Athletics at the 1952 Summer Olympics

Last updated

Contents

Athletics
at the Games of the XV Olympiad
Olympia2-1952.jpg
Athletics at the 1952 Summer Olympics on a Finnish stamp
No. of events33
Competitors963 from 57 nations
  1948
1956  

At the 1952 Summer Olympics in Helsinki, 33 athletics events were contested, 24 for men and 9 for women. There were a total number of 963 participating athletes from 57 countries.

The timing result point for the running competitions at the Helsinki Olympic Stadium Helsingin olympialaiset 1952 - XLVIII-278 - hkm.HKMS000005-km0000mrdq.jpg
The timing result point for the running competitions at the Helsinki Olympic Stadium

Medal summary

Men

EventGoldSilverBronze
100 metres
details
Lindy Remigino
US flag 48 stars.svg  United States
10.4 Herb McKenley
Flag of Jamaica (1906-1957).svg  Jamaica
10.4 McDonald Bailey
Flag of the United Kingdom (3-2).svg  Great Britain
10.4
200 metres
details
Andy Stanfield
US flag 48 stars.svg  United States
20.7 Thane Baker
US flag 48 stars.svg  United States
20.8 James Gathers
US flag 48 stars.svg  United States
20.8
400 metres
details
George Rhoden
Flag of Jamaica (1906-1957).svg  Jamaica
45.9 OR Herb McKenley
Flag of Jamaica (1906-1957).svg  Jamaica
45.9 Ollie Matson
US flag 48 stars.svg  United States
46.8
800 metres
details
Mal Whitfield
US flag 48 stars.svg  United States
1:49.2 Arthur Wint
Flag of Jamaica (1906-1957).svg  Jamaica
1:49.4 Heinz Ulzheimer
Flag of Germany.svg  Germany
1:49.7
1500 metres
details
Josy Barthel
Flag of Luxembourg.svg  Luxembourg
3:45.2 OR Bob McMillen
US flag 48 stars.svg  United States
3:45.2 Werner Lueg
Flag of Germany.svg  Germany
3:45.4
5000 metres
details
Emil Zátopek
Flag of Czechoslovakia.svg  Czechoslovakia
14:06.6 OR Alain Mimoun
Flag of France.svg  France
14:07.4 Herbert Schade
Flag of Germany.svg  Germany
14:08.6
10,000 metres
details
Emil Zátopek
Flag of Czechoslovakia.svg  Czechoslovakia
29:17.0 WR Alain Mimoun
Flag of France.svg  France
29:32.8 Aleksandr Anufriyev
Flag of the Soviet Union (1936-1955).svg  Soviet Union
29:48.2
110 metres hurdles
details
Harrison Dillard
US flag 48 stars.svg  United States
13.7 Jack Davis
US flag 48 stars.svg  United States
13.7 Arthur Barnard
US flag 48 stars.svg  United States
14.1
400 metres hurdles
details
Charles Moore
US flag 48 stars.svg  United States
50.8 OR Yuriy Lituyev
Flag of the Soviet Union (1936-1955).svg  Soviet Union
51.3 John Holland
Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand
52.2
3000 metres steeplechase
details
Horace Ashenfelter
US flag 48 stars.svg  United States
8:45.4 WR Vladimir Kazantsev
Flag of the Soviet Union (1936-1955).svg  Soviet Union
8:51.6 John Disley
Flag of the United Kingdom (3-2).svg  Great Britain
8:51.8
4 × 100 metres relay
details
US flag 48 stars.svg  United States  (USA)
Dean Smith
Harrison Dillard
Lindy Remigino
Andy Stanfield
40.1Flag of the Soviet Union (1936-1955).svg  Soviet Union  (URS)
Boris Tokarev
Levan Kalyayev
Levan Sanadze
Vladimir Sukharev
40.3Flag of Hungary (1949-1956).svg  Hungary  (HUN)
László Zarándi
Géza Varasdi
György Csányi
Béla Goldoványi
40.5
4 × 400 metres relay
details
Flag of Jamaica (1906-1957).svg  Jamaica  (JAM)
Arthur Wint
Leslie Laing
Herb McKenley
George Rhoden
3:03.9 WR US flag 48 stars.svg  United States  (USA)
Ollie Matson
Gene Cole
Charles Moore
Mal Whitfield
3:04.0Flag of Germany.svg  Germany  (GER)
Günther Steines
Hans Geister
Heinz Ulzheimer
Karl-Friedrich Haas
3:06.6
Marathon
details
Emil Zátopek
Flag of Czechoslovakia.svg  Czechoslovakia
2:23:03 OR Reinaldo Gorno
Flag of Argentina (1861-2010).svg  Argentina
2:25:35 Gustaf Jansson
Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden
2:26:07
10 kilometres walk
details
John Mikaelsson
Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden
45:02.8 OR Fritz Schwab
Civil Ensign of Switzerland (Pantone).svg  Switzerland
45:41.0 Bruno Junk
Flag of the Soviet Union (1936-1955).svg  Soviet Union
45:41.0
50 kilometres walk
details
Pino Dordoni
Flag of Italy.svg  Italy
4:28:07.8 OR Josef Doležal
Flag of Czechoslovakia.svg  Czechoslovakia
4:30:17.8 Antal Róka
Flag of Hungary (1949-1956).svg  Hungary
4:31:27.2
High jump
details
Walt Davis
US flag 48 stars.svg  United States
2.04 OR Ken Wiesner
US flag 48 stars.svg  United States
2.01 m José da Conceição
Flag of Brazil (1889-1960).svg  Brazil
1.98 m
Pole vault
details
Bob Richards
US flag 48 stars.svg  United States
4.55 m OR Don Laz
US flag 48 stars.svg  United States
4.50 m Ragnar Lundberg
Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden
4.40 m
Long jump
details
Jerome Biffle
US flag 48 stars.svg  United States
7.57 m Meredith Gourdine
US flag 48 stars.svg  United States
7.53 m Ödön Földessy
Flag of Hungary (1949-1956).svg  Hungary
7.30 m
Triple jump
details
Adhemar da Silva
Flag of Brazil (1889-1960).svg  Brazil
16.22 m WR Leonid Shcherbakov
Flag of the Soviet Union (1936-1955).svg  Soviet Union
15.98 m Asnoldo Devonish
Flag of Venezuela (1930-1954).svg  Venezuela
15.52 m
Shot put
details
Parry O'Brien
US flag 48 stars.svg  United States
17.41 OR Darrow Hooper
US flag 48 stars.svg  United States
17.39 m Jim Fuchs
US flag 48 stars.svg  United States
17.06 m
Discus throw
details
Sim Iness
US flag 48 stars.svg  United States
55.03 OR Adolfo Consolini
Flag of Italy.svg  Italy
53.78 m James Dillion
US flag 48 stars.svg  United States
53.28 m
Hammer throw
details
József Csermák
Flag of Hungary (1949-1956).svg  Hungary
60.34 m WR Karl Storch
Flag of Germany.svg  Germany
58.86 m Imre Németh
Flag of Hungary (1949-1956).svg  Hungary
57.74 m
Javelin throw
details
Cy Young
US flag 48 stars.svg  United States
73.78 OR Bill Miller
US flag 48 stars.svg  United States
72.46 m Toivo Hyytiäinen
Flag of Finland.svg  Finland
71.89 m
Decathlon
details
Bob Mathias
US flag 48 stars.svg  United States
7,887 pts WR Milt Campbell
US flag 48 stars.svg  United States
6,975 pts Floyd Simmons
US flag 48 stars.svg  United States
6,788 pts

Women

EventGoldSilverBronze
100 metres
details
Marjorie Jackson
Flag of Australia.svg  Australia
11.5 Daphne Hasenjäger
Flag of South Africa (1928-1982).svg  South Africa
11.8 Shirley Strickland de la Hunty
Flag of Australia.svg  Australia
11.9
200 metres
details
Marjorie Jackson
Flag of Australia.svg  Australia
23.7 Bertha Brouwer
Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands
24.2 Nadezhda Khnykina-Dvalishvili
Flag of the Soviet Union (1936-1955).svg  Soviet Union
24.2
80 metres hurdles
details
Shirley Strickland de la Hunty
Flag of Australia.svg  Australia
10.9 WR Mariya Golubnichaya
Flag of the Soviet Union (1936-1955).svg  Soviet Union
11.1 Maria Sander
Flag of Germany.svg  Germany
11.1
4 × 100 metres relay
details
US flag 48 stars.svg  United States  (USA)
Mae Faggs
Barbara Jones
Janet Moreau
Catherine Hardy
45.9 WR Flag of Germany.svg  Germany  (GER)
Ursula Knab
Maria Sander
Helga Klein
Marga Petersen
45.9Flag of the United Kingdom (3-2).svg  Great Britain  (GBR)
Sylvia Cheeseman
June Foulds
Jean Desforges
Heather Armitage
46.2
High jump
details
Esther Brand
Flag of South Africa (1928-1982).svg  South Africa
1.67 m Sheila Lerwill
Flag of the United Kingdom (3-2).svg  Great Britain
1.65 m Aleksandra Chudina
Flag of the Soviet Union (1936-1955).svg  Soviet Union
1.63 m
Long jump
details
Yvette Williams
Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand
6.24 OR Aleksandra Chudina
Flag of the Soviet Union (1936-1955).svg  Soviet Union
6.14 m Shirley Cawley
Flag of the United Kingdom (3-2).svg  Great Britain
5.92 m
Shot put
details
Galina Zybina
Flag of the Soviet Union (1936-1955).svg  Soviet Union
15.28 WR Marianne Werner
Flag of Germany.svg  Germany
14.57 m Klavdia Tochonova
Flag of the Soviet Union (1936-1955).svg  Soviet Union
14.50 m
Discus throw
details
Nina Romashkova
Flag of the Soviet Union (1936-1955).svg  Soviet Union
51.42 m OR Elizaveta Bagryantseva
Flag of the Soviet Union (1936-1955).svg  Soviet Union
47.08 m Nina Dumbadze
Flag of the Soviet Union (1936-1955).svg  Soviet Union
46.29 m
Javelin throw
details
Dana Zátopková
Flag of Czechoslovakia.svg  Czechoslovakia
50.47 OR Aleksandra Chudina
Flag of the Soviet Union (1936-1955).svg  Soviet Union
50.01 m Yelena Gorchakova
Flag of the Soviet Union (1936-1955).svg  Soviet Union
49.76 m

Records broken

During the 1952 Summer Olympic Games, 26 new Olympic records and 8 new world records were set in the athletics events.

Men's Olympic and world records

EventDateRoundNameNationalityResultORWR
400 metres July 25Final George Rhoden
Herb McKenley
Flag of Jamaica (1906-1957).svg  Jamaica 45.9 sOR
1500 metres July 26Final Josy Barthel
Bob McMillen
Flag of Luxembourg.svg  Luxembourg
US flag 48 stars.svg  United States
3:45.2OR
5000 metres July 24Final Emil Zátopek Flag of Czechoslovakia.svg  Czechoslovakia 14:06.6OR
10,000 metres July 20Final Emil Zátopek Flag of Czechoslovakia.svg  Czechoslovakia 29:17.0OR
110 metres hurdles July 24Final Harrison Dillard
Jack Davis
US flag 48 stars.svg  United States 13.7 sOR
400 metres hurdles July 21Final Charles Moore US flag 48 stars.svg  United States 50.8 sOR
3000 metres steeplechase July 25Final Horace Ashenfelter US flag 48 stars.svg  United States 8:45.4 sOR
4 x 400 metres relay July 27Final Les Laing
Herb McKenley
George Rhoden
Arthur Wint
Flag of Jamaica (1906-1957).svg  Jamaica 3:03.9ORWR
10 kilometres walk July 27Final John Mikaelsson Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden 45:02.8OR
50 kilometres walk July 21Final Giuseppe Dordoni Flag of Italy.svg  Italy 4:28:07.8OR
Marathon July 27Final Emil Zátopek Flag of Czechoslovakia.svg  Czechoslovakia 2:23:03.2ORWR
High jump July 20Final Walt Davis US flag 48 stars.svg  United States 2.04 mOR
Pole vault July 22Final Bob Richards US flag 48 stars.svg  United States 4.55 mOR
Triple jump July 23Final Adhemar da Silva Flag of Brazil (1889-1960).svg  Brazil 16.22 mORWR
Shot put July 21Final Parry O'Brien US flag 48 stars.svg  United States 17.41 mOR
Discus throw July 22Final Sim Iness US flag 48 stars.svg  United States 55.03 mOR
Javelin throw July 24Final Cy Young US flag 48 stars.svg  United States 73.78 mOR
Hammer throw July 24Final József Csermák Flag of Hungary (1949-1956).svg  Hungary 60.34 mORWR
Decathlon July 26Final Bob Mathias US flag 48 stars.svg  United States 7887 ptsORWR

Women's Olympic and world records

EventDateRoundNameNationalityResultORWR
200 metres July 26Semifinal Marjorie Jackson Flag of Australia.svg  Australia 23.4 sORWR
80 metres hurdles July 24Final Shirley Strickland de la Hunty Flag of Australia.svg  Australia 10.9 sORWR
4 x 100 metres relay July 27Final Mae Faggs
Catherine Hardy
Barbara Jones
Janet Moreau
US flag 48 stars.svg  United States 45.9 sORWR
Long jump July 23Final Yvette Williams Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand 6.24 mOR
Shot put July 26Final Galina Zybina Flag of the Soviet Union (1936-1955).svg  Soviet Union 15.28 mORWR
Discus throw July 20Final Nina Romashkova Flag of the Soviet Union (1936-1955).svg  Soviet Union 51.42 mOR
Javelin throw July 24Final Dana Zátopková Flag of Czechoslovakia.svg  Czechoslovakia 50.47 mOR

Medal table

RankNationGoldSilverBronzeTotal
1US flag 48 stars.svg  United States  (USA)1510631
2Flag of Czechoslovakia.svg  Czechoslovakia  (TCH)4105
3Flag of Australia.svg  Australia  (AUS)3014
4Flag of the Soviet Union (1936-1955).svg  Soviet Union  (URS)28717
5Flag of Jamaica (1906-1957).svg  Jamaica  (JAM)2305
6Flag of Italy.svg  Italy  (ITA)1102
Flag of South Africa (1928-1982).svg  South Africa  (RSA)1102
8Flag of Hungary (1949-1956).svg  Hungary  (HUN)1045
9Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden  (SWE)1023
10Flag of Brazil (1889-1960).svg  Brazil  (BRA)1012
Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand  (NZL)1012
12Flag of Luxembourg.svg  Luxembourg  (LUX)1001
13Flag of Germany.svg  Germany  (GER)0358
14Flag of France.svg  France  (FRA)0202
15Flag of the United Kingdom (3-2).svg  Great Britain  (GBR)0145
16Flag of Argentina (1861-2010).svg  Argentina  (ARG)0101
Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands  (NED)0101
Civil Ensign of Switzerland (Pantone).svg  Switzerland  (SUI)0101
19Flag of Finland.svg  Finland  (FIN)0011
Flag of Venezuela (1930-1954).svg  Venezuela  (VEN)0011
Totals (20 entries)33333399

Participating nations

A total of 57 nations participated in the different Athletics events at the 1952 Summer Olympics.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Summer Olympic Games</span> Major international multi-sport event

The Summer Olympic Games, also known as the Games of the Olympiad, is a major international multi-sport event normally held once every four years. The inaugural Games took place in 1896 in Athens, Greece, and the most recent was held in 2024 in Paris, France. This was the first international multi-sport event of its kind, organized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) founded by Pierre de Coubertin. The tradition of awarding medals began in 1904; in each Olympic event, gold medals are awarded for first place, silver medals for second place, and bronze medals for third place. The Winter Olympic Games were created out of the success of the Summer Olympic Games, which are regarded as the largest and most prestigious multi-sport international event in the world.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1980 Summer Olympics</span> Multi-sport event in Moscow, Russia

The 1980 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXII Olympiad and officially branded as Moscow 1980, were an international multi-sport event held from 19 July to 3 August 1980 in Moscow, Soviet Union, in present-day Russia. The games were the first to be staged in an Eastern Bloc country, as well as the first Olympic Games and only Summer Olympics to be held in a Slavic language-speaking country. They were also the only Summer Olympic Games to be held in a self-proclaimed communist country until the 2008 Summer Olympics held in China. These were the final Olympic Games under the IOC Presidency of Michael Morris, 3rd Baron Killanin before he was succeeded by Juan Antonio Samaranch, a Spaniard, shortly afterwards.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1956 Summer Olympics</span> Multi-sport event in Melbourne, Australia

The 1956 Summer Olympics, officially the Games of the XVI Olympiad and officially branded as Melbourne 1956, were an international multi-sport event held in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, from 22 November to 8 December 1956, with the exception of the equestrian events, which were held in Stockholm, Sweden, in June 1956.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1952 Summer Olympics</span> Multi-sport event in Helsinki, Finland

The 1952 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XV Olympiad, and commonly known as Helsinki 1952 were an international multi-sport event held from 19 July to 3 August 1952 in Helsinki, Finland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Athletics at the 2000 Summer Olympics</span> Sports events in Sydney, Australia

At the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, 46 events in athletics were contested, 24 for men and 22 for women. There were a total number of 2,134 participating athletes from 193 countries.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Athletics at the 1996 Summer Olympics</span>

At the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, 44 events in athletics were contested. There were a total number of 2053 participating athletes from 191 countries.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Athletics at the 1992 Summer Olympics</span>

At the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, 43 events in athletics were contested, 24 events by men and 19 by women. The competition ran from July 31, 1992, to August 9, 1992. Fourteen world record-holders were among the contenders. Thirty former Olympic champions competed, and a total number of 1725 athletes from 156 countries.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Swimming at the 2000 Summer Olympics</span>

The swimming competitions at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney took place from 16 to 23 September 2000 at the Sydney International Aquatic Centre in Homebush Bay. It featured 32 events, and a total of 954 swimmers from 150 nations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Athletics at the 2004 Summer Olympics</span>

At the 2004 Summer Olympics, the athletics events were held at the Athens Olympic Stadium from August 18 to August 29, except for the marathons, the race walks, and the shot put. A total of 46 events were contested, of which 24 by male and 22 by female athletes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United States at the Olympics</span> Sporting event delegation

The United States of America has sent athletes to every celebration of the modern Olympic Games with the exception of the 1980 Summer Olympics, during which it led a boycott in protest of the Soviet Union's invasion of Afghanistan. The United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC) is the National Olympic Committee for the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1500 metres</span> Middle distance running event, "the metric mile"

The 1500 metres or 1,500-metre run is the foremost middle distance track event in athletics. The distance has been contested at the Summer Olympics since 1896 and the World Championships in Athletics since 1983. It is equivalent to 1.5 kilometers or approximately 1516 miles. The event is closely associated with its slightly longer cousin, the mile race, from which it derives its nickname "the metric mile".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2009 World Championships in Athletics</span> 2009 edition of the World Championships in Athletics

The 12th IAAF World Championships in Athletics were held in Berlin, Germany from 15 to 23 August 2009. The majority of events took place in the Olympiastadion, while the marathon and racewalking events started and finished at the Brandenburg Gate.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Australia at the Paralympics</span> Sporting event delegation

Australia has participated officially in every Paralympic Games since its inauguration in 1960 with the exception of the 1976 Winter Paralympics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Athletics at the 2010 Summer Youth Olympics</span>

At the 2010 Summer Youth Olympics, 36 athletics events were contested – 18 for boys and 18 for girls – on 17–19 and 21–23 August 2010. The events took place in Bishan Stadium, Singapore. Athletes born between January 1, 1993, and December 31, 1994, were eligible to compete. Continents selected their athletes through Youth Continental Championships.

The 2000 Oceania Athletics Championships were held at the Santos Stadium in Adelaide, Australia, between August 24–26, 2000.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2015 Oceania Athletics Championships</span> International athletics championship event

The 2015 Oceania Athletics Championships were held at Barlow Park in Cairns, Australia, between May 8–10, 2015. The event was held jointly with the 2015 Oceania Youth Athletics Championships and the 2015 Oceania Combined Events Championships. Moreover, there were also exhibition events for masters and athletes with a disability (parasports), as well as school events for age groups 5 to 15 years. Detailed reports on a day by day basis were given.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2017 World Para Athletics Championships</span> Paralympic track and field event

The 2017 World Para Athletics Championships were a Paralympic track and field meet organized by World Para Athletics, a subcommittee of the International Paralympic Committee. It was held at London Stadium in London from 14 to 23 July 2017. It was the 8th edition of the event, the first to be held after being renamed from IPC Athletics World Championship, and featured 213 medal events.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Athletics at the 2018 Summer Youth Olympics</span>

Athletics at the 2018 Summer Youth Olympics was held from 11 to 16 October. The events took place at the Parque Olímpico de la Juventud in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Athletics at the 2020 Summer Paralympics</span>

Athletics at the 2020 Summer Paralympics were held in the National Stadium in Tokyo. There was 167 medal events: 93 for men, 73 for women and one mixed event. It was the largest contest of the Games programme regarding athlete numbers and medal events to be scheduled.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Athletics at the 2022 Commonwealth Games</span> Event at the 2022 Commonwealth Games

Athletics was one of the core sports that was held at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, England. As a founding sport, athletics had appeared consistently since its introduction at the 1911 Inter-Empire Games, the recognized precursor to the Commonwealth Games.

References