Polo at the 1936 Summer Olympics

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Men's polo
at the Games of the XI Olympiad
Equipo argentino polo MO 1936.jpg
Argentina polo team, gold medal winner
Venue Olympiastadion
Dates3–8 August 1936
Competitors21 from 5 nations
Medalists
Gold medal icon.svgFlag of Argentina (1861-2010).svg  Argentina
Silver medal icon.svgFlag of the United Kingdom (3-2).svg  Great Britain
Bronze medal icon.svgFlag of Mexico (1934-1968).svg  Mexico
  1924

Polo returned to the Olympic program at the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin, after not being contested at the 1928 Games or 1932 Games. The 1936 tournament was the last time that the sport was contested at the Olympic Games. Argentina repeated as champions, winning gold medals in both of the Games in which the nation competed. Great Britain took silver; British polo players had earned medals in all five of the Olympic polo tournaments (including as members of mixed teams in 1900). Mexico took bronze, matching its previous performance in 1900.

Background

This was the fifth and final time that polo was played at the Olympics; the sport had previously appeared in 1900, 1908, 1920, and 1924. Each time, the tournament was for men only. For 72 years, polo had the distinction of being the last sport to be removed from the Olympic programme; baseball/softball took that position after the 2008 Games. [1]

Argentina and the United States were the top two polo-playing nations in the world. The 1924 Olympic tournament had come down to a 6–5 Argentine victory to determine the gold medal; the United States beat Argentina in 1928 and 1932 Copa de las Américas during years in which the sport was not contested at the Olympics. The Americans did not send a team to Berlin, leaving Argentina the heavy favorites at the 1936 Games. [1] Later that year, Argentina would take the Cup over the United States for the first time, in Meadow Brook Club, New York [3].

Germany and Hungary each made their debut in polo in 1936. Great Britain made its fifth appearance; it was the only nation to compete in all five editions of the Olympic polo tournament. Argentina and Mexico each made their second appearance.

Competition format

The tournament used an ad hoc format deliberately designed to create a final between the recognized strongest teams in the tournament, Argentina and Great Britain. The hosts, as well as Hungary, were not even given an opportunity to contend for the gold medal, with the teams separated into divisions. [2]

The first three matches were set to pit Mexico against first Great Britain and then Argentina in the top division, and Germany against Hungary in the lower division. If, as expected, Mexico lost both games, the match between Great Britain and Argentina would be the gold medal final. The winner between Germany and Hungary would play Mexico for the bronze medal. [1] [2]

Medalists

GoldSilverBronze
Flag of Argentina (1861-2010).svg  Argentina  (ARG)
Manuel Andrada
Roberto Cavanagh
Luis Duggan
Andrés Gazzotti
Flag of the United Kingdom (3-2).svg  Great Britain  (GBR)
David Dawnay
Bryan Fowler
Humphrey Patrick Guinness
William Hinde
Flag of Mexico (1934-1968).svg  Mexico  (MEX)
Juan Gracia
Julio Mueller
Antonio Nava
Alberto Ramos

Note: The International Olympic Committee medal database shows only these players as medalists. They all played at least one match during the tournament. The reserve players are not listed as medalists.

Participating nations

Each country was allowed to enter one team of 8 players and they all were eligible for participation.

A total of 21(*) polo players from 5 nations competed at the Berlin Games:

(*) NOTE: Only players who participated in at least one game are counted.

Only a few reserve players are known.

The organizers also invited United States and India, but those nations declined to send teams.

Polo at the 1936 Summer Olympics BASA-3K-15-385-1-1936 Summer Olympics.jpeg
Polo at the 1936 Summer Olympics

Results

Group A
Great Britain 13–11 Mexico
Argentina 15–5 Mexico
Group B
Hungary 8–8 Germany
Hungary 16–6 Germany
Bronze medal match
Mexico 16–2 Hungary
Final
Argentina 15–5 Great Britain

Summary

RankNation
Gold medal icon.svgFlag of Argentina (1861-2010).svg  Argentina  (ARG)
Luis Duggan
Roberto Cavanagh
Andrés Gazzotti
Manuel Andrada
Enrique J. Alberdi
Diego Cavanagh
Juan Nelson
Juan Jose Reynal
Silver medal icon.svgFlag of the United Kingdom (3-2).svg  Great Britain  (GBR)
Bryan Fowler
William Hinde
David Dawnay
Humphrey Guinness
Bronze medal icon.svgFlag of Mexico (1934-1968).svg  Mexico  (MEX)
Juan Gracia
Julio Mueller
Antonio Nava
Alberto Ramos
Alfinio Flores
Miguel Zabalgoitia
Antonio Pérez Ortega
4Flag of Hungary (1915-1918, 1919-1946; 3-2 aspect ratio).svg  Hungary  (HUN)
Kálmán Bartalis
István Bethlen
Tivadar Dienes-Öhm
Dezső Kovács
Imre Szentpály
5Flag of the German Reich (1935-1945).svg  Germany  (GER)
Heinrich Amsinck
Walter Bartram
Arthur Köser
Robert Miles Reincke
Erich Ottens

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References

  1. 1 2 3 "Polo, Men". Olympedia. Retrieved 13 April 2021.
  2. 1 2 Official Report, p. 1088.

3. https://www.lanacion.com.ar/deportes/polo/polo-la-gira-en-la-que-argentina-paso-a-ser-el-numero-1-del-mundo-en-los-juegos-olimpicos-de-berlin-nid30062023/