Swimming at the 1908 Summer Olympics – Men's 100 metre freestyle

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Men's 100 metre freestyle
at the Games of the IV Olympiad
London 1908 Swimming.jpg
Swimming at the 1908 Games
Venue White City Stadium
Dates17 July
20 July
Competitors34 from 12 nations
Winning time1:05.6 WR
Medalists
Gold medal icon.svg Charles Daniels
US flag 45 stars.svg  United States
Silver medal icon.svg Zoltán Halmay
Flag of Hungary (1867-1918).svg  Hungary
Bronze medal icon.svg Harald Julin
Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden
  1904
(100 yd)
1912  

The men's 100 metre freestyle was one of six swimming events on the swimming at the 1908 Summer Olympics programme. [1] It was the shortest of the three individual freestyle events, as the 50 yard freestyle had been dropped after its one appearance on the 1904 Summer Olympics programme. The 100 metre event was contested for the third time after it had been held at the 1896 and 1906 Olympics. The 1904 Olympics saw a 100-yard event. The competition was held on Friday 17 July 1908 and Monday 20 July 1908. Thirty-four swimmers from twelve nations competed. Each nation was limited to 12 swimmers. [2]

The event was won by Charles Daniels of the United States, the first time Hungary had been beaten in the event (excluding Intercalated Games). Zoltán Halmay of Hungary, the winner in 1900, finished second. Harald Julin's bronze was Sweden's first medal in the event.

These were the first Olympic Games in which a 100-metre pool had been especially constructed (inside the main stadium's track and field oval). Previous Olympic events were swum in open water (1896: The Mediterranean Sea, 1900: The Seine River, 1904: an artificial lake).[ citation needed ]

Background

This was the third appearance of the men's 100 metre freestyle (including the 100 yard event in 1904 but excluding the Intercalated Games in 1906). The event has been held at every Summer Olympics except 1900 (when the shortest freestyle was the 200 metres), though the 1904 version was measured in yards rather than metres. [3]

Two of the six finalists from 1904 returned: gold medalist Zoltán Halmay of Hungary and silver medalist Charles Daniels of the United States. Daniels had beaten Halmay at the 1906 Intercalated Games. Halmay held the world record.[ citation needed ]

Australasia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Great Britain, Italy, the Netherlands, and Sweden each made their debut in the event. Hungary and the United States each made their third appearance, having competed at each edition of the event to date.[ citation needed ]

Competition format

With a much larger field than in 1904, the 1908 competition expanded to three rounds: heats, semifinals, and a final. The 1908 Games also restored the wild-card system from 1900, allowing the fastest swimmers who did not win their heat to advance. The nine heats consisted of between 1 and 6 swimmers, with the winner of the heat advancing along with the fastest loser from across the heats (all tied swimmers advanced in the case of equal times). There were two semifinals, intended to be of 5 swimmers each but one of which actually had 6 due to a tie in the heats; the top 2 finishers in each semifinal (regardless of overall time) advanced to the 4-person final. [2]

Each race involved a single length of the 100 metre pool, with no turns. Any stroke could be used.

Records

These were the standing world and Olympic records (in minutes) prior to the 1908 Summer Olympics.

World Record1:05.8 Flag of Hungary (1848-1849, 1867-1869).svg Zoltán Halmay Vienna (AUT)3 December 1905
Olympic Record1:22.2 Flag of Hungary (1848-1849, 1867-1869).svg Alfréd Hajós Athens (GRE)11 April 1896 (NS)
1:13.0(*) Flag of the United States.svg Charles Daniels Athens (GRE)26 April 1906 (NS)
1:02.8(**) Flag of Hungary (1848-1849, 1867-1869).svg Zoltán Halmay St. Louis (USA)5 September 1904

(*) Intercalated Games

(**) 100 yards (91.44 m)

In the first heat Zoltán Halmay set a new Olympic record with 1:08.2. In the fifth heat Charles Daniels and in the seventh heat Wilfred Edwards equalized the standing world record of 1:05.8. Finally Charles Daniels set a new world record with 1:05.6 in the final.

Schedule

DateTimeRound
Friday, 17 July 190816:15Heats
Monday, 20 July 190811:00
14:30
Semifinals
Final

Results

Heats

The fastest swimmer in each heat and the fastest loser advanced. Because there was a tie for fastest loser, both men advanced. Thus, 11 swimmers qualified for the semifinals.

Heat 1

RankSwimmerNationTimeNotes
1 Zoltán Halmay Flag of Hungary (1867-1918).svg  Hungary 1:08.2Q, OR
2 Theodore Tartakover Flag of Australasian team for Olympic games.svg  Australasia Unknown
3–6 Davide Baiardo Flag of Italy (1861-1946).svg  Italy Unknown
Bouke Benenga Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands Unknown
Harald Klem Flag of Denmark.svg  Denmark Unknown
Herman Meyboom Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Belgium Unknown

Heat 2

RankSwimmerNationTimeNotes
1 Otto Scheff Flag of the Habsburg Monarchy.svg  Austria 1:11.8Q
2 Addin Tyldesley Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Great Britain 1:12.0q
3–5 Gérard Meister Flag of France.svg  France Unknown
József Munk Flag of Hungary (1867-1918).svg  Hungary Unknown
Conrad Trubenbach US flag 45 stars.svg  United States Unknown

Heat 3

RankSwimmerNationTimeNotes
1 Frank Beaurepaire Flag of Australasian team for Olympic games.svg  Australasia 1:11.6Q
2 Lambertus Benenga Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands 1:13.2
3–5 Robert Andersson Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden Unknown
Henrik Hajós Flag of Hungary (1867-1918).svg  Hungary Unknown
Poul Holm Flag of Denmark.svg  Denmark Unknown

Heat 4

RankSwimmerNationTimeNotes
1 Harald Julin Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden 1:12.0Q
2 John Derbyshire Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Great Britain 1:12.6
3–4 Victor Boin Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Belgium Unknown
Robert Foster US flag 45 stars.svg  United States Unknown
Gyula HornungFlag of Hungary (1867-1918).svg  Hungary DNS

Heat 5

RankSwimmerNationTimeNotes
1 Charles Daniels US flag 45 stars.svg  United States 1:05.8Q, =WR
2 József Ónody Flag of Hungary (1867-1918).svg  Hungary 1:13.2
3 George Innocent Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Great Britain Unknown
4–5 René André Flag of France.svg  France Unknown
Hjalmar Saxtorph Flag of Denmark.svg  Denmark Unknown

Heat 6

RankSwimmerNationTimeNotes
1 Harry Hebner US flag 45 stars.svg  United States 1:11.0Q
2 Paul Radmilovic Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Great Britain 1:12.0q
3–4 Edward Cooke Flag of Australasian team for Olympic games.svg  Australasia Unknown
Fernand Feyaerts Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Belgium Unknown
Jenő Hégner-Tóth Flag of Hungary (1867-1918).svg  Hungary DNS

Heat 7

RankSwimmerNationTimeNotes
1 Wilfred Edwards Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Great Britain 1:05.8Q, =WR
2 Robert Zimmerman Canadian Red Ensign (1868-1921).svg  Canada 1:35.0
GentillyFlag of France.svg  France DNS
Géza Kiss Flag of Hungary (1867-1918).svg  Hungary DNS
Leo Goodwin US flag 45 stars.svg  United States DNS

Heat 8

Dockrell had no competition in the eighth heat.

RankSwimmerNationTimeNotes
1 George Dockrell Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Great Britain 1:13.2Q
Snowy Baker Flag of Australasian team for Olympic games.svg  Australasia DNS
Paul Vasseur Flag of France.svg  France DNS
Alajos BrucknerFlag of Hungary (1867-1918).svg  Hungary DNS
Ragnar LagergrenFlag of Sweden.svg  Sweden DNS

Heat 9

RankSwimmerNationTimeNotes
1 Leslie Rich US flag 45 stars.svg  United States 1:14.6Q
2 André Duprez Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Belgium 1:18.0
Sándor Ádám Flag of Hungary (1867-1918).svg  Hungary DNS
Lóránt AporFlag of Hungary (1867-1918).svg  Hungary DNS
Axel PerssonFlag of Sweden.svg  Sweden DNS

Semifinals

The fastest two swimmers from each semifinal advanced to the final.

Semifinal 1

RankSwimmerNationTimeNotes
1 Zoltán Halmay Flag of Hungary (1867-1918).svg  Hungary 1:09.4Q
2 Harald Julin Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden 1:10.2Q
3 Harry Hebner US flag 45 stars.svg  United States 1:11.8
4 Frank Beaurepaire Flag of Australasian team for Olympic games.svg  Australasia Unknown
5–6 Wilfred Edwards Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Great Britain Unknown
Paul Radmilovic Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Great Britain Unknown

Semifinal 2

RankSwimmerNationTimeNotes
1 Charles Daniels US flag 45 stars.svg  United States 1:10.2Q
2 Leslie Rich US flag 45 stars.svg  United States 1:10.8Q
3 George Dockrell Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Great Britain 1:11.4
4 Otto Scheff Flag of the Habsburg Monarchy.svg  Austria Unknown
5 Addin Tyldesley Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Great Britain Unknown

Final

Halmay started fast, leading for the first 30 metres until he was caught by Daniels. Daniels took a slight lead at the halfway mark and won by half a yard. [3] [4]

RankSwimmerNationTimeNotes
Gold medal icon.svg Charles Daniels US flag 45 stars.svg  United States 1:05.6 WR
Silver medal icon.svg Zoltán Halmay Flag of Hungary (1867-1918).svg  Hungary 1:06.2
Bronze medal icon.svg Harald Julin Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden 1:08.0
4 Leslie Rich US flag 45 stars.svg  United States Unknown

Results summary

RankSwimmerNationHeatsSemifinalsFinalNotes
Gold medal icon.svg Charles Daniels US flag 45 stars.svg  United States 1:05.81:10.21:05.6 WR
Silver medal icon.svg Zoltán Halmay Flag of Hungary (1867-1918).svg  Hungary 1:08.21:09.41:06.2
Bronze medal icon.svg Harald Julin Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden 1:12.01:10.21:08.0
4 Leslie Rich US flag 45 stars.svg  United States 1:14.61:10.8Unknown
5 George Dockrell Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Great Britain 1:13.21:11.4Did not advance
6 Harry Hebner US flag 45 stars.svg  United States 1:11.01:11.8Did not advance
7 Frank Beaurepaire Flag of Australasian team for Olympic games.svg  Australasia 1:11.6UnknownDid not advance4th in semifinal heat
Otto Scheff Flag of the Habsburg Monarchy.svg  Austria 1:11.8UnknownDid not advance4th in semifinal heat
9 Addin Tyldesley Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Great Britain 1:12.0UnknownDid not advance5th in semifinal heat
10 Wilfred Edwards Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Great Britain 1:05.8UnknownDid not advance5th or 6th in semifinal heat
Paul Radmilovic Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Great Britain 1:12.0UnknownDid not advance5th or 6th in semifinal heat
12 John Derbyshire Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Great Britain 1:12.6Did not advance
13 Lamme Benenga Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands 1:13.2Did not advance
József Ónody Flag of Hungary (1867-1918).svg  Hungary 1:13.2Did not advance
15 André Duprez Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Belgium 1:18.0Did not advance
16 Robert Zimmerman Canadian Red Ensign (1868-1921).svg  Canada 1:35.0Did not advance
17 Theodore Tartakover Flag of Australasian team for Olympic games.svg  Australasia UnknownDid not advance2nd in heat
18 George Innocent Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Great Britain UnknownDid not advance3rd in heat
19 Victor Boin Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Belgium UnknownDid not advance3rd or 4th in heat
Edward Cooke Flag of Australasian team for Olympic games.svg  Australasia UnknownDid not advance3rd or 4th in heat
Fernand Feyaerts Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Belgium UnknownDid not advance3rd or 4th in heat
Robert Foster US flag 45 stars.svg  United States UnknownDid not advance3rd or 4th in heat
23 Robert Andersson Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden UnknownDid not advance3rd to 5th in heat
Henrik Hajós Flag of Hungary (1867-1918).svg  Hungary UnknownDid not advance3rd to 5th in heat
Poul Holm Flag of Denmark.svg  Denmark UnknownDid not advance3rd to 5th in heat
Gérard Meister Flag of France.svg  France UnknownDid not advance3rd to 5th in heat
József Munk Flag of Hungary (1867-1918).svg  Hungary UnknownDid not advance3rd to 5th in heat
Conrad Trubenbach US flag 45 stars.svg  United States UnknownDid not advance3rd to 5th in heat
29 Davide Baiardo Flag of Italy (1861-1946).svg  Italy UnknownDid not advance3rd to 6th in heat
Bouke Benenga Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands UnknownDid not advance3rd to 6th in heat
Harald Klem Flag of Denmark.svg  Denmark UnknownDid not advance3rd to 6th in heat
Herman Meyboom Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Belgium UnknownDid not advance3rd to 6th in heat
33 René André Flag of France.svg  France UnknownDid not advance4th or 5th in heat
Hjalmar Saxtorph Flag of Denmark.svg  Denmark UnknownDid not advance4th or 5th in heat
Sándor Ádám Flag of Hungary (1867-1918).svg  Hungary DNSDid not advance
Snowy Baker Flag of Australasian team for Olympic games.svg  Australasia DNSDid not advance
Alajos BrucknerFlag of Hungary (1867-1918).svg  Hungary DNSDid not advance
GentillyFlag of France.svg  France DNSDid not advance
Leo Goodwin US flag 45 stars.svg  United States DNSDid not advance
Jenő Hégner-Tóth Flag of Hungary (1867-1918).svg  Hungary DNSDid not advance
Gyula HornungFlag of Hungary (1867-1918).svg  Hungary DNSDid not advance
Géza Kiss Flag of Hungary (1867-1918).svg  Hungary DNSDid not advance
Ragnar LagergrenFlag of Sweden.svg  Sweden DNSDid not advance
Lóránt AporFlag of Hungary (1867-1918).svg  Hungary DNSDid not advance
Axel PerssonFlag of Sweden.svg  Sweden DNSDid not advance
Paul Vasseur Flag of France.svg  France DNSDid not advance

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References

  1. "Swimming at the 1908 London Summer Games: Men's 100 metres Freestyle". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on 17 April 2020. Retrieved 28 August 2016.
  2. 1 2 Official Report, p. 571.
  3. 1 2 "100 metres Freestyle, Men". Olympedia. Retrieved 16 December 2020.
  4. Official Report, p. 299.

Sources