Great Britain and Ireland at the 1896 Summer Olympics

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Great Britain at the Olympic Games

Flag of the United Kingdom
IOC code: GBR
NOC: British Olympic Association
external link
1896 Summer Olympics in Athens
Competitors 10 in 7 sports
Medals Gold
2		 Silver
3		 Bronze
2		 Total
7
Summer Olympic Games appearances

As Great Britain and Ireland:

1896 • 1900 • 1904 • 1908 • 1912 • 1920 • 1924

As Great Britain and Northern Ireland:

1928 • 1932 • 1936 • 1948 • 1952 • 1956 • 1960 • 1964 • 1968 • 1972 • 1976 • 1980 • 1984 • 1988 • 1992 • 1996 • 2000 • 2004
Winter Olympic Games appearances
1924 • 1928 • 1932 • 1936 • 1948 • 1952 • 1956 • 1960 • 1964 • 1968 • 1972 • 1976 • 1980 • 1984 • 1988 • 1992 • 1994 • 1998 • 2002 • 2006

Ten athletes from the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland competed in seven sports at the 1896 Summer Olympics. The British and Irish athletes were the fifth most successful in terms of overall medals (7) and tied for fifth in gold medals (2). The 7 medals came on 23 entries in 14 events.

Two British tennis players also played in mixed team squads, contributing to a gold and a bronze medal. These medals are not counted as part of the British total.

Contents

[edit] Medals

[edit] Gold

[edit] Silver

[edit] Bronze

[edit] Results by event

[edit] Athletics

Main article: Athletics at the 1896 Summer Olympics

The British athletes took two medals and a fourth-place finish in athletics. The 100 metres and the 800 metres were the two events in which they had little success.

Event Place Athlete Heat Final
100 metres – Launceston Elliot Unknown Did not advance
Charles Gmelin Unknown
George Marshall Unknown
400 metres 3rd Charles Gmelin Unknown Unknown
800 metres – George Marshall Unknown Did not advance
110 metre hurdles 2nd Grantley Goulding 18.4 seconds 17.6 seconds
Event Place Athlete Best mark
Discus throw 4th George S. Robertson 25.20 metres

[edit] Cycling

Main article: Cycling at the 1896 Summer Olympics

Battel and Keeping each won a medal in the cycling program, earning a 4th place and a 5th place finish as well.

Event Place Cyclist Time/Distance
333 metres 4th Edward Battel 26.2 seconds
5th Frank Keeping 27.0 seconds
100 kilometres – Edward Battel Did not finish
12 hour race 2nd Frank Keeping 314.664 kilometres
Road race 3rd Edward Battel Unknown

[edit] Gymnastics

Main article: Gymnastics at the 1896 Summer Olympics

Elliot finished in last place in the rope climbing competition. He did not make it all the way up the 14-metre rope, retiring at some point below 12.5 metres (the distance of the bronze medallist).

Event Place Gymnast Height
Rope climbing 5th Launceston Elliot Unknown

[edit] Shooting

Main article: Shooting at the 1896 Summer Olympics

Merlin and Machonet were unable to win any medals in the shooting events.

Event Place Shooter Score Hits
Military rifle 10th Sidney Merlin 1156 Unknown
– Machonet Unknown
Free rifle – Sidney Merlin Unknown
Military pistol – Sidney Merlin Did not finish
Rapid fire pistol – Sidney Merlin Did not finish

[edit] Tennis

Main article: Tennis at the 1896 Summer Olympics

Boland was by far the best player in the tennis competition, amassing a 6-0 record over both events and two gold medals, though one of them was as part of a mixed team. He defeated Traun in the first round of the singles competition, then teamed up with him for the doubles competition. Robertson was much less successful, losing both of the matches he played, though he was awarded a retroactive bronze medal by the International Olympic Committee as his bye in the doubles quarterfinals put him in third place in that event. Like Boland's doubles gold medal, Robertson's bronze is not counted as part of the British total because the two played on mixed teams.

Event Place Player Round 1 Quarterfinals Semifinals Final
Singles 1st John Pius Boland Won Won Won Won
6-2, 6-2
8th George S. Robertson Lost Did not advance
Doubles 1st John Pius Boland and
Germany Friedrich Traun (GER)		 – Won Bye Won
3rd George S. Robertson and
Australia Teddy Flack (AUS)		 – Bye Lost Did not advance
Opponent nation Wins Losses Percent
Germany Germany 1 0 1.000
Greece Greece 5 2 .714
Total 6 2 .750

[edit] Weightlifting

Main article: Weightlifting at the 1896 Summer Olympics

Elliot lifted the same amount as Viggo Jensen in the two handed lift, but was declared by Prince George of Greece to have taken second place based on lifting form. In the one handed lift, he easily defeated Jensen, who lifted only 57 kilograms.

Event Place Weightlifter Best lift
One handed 1st Launceston Elliot 71.0 kilograms
Two handed 2nd Launceston Elliot 111.5 kilograms

[edit] Wrestling

Main article: Wrestling at the 1896 Summer Olympics

Elliot was defeated by eventual champion Carl Schuhmann in the first round of the wrestling competition, tying for 4th and last place.

Event Place Wrestler Quarterfinals Semifinals Final
Greco-Roman 4th Launceston Elliot Lost Did not advance
Opponent nation Wins Losses Percent
Germany 0 1 .000
Total 0 1 .000

[edit] References

  • Lampros, S.P.; Polites, N.G.; De Coubertin, Pierre; Philemon, P.J.; & Anninos, C. (1897). The Olympic Games: BC 776 – AD 1896. Athens: Charles Beck. (Digitally available at [1])
  • Mallon, Bill; & Widlund, Ture (1998). The 1896 Olympic Games. Results for All Competitors in All Events, with Commentary. Jefferson: McFarland. ISBN 0-7864-0379-9. (Excerpt available at [2])
  • Smith, Michael Llewellyn (2004). Olympics in Athens 1896. The Invention of the Modern Olympic Games. London: Profile Books. ISBN 1-86197-342-X.


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