United States at the 1948 Summer Olympics

United States at the 1948 Summer Olympics
Flag of the United States
IOC code	USA
NOC	United States Olympic Committee
in London
Competitors	300 (262 men and 38 women) in 19 sports
Flag bearer	Ralph Craig
Medals Ranked 1st	Gold 38 Silver 27 Bronze 19 Total 84
Summer Olympics appearances (overview)
1896 1900 1904 1908 1912 1920 1924 1928 1932 1936 1948 1952 1956 1960 1964 1968 1972 1976 1980 1984 1988 1992 1996 2000 2004 2008 2012 2016 2020 2024
Other related appearances
1906 Intercalated Games

The United States competed at the 1948 Summer Olympics in London, England, United Kingdom. 300 competitors, 262 men and 38 women, took part in 126 events in 19 sports. ^[1]

Medalists

Medal	Name	Sport	Event	Date
Gold	Harrison Dillard	Athletics	Men's 100 metres	July 31
Gold	Roy Cochran		Men's 400 metres hurdles
Gold	Willie Steele		Men's long jump
Gold	Wally Ris	Swimming	Men's 100 metre freestyle
Gold	Glen Brand	Wrestling	Men's freestyle middleweight
Gold	Henry Wittenberg		Men's freestyle light heavyweight
Gold	Mal Whitfield	Athletics	Men's 800 metres	August 2
Gold	Guinn Smith		Men's pole vault
Gold	Mel Patton		Men's 200 metres	August 3
Gold	Wilbur Thompson		Men's shot put
Gold	Bruce Harlan	Diving	Men's 3 metre springboard
Gold	Vicki Draves		Women's 3 metre springboard
Gold	Arthur Cook	Shooting	Men's 50 metre rifle prone
Gold	Jimmy McLane Wally Ris Bill Smith Wally Wolf	Swimming	Men's 4 × 200 metre freestyle relay
Gold	William Porter	Athletics	Men's 110 metres hurdles	August 4
Gold	Bill Smith	Swimming	Men's 400 metre freestyle
Gold	Sammy Lee	Diving	Men's 10 metre platform	August 5
Gold	Bob Mathias	Athletics	Men's decathlon	August 6
Gold	Vicki Draves	Diving	Women's 10 metre platform
Gold	Allen Stack	Swimming	Men's 100 metre backstroke
Gold	Marie Corridon Ann Curtis Brenda Helser Thelma Kalama		Women's 4 × 100 metre freestyle relay
Gold	Harrison Dillard Barney Ewell Mel Patton Lorenzo Wright	Athletics	Men's 4 × 100 metres relay	August 7
Gold	Cliff Bourland Roy Cochran Arthur Harnden Mal Whitfield		Men's 4 × 400 metres relay
Gold	Alice Coachman		Women's high jump
Gold	Jimmy McLane	Swimming	Men's 1500 metre freestyle
Gold	Joe Verdeur		Men's 200 metre breaststroke
Gold	Ann Curtis		Women's 400 metre freestyle
Gold	Gordon Giovanelli Bob Martin Allen Morgan Warren Westlund Bob Will	Rowing	Men's coxed four	August 9
Gold	George Ahlgren David Brown Lloyd Butler James Hardy Justus Smith John Stack David Turner Ian Turner		Men's eight
Gold	Joseph DePietro	Weightlifting	Men's 56 kg
Gold	Frank Spellman		Men's 75 kg	August 10
Gold	Steven Lysak Stephen Macknowski	Canoeing	Men's C-2 10000 metres	August 11
Gold	Stanley Stanczyk	Weightlifting	Men's 82.5 kg
Gold	John Davis		Men's +82.5 kg
Gold	Hilary Smart Paul Smart	Sailing	Star	August 12
Gold	Alfred Loomis Michael Mooney James H. Smith Jr. James Weekes Herman Whiton		6 Metre
Gold	Charles Anderson Frank Henry Earl Foster Thomson	Equestrian	Team eventing	August 13
Gold	United States men's national basketball team Cliff Barker Don Barksdale Ralph Beard Lew Beck Vince Boryla Gordon Carpenter Alex Groza Wallace Jones Bob Kurland Ray Lumpp R. C. Pitts Jesse Renick Jackie Robinson Kenny Rollins	Basketball	Men's tournament	August 14
Silver	Barney Ewell	Athletics	Men's 100 metres	July 31
Silver	Alan Ford	Swimming	Men's 100 metre freestyle
Silver	Gerald Leeman	Wrestling	Men's freestyle bantamweight
Silver	Ann Curtis	Swimming	Women's 100 metre freestyle	August 2
Silver	Barney Ewell	Athletics	Men's 200 metres	August 3
Silver	Jim Delaney		Men's shot put
Silver	Miller Anderson	Diving	Men's 3 metre springboard
Silver	Zoe Ann Olsen		Women's 3 metre springboard
Silver	Walter Tomsen	Shooting	Men's 50 metre rifle prone
Silver	Clyde Scott	Athletics	Men's 110 metres hurdles	August 4
Silver	Steve Seymour		Men's javelin throw
Silver	George Moore	Modern pentathlon	Men's competition
Silver	Jimmy McLane	Swimming	Men's 400 metre freestyle
Silver	Bruce Harlan	Diving	Men's 10 metre platform	August 5
Silver	Suzanne Zimmerman	Swimming	Women's 100 metre backstroke
Silver	Patsy Elsener	Diving	Women's 10 metre platform	August 6
Silver	Bob Cowell	Swimming	Men's 100 metre backstroke
Silver	Keith Carter		Men's 200 metre breaststroke	August 7
Silver	Robert Borg Earl Foster Thomson Frank Henry	Equestrian	Team dressage	August 9
Silver	Pete George	Weightlifting	Men's 75 kg	August 10
Silver	Frank Havens	Canoeing	Men's C-1 10000 metres	August 11
Silver	Harold Sakata	Weightlifting	Men's 82.5 kg
Silver	Norbert Schemansky		Men's +82.5 kg
Silver	Steven Lysak Stephen Macknowski	Canoeing	Men's C-2 1000 metres	August 12
Silver	Ralph Evans	Sailing	Firefly
Silver	Hank Herring	Boxing	Welterweight	August 13
Silver	Frank Henry	Equestrian	Individual eventing
Bronze	George Stanich	Athletics	Men's high jump	July 30
Bronze	Herb Douglas		Men's long jump	July 31
Bronze	Robert Bennett		Men's hammer throw
Bronze	Leland Merrill	Wrestling	Men's freestyle welterweight
Bronze	Bob Richards	Athletics	Men's pole vault	August 2
Bronze	Fortune Gordien		Men's discus throw
Bronze	Jim Fuchs		Men's shot put	August 3
Bronze	Sammy Lee	Diving	Men's 3 metre springboard
Bronze	Patsy Elsener		Women's 3 metre springboard
Bronze	Craig Dixon	Athletics	Men's 110 metres hurdles	August 4
Bronze	Mal Whitfield		Men's 400 metres	August 5
Bronze	Floyd Simmons		Men's decathlon	August 6
Bronze	Audrey Patterson		Women's 200 metres
Bronze	Bob Sohl	Swimming	Men's 200 metre breaststroke	August 7
Bronze	Greg Gates Stu Griffing Fred Kingsbury Robert Perew	Rowing	Men's coxless four	August 9
Bronze	Richard Tom	Weightlifting	Men's 56 kg
Bronze	Miguel de Capriles Dean Cetrulo Norman C. Armitage James Flynn Tibor Nyilas George Worth	Fencing	Men's team sabre	August 11
Bronze	Lockwood Pirie Owen Torrey	Sailing	Swallow	August 12
Bronze	Ladislava Bakanic Marian Barone Dorothy Dalton Meta Elste Consetta Lenz Helen Schifano Clara Schroth Anita Simonis	Gymnastics	Women's artistic team all-around	August 14

Athletics

Main article: Athletics at the 1948 Summer Olympics

By winning the women's high jump, Alice Coachman became the first black woman to clinch an Olympic gold medal. ^[2]

Basketball

Main article: Basketball at the 1948 Summer Olympics

Boxing

Main article: Boxing at the 1948 Summer Olympics

Canoeing

Main article: Canoeing at the 1948 Summer Olympics

Cycling

Main article: Cycling at the 1948 Summer Olympics

Nine cyclists represented the United States in 1948.

Individual road race

• Frank Brilando
• Ed Lynch
• Chester Nelsen
• Wendell Rollins

Team road race

• Frank Brilando
• Ed Lynch
• Chester Nelsen
• Wendell Rollins

Sprint

• Jack Heid

Time trial

• Jack Heid

Tandem

• Marvin Thomson
• Al Stiller

Team pursuit

• Al Stiller
• Thomas Montemage
• Ted Smith

Diving

Main article: Diving at the 1948 Summer Olympics

Men

Athlete	Event	Final
		Points	Rank
Miller Anderson	3 m springboard	157.29
Bruce Harlan		163.64
Sammy Lee		145.52
Bruce Harlan	10 m platform	122.30
Sammy Lee		130.05

Women

Athlete	Event	Final
		Points	Rank
Vicki Draves	3 m springboard	108.74
Patsy Elsener		101.30
Zoe Ann Olsen-Jensen		108.23
Vicki Draves	10 m platform	68.87
Patsy Elsener		66.28
Juno Stover-Irwin		62.63	5

Equestrian

Main article: Equestrian at the 1948 Summer Olympics

Fencing

Main article: Fencing at the 1948 Summer Olympics

20 fencers represented the United States in 1948.

Men's foil

• Dean Cetrulo
• Silvio Giolito
• Nathaniel Lubell

Men's team foil

• Daniel Bukantz, Dean Cetrulo, Dernell Every, Silvio Giolito, Nate Lubell, Austin Prokop

Men's épée

• Norman Lewis
• Joe de Capriles
• Albert Wolff

Men's team épée

• Norman Lewis, Andrew Boyd, Joe de Capriles, Donald Thompson, Albert Wolff, Ralph Goldstein

Men's sabre

• George Worth
• Tibor Nyilas
• Dean Cetrulo

Men's team sabre

• Norman Cohn-Armitage, George Worth, Tibor Nyilas, Dean Cetrulo, Miguel de Capriles, James Flynn

Women's foil

• Maria Cerra
• Jan York-Romary
• Helena Dow

Football

Main article: Football at the 1948 Summer Olympics

Results

U.S. 0–9 Italy

Roster

• Robert Annis
• Walter Bahr
• Raymond Beckman
• Bill Bertani
• Charlie Colombo
• Joe Ferreira
• Steve Grivnow
• Manuel Martin
• Benny McLaughlin
• Gino Pariani
• Joseph Rego-Costa
• Archie Strimel
• Ed Souza
• John Souza
• Rolf Valtin

Gymnastics

Main article: Gymnastics at the 1948 Summer Olympics

Hockey

Main article: Field hockey at the 1948 Summer Olympics

Head coach: Henry Goode as playing manager and Kurt Orban as playing coach.

No.	Pos.	Player	DoB	Age	Caps	Club	Tournament games	Tournament goals
	HB	Donald Buck	September 26, 1916	31	?	Mt. Washington Club	2	0
		Hughes Cauffman			October 29, 1916		0	0
	FW	Claus Gerson	November 12, 1917	30	?	New York Tennis and Hockey Club	3	0
	FW	Henry Goode	June 7, 1918	30	?		1	0
	FW	Frederick Hewitt	September 16, 1916	31	?	Mt. Washington Club	2	1
	HB	William Kurtz	December 18, 1917	30	?	Philadelphia Field Hockey Association	2	0
	HB	Hendrick Lubbers	December 30, 1926	21	?		3	0
	FW	Harry Marcoplos	January 28, 1926	22	?	Baltimore Field Hockey Club	3	0
	FW	Kurt Orban	August 6, 1916	31	?	Downtown Athletic Club	3	0
	B	John Renwick	May 13, 1921	27	?	Rye Field Hockey Club	3	0
		Phillip Schoettle			?		0	0
	HB	Sanders Sims	June 1, 1921	26	?	Philadelphia Hockey and Tennis Club	1	0
	GK	John Slade	May 30, 1908	40	?	Westchester Field Hockey Club	2	0
	B	Walter Stude	December 3, 1913	34	?	Baltimore Field Hockey Club	3	0
	FW/HB/GK	Felix Ucko	January 4, 1919	32	?	New York Field Hockey Club	3	0
	FW	William Wilson	October 26, 1917	30	?	Westchester Field Hockey Club	2	0

Felix Ucko played a different position in every match.

Modern pentathlon

Main article: Modern pentathlon at the 1948 Summer Olympics

Three pentathletes represented the United States in 1948.

• George Moore
• Richard Gruenther
• Hale Baugh

Rowing

Main article: Rowing at the 1948 Summer Olympics

The United States had 26 rowers participate in all seven rowing events in 1948. ^[3]

Men's single sculls

• John B. Kelly Jr.

Men's double sculls

• Joe Angyal
• Arthur Gallagher

Men's coxless pair

• John Wade
• Ralph Stephan

Men's coxed pair

• Vincent Deeney
• Joseph Toland
• John McIntyre (cox)

Men's coxless four

• Fred Kingsbury
• Stu Griffing
• Greg Gates
• Robert Perew

Men's coxed four

• Warren Westlund
• Bob Martin
• Bob Will
• Gordy Giovanelli
• Allen Morgan (cox)

Men's eight

• Ian Turner
• David Turner
• James Hardy
• George Ahlgren
• Lloyd Butler
• David Brown
• Justus Smith
• John Stack
• Ralph Purchase (cox)

Sailing

Main article: Sailing at the 1948 Summer Olympics

Shooting

Main article: Shooting at the 1948 Summer Olympics

Twelve shooters represented the United States in 1948. In the 50 metre rifle event, Art Cook won gold and Walter Tomsen won silver.

25 metre pistol

• Bob Chow
• Philip Roettinger
• John Layton

50 metre pistol

• Joe Benner
• Walter Walsh
• Quentin Brooks

300 metre rifle

• Emmett Swanson
• Art Jackson
• Frank Parsons, Jr.

50 metre rifle

• Art Cook
• Walter Tomsen
• Harry Cail

Swimming

Main article: Swimming at the 1948 Summer Olympics

Men

Athlete	Event	Heat		Semifinal		Final
		Time	Rank	Time	Rank	Time	Rank
Keith Carter	100 m freestyle	58.7	1 Q*	57.6	1 Q*	58.3	4
Alan Ford		59.2	1 Q*	57.8	2 Q*	57.8
Wally Ris		58.1	1 Q*	57.5 = OR	1 Q*	57.3 OR
Bill Heusner	400 m freestyle	4:58.3	10 Q	4:57.4	9	Did not advance
Jimmy McLane		4:42.2 OR	1 Q	4:49.5	3 Q	4:43.4
Bill Smith		4:45.3	2 Q	4:48.4	2 Q	4:41.0 OR
Bill Heusner	1500 m freestyle	20:29.6	11 Q	20:23.9	8 q	20:45.4	8
Jimmy McLane		20:17.7	6 Q	19:52.2	1 Q	19:18.5
Forbes Norris		20:21.0	10 Q	20:09.3	5 Q	20:18.8	6
Bob Cowell	100 m backstroke	1:06.9	1 Q*	1:08.5	1 Q*	1:06.5
Howard Patterson		1:09.3	2 Q*	1:09.9	4*	Did not advance
Allen Stack		1:06.6	1 Q*	1:07.3	1 Q*	1:06.4
Keith Carter	200 m breaststroke	2:46.3	4 Q	2:43.0	2 Q	2:40.2
Bob Sohl		2:44.9	2 Q	2:44.4	5 Q	2:43.9
Joe Verdeur		2:40.0	1 Q	2:40.7	1 Q	2:39.3 OR
Wally Ris Wally Wolf Jimmy McLane Bill Smith Bob Gibe William Dudley Edwin Gilbert Eugene R. Rogers	4 × 200 m freestyle relay	8:55.9	2 Q*	—		8:46.0 OR

*Ranks given are within the heat.

Women

Athlete	Event	Heat		Semifinal		Final
		Time	Rank	Time	Rank	Time	Rank
Marie Corridon	100 m freestyle	1:08.4	9 Q	1:08.9	9	Did not advance
Ann Curtis		1:06.9	2 Q	1:07.6	3 Q	1:06.5
Brenda Helser		1:09.0	13 Q	1:10.0	16	Did not advance
Ann Curtis	400 m freestyle	5:32.0	8 Q	5:26.4	3 Q	5:17.8 OR
Brenda Helser		5:30.0	5 Q	5:28.1	4 Q	5:26.0	5
Nancy Lees		5:29.6	4 Q	5:31.9	8 q	5:32.9	8
Barbara Jensen	100 m backstroke	1:18.8	11 Q	1:19.1	12	Did not advance
Muriel Mellon		1:18.7	8 Q	1:18.2	6 Q	1:19.0	7
Suzanne Zimmerman		1:16.8	3 Q	1:16.8	2 Q	1:16.0
Clara LaMore	200 m breaststroke	3:23.6	6*	Did not advance
Penny Pence		3:28.1	7*	Did not advance
Jeanne Wilson		3:18.3	7*	Did not advance
Marie Corridon Thelma Kalama Brenda Helser Ann Curtis	4 × 100 m freestyle relay	4:34.1	2*	—		4:29.2 OR

*Ranks given are within the heat.

Water polo

Main article: Water polo at the 1948 Summer Olympics

Weightlifting

Main article: Weightlifting at the 1948 Summer Olympics

Wrestling

Main article: Wrestling at the 1948 Summer Olympics

Art competitions

Main article: Art competitions at the 1948 Summer Olympics

References

1. "United States at the 1948 London Summer Games". sports-reference.com. Archived from the original on April 17, 2020. Retrieved June 21, 2010.
2. "Athletics at the 1948 London Summer Games: Women's High Jump". sports-reference.com. Archived from the original on April 17, 2020. Retrieved December 27, 2017.
3. Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "United States Rowing at the 1948 London Summer Games". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on April 17, 2020. Retrieved March 13, 2018.