Athletics at the 1920 Summer Olympics – Men's 1500 metres

In today's world, Athletics at the 1920 Summer Olympics – Men's 1500 metres is a topic that has become increasingly relevant. Since its emergence, it has been the subject of debate, research and development, generating great interest in different areas of society. From academia to business, Athletics at the 1920 Summer Olympics – Men's 1500 metres has demonstrated its ability to significantly impact our lives. Over the years, this topic has evolved and adapted to changes in the environment, always remaining current and arousing constant interest. In this article, we will explore Athletics at the 1920 Summer Olympics – Men's 1500 metres in depth, analyzing its most relevant aspects and its influence on various aspects of our current reality.

Men's 1500 metres
at the Games of the VII Olympiad
VenueOlympisch Stadion
DatesAugust 18, 1920 (round 1)
August 19, 1920 (final)
Competitors29 from 12 nations
Winning time4:01.8
Medalists
1st place, gold medalist(s) Albert Hill  Great Britain
2nd place, silver medalist(s) Philip Noel-Baker  Great Britain
3rd place, bronze medalist(s) Lawrence Shields  United States
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Official Video
Athletics at the
1920 Summer Olympics
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The men's 1500 metres event was part of the track and field athletics programme at the 1920 Summer Olympics. The competition was held on Wednesday, August 18, 1920, and on Thursday, August 19, 1920. Twenty-nine runners from 12 nations competed.[1] No nation had more than 4 runners, suggesting the limit had been reduced from the 12 maximum in force in 1908 and 1912. The event was won by Albert Hill of Great Britain, completing his middle-distance double (gold in the 800 metres and 1500 metres). It was the nation's second consecutive and third overall championship in the men's 1500 metres.

Background

This was the sixth appearance of the event, which is one of 12 athletics events to have been held at every Summer Olympics. Two finalists from the pre-war 1912 Games returned: sixth-place finisher Philip Noel-Baker of Great Britain and seventh-place finisher John Zander of Sweden. Zander was the world record holder.[2]

Czechoslovakia, Estonia, Japan, and Spain each made their first appearance in the event. The United States made its sixth appearance, the only nation to have competed in the men's 1500 metres at each Games to that point.

Competition format

The competition consisted of two rounds, the format used since 1908. With a smaller field, the focus shifted to fewer semifinals with more qualifiers from each. Only four semifinals were held, with anywhere between 5 and 8 runners in each. The top three runners in each heat advanced to the final, for a 12-man final race (increased to 13 when one semifinalist was advanced after being obstructed).[2]

Records

These were the standing world and Olympic records prior to the 1920 Summer Olympics.

World record  John Zander (SWE) 3:54.7 Stockholm, Sweden 5 August 1917[3]
Olympic record  Arnold Jackson (GBR) 3:56.8 Stockholm, Sweden 10 July 1912[4]

No world or Olympic records were set during the competition.

Schedule

Date Time Round
Wednesday, 18 August 1920 15:15 Round 1
Thursday, 19 August 1920 17:15 Final

Results

Times were generally only published for the winners of each heat. Some of the times listed below are estimates based on contemporary reports of the races.[5]

Round 1

Heat 1

Rank Athlete Nation Time Notes
1 Václav Vohralík  Czechoslovakia 4:02.2 Q
2 Albert Hill  Great Britain 4:03.2 Q
3 André Audinet  France 4:03.7 Q
4 Edvin Wide  Sweden 4:03.8
5 Edward Lawrence  Canada 4:04.4
— Edward Curtis  United States DNF
— Lucien Bangels  Belgium DNF
— Carlo Martinenghi  Italy DNS
— Tomeichi Ohura  Japan DNS

Heat 2

Rank Athlete Nation Time Notes
1 Sven Lundgren  Sweden 4:07.0 Q
2 Duncan McPhee  Great Britain 4:07.2 Q
3 Lawrence Shields  United States 4:07.4 Q
4 Armand Burtin  France 4:07.7
5 Tommy Town  Canada
6 Giuseppe Bonini  Italy
7 Theofiel Roekaert  Belgium
— Eivind Rasmussen  Norway DNF
— Paavo Nurmi  Finland DNS
— Bevil Rudd  South Africa DNS
— José Luis Grasset  Spain DNS

Heat 3

Rank Athlete Nation Time Notes
1 John Zander  Sweden 4:08.1 Q
2 Arturo Porro  Italy 4:09.0 Q
3 James Connolly  United States 4:10.0 Q
4 Maurice de Conninck  France 4:11.0
5 Jean Delarge  Belgium 4:11.5
— Panagiotis Retelas  Greece DNS
— Søren Nielsen  Denmark DNS
— Jaroslav Procházka  Czechoslovakia DNS
— Arnold Jackson  Great Britain DNS

Heat 4

René Leray was advanced to the final after being interfered with by Villemson on the final lap.

Rank Athlete Nation Time Notes
1 Joie Ray  United States 4:13.4 Q
2 Philip Noel-Baker  Great Britain 4:14.0 Q
3 Léon Fourneau  Belgium 4:15.0 Q
4 Fritz Kiölling  Sweden 4:15.0
5 René Leray  France 4:16.5 q
6 Saburo Hasumi  Japan
— Juan Muguerza  Spain DNF
— Johannes Villemson  Estonia DSQ
— Alfred Gaschen  Switzerland DNS
— Ernesto Ambrosini  Italy DNS

Final

Rank Athlete Nation Time
1st place, gold medalist(s) Albert Hill  Great Britain 4:01.8
2nd place, silver medalist(s) Philip Noel-Baker  Great Britain 4:02.4
3rd place, bronze medalist(s) Lawrence Shields  United States 4:04.3
4 Václav Vohralík  Czechoslovakia 4:08.0
5 Sven Lundgren  Sweden 4:12.0
6 André Audinet  France 4:12.2
7 Arturo Porro  Italy 4:12.4
8 Joie Ray  United States 4:13.0
9 Léon Fourneau  Belgium 4:16.0
10 René Leray  France 4:25.0
— Duncan McPhee  Great Britain DNF
— James Connolly  United States DNF
— John Zander  Sweden DNF

References

  1. ^ "Athletics at the 1920 Antwerp Games: Men's 1500 metres". sports-reference.com. Archived from the original on 17 April 2020. Retrieved 23 October 2017.
  2. ^ a b "1500 metres, Men". Olympedia. Retrieved 12 August 2020.
  3. ^ "World Record Progression of 1500 Metres". World Athletics. Retrieved 5 June 2021.
  4. ^ Mallon, Bill (2012). "Track & Field Athletics – Olympic Record Progressions" (PDF). Track and Field News. p. 5. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2014-03-31. Retrieved 5 June 2021.
  5. ^ "Athletics at the 1920 Summer Olympics". Olympedia. Retrieved 5 June 2021.

Further reading

  • Belgium Olympic Committee (1957). Olympic Games Antwerp 1920: Official Report (in French).
  • Wudarski, Pawel (1999). "Wyniki Igrzysk Olimpijskich" (in Polish). Retrieved 11 August 2007.