1892-01-29 Clifford Gray, American bobsledder (Olympic gold 5-man 1928, 4-man 1932), born in Chicago, Illinois (d. 1969)
• 1892-04-14 Giorgio Cesana, Italian coxswain (Olympic gold 1906), born in Venice (d. 1967)
• 1892-06-23 Abel Kiviat, American athlete (Olympic gold 3000m team race, silver 1500m 1912), born in New York City (d. 1991)
• 1892-07-22 Jack MacBryan, English cricket batsman (1 Test; Cambridge University CC, Somerset CCC) and field hockey player (Olympic gold GB & Ireland 1920), born in Box, England (d. 1983)
• 1892-11-14 Ted Meredith, American athlete (Olympic gold 800m in world record 1:51.9s 1912), born in Chester Heights, Pennsylvania (d. 1957)
• 1893-01-20 Georg Åberg, Swedish athlete (Olympic silver triple jump; bronze long jump 1912), born in Norrköping, Sweden (d. 1946)

• 1893-06-07 Gillis Grafström, Swedish figure skater (Olympic gold 1920, 24, 28), born in Stockholm, Sweden (d. 1938)
• 1893-08-21 Theresa Weld Blanchard, American figure skater (US Singles C'ship 1914, 20-24; Pairs C'ship 1920-27; Olympic bronze 1920), born in Brookline, Massachusetts (d. 1978)
• 1894-05-01 Florimond Cornellie, Belgian sailor (Olympic gold 6-metre class 1920), born in Antwerp, Belgium (d. 1978)
• 1894-10-05 Bevil Rudd, South African athlete (Olympic gold 400m 1920), born in Kimberley, South Africa (d. 1948)
• 1894-12-27 Paul Costello, American rower (Olympic gold double sculls 1920, 24, 28), born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (d. 1986)
• 1895-08-09 Nathaniel "Nat" Pendleton, American wrestler (Olympics 1920, Silver) and actor (The Thin Man, Reckless), born in Davenport, Iowa (d. 1967)
• 1896-02-22 Edvin Wide, Swedish runner (Olympic silver 1924 and world record holder), born in Kimito, Finland (d. 1996)
• 1896-05-13 Charles Pahud de Mortanges, Dutch equestrian (Olympic gold individual 3 day event 1928, 32; team 3 day event 1924, 28), born in The Hague (d. 1971)
• 1896-09-13 Morris Kirksey, American 4 X 100m (Olympic gold 1920), born in Waxahachie, Texas (d. 1981)
• 1897-03-13 William Herald, Australian swimmer (Olympic-1920), born in Glebe, New South Wales (d. 1976)
• 1897-03-15 Jackson Scholz, American athlete (Olympic gold 4 x 100m 1920, 200m 1924), born in Buchanan, Michigan (d. 1986)

• 1897-05-07 Kitty McKane (Godfree), English tennis player (Olympic gold, 2 silver, 2 bronze-1920, 24), born in Bayswater, England (d. 1992)

• 1897-08-10 Edward Gourdin, American athlete (long jump WR 7.69 m 1921; Olympic silver 1924) and jurist, born in Jacksonville, Florida (d. 1966)
• 1898-04-15 Harry F. V. Edward, British 100m/200m runner (Olympic bronze 1920), born in Berlin (d. 1973)
• 1898-06-01 Curtis Stevens, American bobsledder (Olympic gold 2-man [with brother Hubert] 1932), born in Lake Placid, New York (d. 1979)
• 1898-10-15 Boughera El Ouafi, Algerian athlete (Olympic gold marathon 1928), born in Ouled Djellal, Algeria (d. 1959)
• 1898-10-21 Eduard Pütsep, Estonian wresler and Olympic medalist (d. 1960)
• 1898-11-12 Leon Štukelj, Slovene gymnast (Olympic gold, 1924,1928; World Championship gold, 1922, 1926), born in Novo Mesto, Austria-Hungary (now Slovenia) (d. 1999)

Weddings in Sport

• 1960-04-30 American Olympic men's figure skating gold medallist (1956) Hayes Alan Jenkins marries Olympic women's champion Carol Heiss in NYC, NY
• 1968-10-26 Czech 7-time Olympic champion gymnast Věra Čáslavská (26) weds middle distance runner Josef Odložil (29) at the Mexico City Cathedral, Mexico City
• 1989-04-15 South African-British Olympic runner Zola Budd marries
• 1990-12-29 Olympic gymnast Mary Lou Retton weds Shannon Kelley

• 1999-06-12 Former Olympic gymnast Shannon Miller (22) weds lawyer and ophthalmologist Chris Phillips (26) at Quail Springs Baptist Church in Oklahoma City

• 2002-06-10 Soviet-Russian 1988 and 1994 Olympic Champion skater Ekaterina Gordeeva (31) weds 1998 Olympic Champion figure skater Ilia Kulik (25) in San Francisco
• 2005-08-23 Olympic gold medalist swimmer Pieter van den Hoogenband (27) weds fellow Olympic swimmer Minouche Smit at Henkenshage Castle in Sint-Oedenrode, North Brabant, The Netherlands
• 2005-12-03 French heiress Athina Onassis (20) weds Olympic gold medalist equestrian Alvaro de Miranda Neto (32) in Sao Paulo, Brazil
• 2005-12-04 2004 Olympic volleyball team member Kerri Walsh (27) weds fellow volleyball player Casey Jennings (30) at the La Quinta Resort in Palm Springs, California
• 2005-12-31 Olympic gold medal skater Jamie Sale (28) weds her pair figure skater David Pelletier (31) at Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel in Canada
• 2006-02-04 2004 Summer Olympics badminton player gold medalist Taufik Hidayat (24) weds Armi Dianti Gumelar at Hotel Mulia Senayan in Jakarta
• 2006-03-25 Olympic gold medal freestyle skier Jonny Moseley (30) weds Malia Rich in Telluride, Colorado
• 2006-11-04 1996 summer Olympic gold medalist gymnast Dominique Moceanu (25) weds podiatrist Dr. Michael Canales (29) in Houston, Texas

Marion Jones

2007-02-24 American former world champion track and field athlete Marion Jones (31) weds Barbadian Olympic sprinting bronze medalist Obadele Thompson (30) at the Union Hill African Methodist Episcopal Church in Wilson's Mills, North Carolina

• 2007-08-11 U.S. Women's Olympic ice hockey team member Krissy Wendell (25) weds NHL player John Pohl (28) at the Rose Hill Alliance Church in West Roseville, Minnesota
• 2007-09-29 Olympic downhill skier Lindsey Kildow (23) weds former Olympic skier Thomas Vonn (31) at the Silver Lake Lodge in Deer Valley, Utah
• 2008-10-25 Olympic gold medal-winning skier Picabo Street (37) weds John Reeser (31) on top of Alabama's Prospect Mountain in Hanceville

• 2009-05-01 American Olympic swimming gold medalist Amanda Beard (27) weds photographer Sacha Brown (34) in Wakatobia, Indonesia
• 2012-11-03 Olympic gymnast Carly Patterson (24) weds Mark Caldwell (27) at the Main Street Garden Park in Dallas, Texas

Hope Solo

2012-11-13 Soccer goalkeeper and a double Olympic gold medalist Hope Solo (31) weds former NFL tight end Jerramy Stevens (33) in Washington

• 2013-01-15 "Gomer Pyle" actor Jim Nabors (82) weds retired performer Stan Cadwallader (64) at the Fairmont Olympic Hotel in Seattle

• 2016-04-16 Olympic gymnast Shawn Johnson (24) weds NFL player Andrew East (24) in Franklin, Tennessee

• 2016-08-20 Olympic figure skater Sasha Cohen (31) weds Tom May in Cape Cod, Massachusetts
• 2016-09-04 Olympic gold medalist track and road cyclists Laura Kenny (24) weds track cyclist Jason Kenny (28) at a private ceremony in Cheshire, England
• 2017-05-06 Olympic diver Tom Daley (23) weds Oscar-winning screenwriter Dustin Lance Black at Bovey Castle in Devon, England

Deaths in Sport

Deaths 1 - 100 of 795

• 1908-07-20 Demetrius Vikelas, Greek businessman and writer (first President International Olympic Committee 1894-1896), dies at 73
• 1912-07-15 Francisco Lazaro, Portuguese marathon runner (1912 Olympics), dies of electrolyte imbalance after smearing his body with suet during Olympic marathon in Stockholm at 24
• 1913-02-10 Konstantinos Tsiklitiras, Greek athlete (Olympic gold standing long jump, bronze high jump 1912, 2 x silver 1908), dies from meningitis at 24
• 1914-09-29 Jean Bouin, French middle distance runner (Olympic silver 1912), dies fighting in WWI at 25
• 1915-03-31 Wyndham Halswelle, British athlete (Olympic gold 400m 1908), dies in WWI action at 32
• 1916-11-13 Frederik Septimus Kelly, Australian-British composer and rower (Summer Olympic gold 1908), dies at 35
• 1917-04-07 Spyridon Samaras, Greek composer (Olympic Hymn), dies at 53
• 1923-04-02 Michel Théato, Luxembourgian athlete (Olympic gold representing France, marathon 1900), dies at 45
• 1924-04-01 Stan Rowley, Australian athlete (Olympic gold 5,000m team, bronze 60m, 100m, 200m 1900), dies at 47
• 1928-01-06 Alvin Kraenzlein, American track and field athlete (4 Olympic gold 1900), dies at 51
• 1929-02-14 Tom Burke, American athlete (Olympic gold 100m, 400m 1896), dies at 53
• 1930-12-19 Johnny Douglas, English cricket all-rounder, captain (23 Tests, 1 x 100, 45 wickets; Essex CCC) and boxer (Olympic gold middleweight 1908), dies by drowning at 48
• 1931-08-02 Kinue Hitomi, Japanese athlete (World record women's 100m, 200m, long jump, triple jump; Olympic silver 800m 1928), dies from pneumonia at 24
• 1932-03-19 Edward Barrett, Irish heavyweight wrestler and all-round sportsman (Olympic gold tug-of-war 1908), dies at 54
• 1932-07-23 Frank Rankin, Canadian Hockey Hall of Fame rover (Toronto Eatons, Toronto St. Michael's Majors) and coach (Toronto Granites-Canada Olympic gold 1924), dies at 41
• 1933-05-09 John Arthur Jarvis, English swimmer (Olympic gold 1,000m, 4,000m, water polo 1900), dies at 61

• 1933-06-02 Frank Jarvis, American athlete (Olympic gold 100m 1900), dies at 54
• 1934-03-24 William Donne, English cricket batsman, (Olympic gold 1900) and administrator (President England Rugby Football Union), dies at 58
• 1934-08-03 Carl Friedrich von Langen, German equestrian (Olympic gold 1928), dies after a fall from his horse at 47

• 1937-01-28 Anastasios Metaxas, Greek architect (restored Panathinaiko Stadium 1896 Olympics Athens) and shooter (Olympic bronze trap, single shot 1908), dies at 74
• 1937-09-02 Pierre de Coubertin, French educator and historian (founder International Olympic Committee; President IOC 1896–1925), dies of a heart attack at 74
• 1937-09-29 Ray Ewry, American track and field athlete (8 Olympic golds 1900, 04, 08), dies at 63
• 1938-04-14 Gillis Grafström, Swedish figure skater (Olympic gold 1920, 24, 28), dies of blood poisoning at 44
• 1940-02-11 Gunnar Höckert, Finnish athlete (Olympic gold 5,000m 1936), dies of war wounds at 29
• 1940-03-26 Spyridon Louis, Greek athlete who won the 1st modern Olympics marathon in 1896, dies at 67
• 1942-01-07 Henri de Baillet-Latour, Belgian aristocrat (3rd President International Olympic Committee 1925-42), dies at 63
• 1942-01-15 Mel Sheppard, American athlete (Olympic gold 800m, 1,500m, medley relay 1908; 4x400 metre relay 1912), dies at 58
• 1942-02-07 Dorando Pietri, Italian athlete (Olympic-famous DQ gold marathon 1908), dies from a heart attack at 56
• 1942-12-28 Alfred Flatow, German gymnast (Olympic gold 1896), dies at 73
• 1943-01-30 Attila Petschauer, Hungarian fencer (Olympic gold 1928, 32), dies at 38
• 1943-02-01 Foy Draper, American athlete (Olympic gold 4 x 100m relay 1936 WR 39.8s), dies in action as a USAF pilot at 31
• 1943-07-21 Charles Paddock, American 100m runner (Olympic gold 1920), dies at 42
• 1943-07-27 Herbert Roper Barrett, British tennis player (Wimbledon doubles 1909, 12, 13; Wimbledon singles 1908, 11 runner-up; Olympic gold indoor doubles 1908), dies at 69
• 1944-07-20 Heinz Burns, German (Olympic gold 1936), dies in bombing
• 1945-02-21 Eric Liddell, Scottish 400m runner (Olympic gold 1924) and Christian missionary in China, dies of an inoperable brain tumor at 43 while interned at the Weihsien Internment Camp in Weifang, Shandong, China
• 1945-03-29 Ferenc Csik, Hungarian swimmer (Olympics gold medal 100m freestyle 1936), dies of war wounds at 31
• 1945-08-09 Harry Hillman, American athlete (Olympic gold 400m, 200/400m hurdles 1904; silver 400m hurdles 1908), dies of coronary thrombosis at 63
• 1945-08-25 Willis Augustus Lee, American World War II admiral (Guadalcanal) and sport shooter (5 Olympic golds 1920), dies of a heart attack at 57 while being ferrying him out to his flagship USS Wyoming off the coast of Maine
• 1946-02-15 Cornelius Johnson, American high jumper (Olympic gold 1936), dies from bronchopneumonia at 32
• 1946-06-14 Kristian Hellström, Swedish athlete (Olympic bronze 1,500m 1906) and executive (first Secretary-General International Association of Athletics Federations 1913-14), dies at 65
• 1946-08-18 Georg Åberg, Swedish athlete (Olympic silver triple jump; bronze long jump 1912), dies at 53
• 1947-03-28 Rudolph Simonsen, Danish composer (Olympic Arts bronze, 1928 - Symphony No. 2 (Hellas)), and educator (Royal Danish Academy, 1916-47), dies at 57
• 1948-02-02 Bevil Rudd, South African athlete (Olympic gold 400m 1920), dies at 53
• 1948-07-08 George Mehnert, American wrestler (Olympic gold flyweight 1904, bantamweight 1908), dies at 66
• 1949-04-19 Ulrich Salchow, Swedish figure skater (Olympic gold men's singles 1908; 10 x World C'ship gold), dies at 71
• 1949-08-31 Paul Höffer, German composer (Olympic Arts gold, 1936), dies at 53
• 1949-12-28 Jack Lovelock, New Zealand athlete (Olympic gold 1,500m 1936), dies in rail accident at 39
• 1951-11-05 Reggie Walker, South African athlete (Olympic gold 100m 1908), dies at 62
• 1952-01-28 Thomas Hicks, English athlete (Olympic gold marathon 1904), dies at 76
• 1952-07-21 Silvio Cator, Haitian athlete and long jumper (Olympic silver 1928), dies at 51
• 1953-03-02 Jim Lightbody, American athlete (Olympic gold 800m, 1500m, 2590m Steeplechase 1904), dies at 70
• 1953-03-15 Arthur Berry, English football player (Olympic gold 1908, 12), dies at 65

• 1953-12-02 Reginald "Snowy" Baker, Australian boxer (Olympic silver middleweight 1908), rugby union halfback (2 caps) and actor (The Sword of Valor), dies at 69
• 1955-01-21 Archie Hahn, American athlete (Olympic gold 60m, 100m, 200m 1904), dies at 74
• 1955-06-10 Margaret Abbott, American golfer (1st American woman to win Olympic event, golf 1900), dies at 76
• 1955-11-12 Alfréd Hajós, Hungarian swimmer (Olympic gold 100/200m 1896), soccer forward (1 cap) and manager (Hungary 1906), dies at 77
• 1956-06-29 Max Emmerich, American athlete and gymnast (Olympic gold, triathlon 1904), dies at 77

• 1957-01-20 James Connolly, American athlete and author, 1st Modern Olympic Champion in 1896, dies at 88
• 1957-06-29 Johan Hin, Dutch yachtsman (Olympic gold 12' Dinghy 1920), dies at 58
• 1957-11-02 Ted Meredith, American athlete (Olympic gold 800m in world record 1:51.9s 1912), dies at 64
• 1958-01-08 Paul Pilgrim, American athlete (Olympic gold 1904, 06), dies at 74
• 1958-03-18 Sigve Lie, Norwegian sailor (Olympic gold dragon class 1948, 52), dies at 51
• 1959-03-04 Maxie Long, American athlete (Olympic gold 400m 1900), dies at 80
• 1959-10-18 Boughera El Ouafi, Algerian athlete (Olympic gold marathon 1928), dies of gun wounds at 61
• 1960-05-17 Ioannis Georgiadis, Greek fencer (Olympic gold sabre 1896), dies at 84
• 1960-06-26 John B. Kelly, American rower and father of Grace Kelly (3 x Olympic gold 1920, 24), dies of intestinal cancer at 70
• 1961-02-27 Platt Adams, American field athlete (Olympic gold standing high jump 1912), dies at 75
• 1961-11-18 Clarence "Bud" Pinkston, American diver (Olympic gold 10m platform, silver 3m springboard 1920), dies at 61
• 1961-11-25 Hubert Van Innis, Belgian archer (6 x Olympic gold, 3 x silver 1900, 20), dies at 95
• 1962-12-17 Carl Diem, German sports executive (Sec Gen Organising Committee 1936 Berlin Olympics; creator Olympic torch relay), dies at 80
• 1963-02-11 Karl Frederick, American pistol shooter (Olympic gold 1920), dies at 82
• 1963-05-12 Robert Kerr, Canadian runner (1908 Olympics), dies at 80
• 1964-01-08 Martin Stixrud, Norwegian figure skater and coach (Olympic bronze 1920, coached Sonja Henie), dies at 87
• 1964-02-07 Lillian Copeland, American discus thrower (Olympic gold 1932), dies at 59
• 1964-03-18 Sigfrid Edström, Swedish sports official (4th President International Olympic Committee 1952-64), dies at 93
• 1965-07-30 Alan Washbond, American 2-man bobsledder (Olympic gold 1932), dies at 65
• 1966-01-11 Hannes Kolehmainen, Finnish long-distance runner (Olympic gold 1912), dies at 76
• 1966-01-14 Bill Carr, American athlete (Olympic gold 400m, 4 x 400m 1932), dies at 56

• 1966-12-20 Lloyd Spooner, American sports shooter (4 x Olympic gold, 1 x silver, 2 x bronze 1920), dies at 82
• 1966-12-27 Frankie Genaro, American boxer (World flyweight champion 1928-31; Olympic gold flyweight 1920), dies at 65
• 1967-01-31 Eddie Tolan, American sprinter the "Midnight Express" (1932 Olympics), dies at 58
• 1967-02-06 Hans Jacob Nielsen, Danish boxer (Olympic gold lightweight 1924), dies at 67
• 1967-04-17 Giorgio Cesana, Italian coxswain (Olympic gold 1906), dies at 75

• 1967-07-13 Tom Simpson, English road cyclist (World C'ship gold road race 1965; Olympic bronze 1956), dies of combination of alcohol & mixed amphetamines during Tour de France at 29
• 1967-07-30 Alfried Krupp [né von Bohlen und Halbach], German arms manufacturer, convicted war criminal, and Olympic yacht competitor (1936), dies at 59
• 1967-10-12 Nathaniel "Nat" Pendleton, American wrestler (Olympics 1920, Silver) and actor (The Thin Man, Reckless), dies from a heart attack at 72
• 1968-01-09 Kokichi Tsuburaya, Japanese marathoner (Olympic bronze 1964), commits suicide
• 1968-01-22 Duke Kahanamoku, American swimmer, surfer (Olympic gold 100m freestyle 1912, 20; 4x200m freestyle relay 1920), dies of a heart attack at 77
• 1968-03-06 Frans Hin, Dutch yachtsman (Olympic gold 12' Dinghy 1920; aged 14 years 163 days), dies at 62
• 1968-09-29 Paul Radmilovic, Welsh swimmer (Olympic gold GB 4×200m freestyle 1908; gold GB water polo 1908, 12, 20), dies at 82
• 1969-01-01 Bruno Söderström, Swedish athlete (Olympic silver pole vault & bronze javelin 1906; bronze pole vault 1908; popularized bowling in Sweden), dies at 87
• 1969-01-08 Albert Hill, English athlete (Olympic gold 800m, 1500m 1920), dies at 79
• 1969-02-09 Manuel Plaza Reyes, Chilean marathoner (Olympic gold 1928), dies at 68
• 1969-02-21 Jose de Capriles, Mexican-born US Olympic fencer, dies at 57
• 1969-05-14 Frederick Lane, Australian swimmer (Olympic gold 200m freestyle, 200m obstacle 1900), dies at 89

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