Athletics at the 1896 Summer Olympics – Men's 800 metres
Men's 800 metres
at the Games of the I Olympiad |
| Venue |
Panathinaiko Stadium |
| Dates |
April 6 (heats)
April 9 (final) |
| Competitors |
9 from 5 nations |
| Medalists |
|
|
| |
1900» |
The men's 800 metres race was the second-longest of the four flat-track events on the Athletics at the 1896 Summer Olympics programme. The preliminary heats were the third event held on 6 April. The nine competitors were split into two groups. The top two athletes in each heat advanced to the final, which was held on 9 April.
Results
Heats
The two heats of the preliminary round were held on 6 April. The top two runners in each heat advanced.
Heat 1
Flack beat Dáni by four feet with the others far behind; his time of 2:10.0 was the inaugural Olympic record.
Heat 2
Lermusiaux beat Golemis by 1¼ yards.
Final
The final consisted of only three runners, as Lermusiaux elected not to compete to save himself for the marathon. Flack won by five meters, and Dáni finished 95 yards ahead of Golmeis.
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 AAFLA.org)
- 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 AAFLA.org)
- Smith, Michael Llewellyn (2004). Olympics in Athens 1896. The Invention of the Modern Olympic Games. London: Profile Books. ISBN 1-86197-342-X.