Antwerp 1920 - Olympic Games Winners

GAMES OF THE 7TH OLYMPIAD

Start:

20 Apr 1920

End:

12 Sep 1920

Countries:

Athletes:

2626

Sports:

Events:

154

City:

Antwerp, Belgium

ANTWERP 1920 - Bid History

The Olympics resumed less than two years after the First World War.
Budapest, Hungary, was initially selected to host the Olympic Games over other candidate cities - Amsterdam, Netherlands and Lyon, France.
However, as the Austro-Hungarian Empire was a German ally in World War I, the 1920 Olympic Games were awarded to Antwerp, Belgium, to honor the suffering inflicted on the Belgian people during the First World War.

Games of the 7th Olympiad, 1920 - Interesting Facts

His Majesty King Albert I of Belgium officially opened the 1920 Olympics.
The Opening Ceremony of the Games featured the introduction of the Olympic flag, designed in 1913 and containing at least one color from every nation's flag.
Belgian athlete Victor BOIN became the first person to read the Olympic oath.
Germany and Germany's allies were not allowed to participate in the Olympic Games as the aggressors of World War I.
The Italian fencer Nedo NADI won 5 gold medals. His brother, Aldo NADI, won three gold and one silver medal.
American athletes dominated in Shooting, winning most events in Antwerp. Including: Willis LEE with 5 gold, one silver, one bronze, Lloyd SPOONER with four gold, one silver, two bronze, Carl OSBURN with four gold, one silver, one bronze, Dennis FENTON with three gold, one bronze medal. Four other American shooters: Morris FISHER, Karl FREDERICK, Joseph JACKSON and Ollie SCHRIVER won three gold medals each.
Among the few who were able to compete with the Americans in Shooting were the Norwegian shooters Otto OLSEN, with four gold and two silver medals, and Ole LILLOE-OLSEN, with three gold medals.
Belgian athletes were the best in Archery. Hubert VAN INNIS won four gold and two silver medals, Edmond CLOETENS and Edmond VAN MOER won three gold medals each.
Finnish runner Paavo NURMI opened his Olympic victories. He won three gold and one silver medal.
American swimmers Ethelda BLEIBTREY and Norman ROSS won three gold medals each.
Shooter Oscar SWAHN from Sweden won a silver medal and became the oldest medalist ever. He was 72.