Liechtenstein at the 1948 Summer Olympics

Liechtenstein at the 1948 Summer Olympics
IOC code	LIE
NOC	Liechtenstein Olympic Committee
Website	www.olympic.li  (in German and English)
in London, Great Britain July 29–August 14, 1948
Competitors	2 in 1 sport
Medals	Gold 0 Silver 0 Bronze 0 Total 0
Summer Olympics appearances (overview)
1936 1948 1952 1956 1960 1964 1968 1972 1976 1980 1984 1988 1992 1996 2000 2004 2008 2012 2016 2020 2024

Liechtenstein competed at the 1948 Summer Olympics in London, United Kingdom, which was held from 29 July to 14 August 1948. This was the country's second appearance in a Summer Olympic Games, following their debut at the 1936 edition in Berlin. Liechtenstein's delegation consisted of two male competitors: Gebhard Büchel and Josef Seger, who both competed in the men's decathlon event. Neither competitor finished the event, and thus the country failed to win any medals in this Games appearance.

Background

The formation of the Liechtenstein Olympic Committee began in 1934 at the behest of Baron Eduard von Falz-Fein, who had visited Lausanne and was asked by the President of the Swiss Olympic Association why Liechtenstein didn't have a committee. ^[1] The Committee was officially founded in 1935 ^[2] and recognised by the International Olympic Committee in the same year. ^[3] Liechtenstein made their Olympics debut at the 1936 Winter Olympics in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany, and their Summer Olympics debut a few months later in Berlin, Germany. ^[4]

The 1948 Summer Olympics were the first Summer Olympics held since the 1940 and 1944 editions were cancelled due to World War II. ^[5] The Games took place in London, Great Britain, and were held from 29 July to 14 August 1948. The London Games hosted 4,104 athletes in 139 different events from 59 countries. ^[6]

At the Games, Peter Casson and P. Lubbock served as the nation's attachés. ^[7] Liechtenstein were housed in Uxbridge with 13 other delegations, including hosts Great Britain. ^[8]

Athletics

Main article: Athletics at the 1948 Summer Olympics

Both of Liechtenstein's athletes competed in the men's decathlon event at the Games. Gebhard Büchel previously competed at the men's decathlon event at the 1946 European Athletics Championships in Oslo, Norway. ^[9] At the Games, Büchel posted a time of 12.7 seconds in the 100 metre dash, 5.55 metres in the long jump, 10.36 metres in the shot put, and 1.4 metres in the high jump before retiring from the competition. Based on those times, distances, and heights, Büchel compiled a total of 1,766 points before bowing out. ^{[10] [11]} Josef Seger was a student in London studying language at the time. ^[12] Seger finished with a 12.3-second 100 metre time, 5.945 metres in the long jump, 9.4 metres in the shot put, 1.65 metres in the high jump, 55.7 seconds in the 400 metre dash, 18.7 seconds in the 110 metre hurdles, and 28.6 metres in the discus throw before retiring from the competition early. He finished with 3,579 points. ^{[10] [11]}

Combined event – Men's decathlon

Athlete	Event	100 m	LJ	SP	HJ	400 m	110H	DT	PV	JT	1500 m	Final	Rank
Gebhard Büchel	Result	12.7	5.55	10.36	1.40	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	DNF
	Points	464	457	477	368	–	–	–	–	–	–
Josef Seger	Result	12.30	5.945	9.40	1.65	55.70	18.70	28.60	–	–	–	–	DNF
	Points	536	543	398	616	597	485	404	–	–	–

References

Citations

1. Longman, Jeré (12 October 2017). "A Seat Near Hitler, and Other Olympic Tales From the Baron, 105". The New York Times . Retrieved 5 April 2025.
2. Meinhardt, Gunnar (2018). "The Oldest Olympic Witness" (PDF). Journal of Olympic History . 1: 28. Retrieved 5 April 2025.
3. "Liechtenstein". Olympics. International Olympic Committee . Retrieved 5 April 2025.
4. "Liechtenstein (LIE)". Olympedia . OlyMADMen. Retrieved 5 April 2025.
5. Zarnowski, C. Frank. "A Look at Olympic Costs" (PDF). Journal of Olympic History : 22. Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 May 2008. Retrieved 5 April 2025.
6. "London 1948". Olympics. International Olympic Committee. Retrieved 14 March 2025.
7. The Official Report of the Organising Committee for the XIV Olympiad 1948 , p. 33
8. The Official Report of the Organising Committee for the XIV Olympiad 1948 , p. 160
9. "Gebhard Büchel". Olympics. International Olympic Committee . Retrieved 6 February 2025.
10. The Official Report of the Organising Committee for the XIV Olympiad 1948 , p. 274–276
11. "Decathlon, Men". Olympedia . OlyMADMen. Retrieved 7 April 2025.
12. Tchir, Paul. "More 1948 Olympic Mysteries". OlympStats. Retrieved 7 April 2025.

Sources

• The Official Report of the Organising Committee for the XIV Olympiad (PDF), London: The Organising Committee for the XIV Olympiad, 1948, archived from the original (PDF) on 27 July 2011