United States at the 1936 Summer Olympics

The United States took part in the 1936 Summer Olympics, which were held in Berlin, Germany. This was four years after the United States had hosted the 1932 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, California. The American team had 359 competitors, including 313 men and 46 women, who joined in 127 different events across 21 sports.

Even though they were competing in another country, the United States team did very well. They finished second in the medal count, right behind the host nation, Germany. This showed that many talented athletes from the United States were able to achieve great things on the world stage.

Medalists

Athletics

Men's events

• Archie Williams – Won 1 gold medal in the 400 m race.
• Jesse Owens – Won 4 gold medals in the 100 m race, the 200 m race, the long jump, and the 4 × 100 m relay team.
• John Woodruff – Won 1 gold medal in the 800 m race.
• Mack Robinson – Won 1 silver medal in the 200 m race.
• Ralph Metcalfe – Won 1 gold medal in the 4 × 100 m relay team and 1 silver medal in the 100 m race.
• James LuValle – Won 1 bronze medal in the 400 m race.
• Glenn Cunningham – Won 1 silver medal in the 1500 m race.
• Forrest Towns – Won 1 gold medal in the 110 m hurdles.
• Fritz Pollard – Won 1 bronze medal in the 110 m hurdles.
• Glenn Hardin – Won 1 gold medal in the 400 m hurdles.
• Foy Draper – Won 1 gold medal in the 4 × 100 m relay.
• Frank Wykoff – Won 1 gold medal in the 4 × 100 m relay.
• Eddie O'Brien – Won 1 silver medal in the 4 × 400 m relay.
• Harold Cagle – Won 1 silver medal in the 4 × 400 m relay.
• Robert Young – Won 1 silver medal in the 4 × 400 m relay.
• Alfred Fitch – Won 1 silver medal in the 4 × 400 m relay.
• Cornelius Johnson – Won 1 gold medal in the high jump.
• Dave Albritton – Won 1 silver medal in the high jump.
• Delos Thurber – Won 1 bronze medal in the high jump.
• Earle Meadows – Won 1 gold medal in the pole vault.
• Ken Carpenter – Won 1 gold medal in the discus.
• Gordon Dunn – Won 1 silver medal in the discus.
• Glenn Morris – Won 1 gold medal in the decathlon.
• Bob Clark – Won 1 silver medal in the decathlon.
• Jack Parker – Won 1 bronze medal in the decathlon.

Basketball

The men's basketball team won the gold medal. The players were as follows:

• Sam Balter
• Ralph Bishop
• Joe Fortenberry
• Tex Gibbons
• Francis Johnson
• Carl Knowles
• Frank Lubin
• Art Mollner
• Donald Piper
• Jack Ragland
• Willard Schmidt
• Carl Shy
• Duane Swanson
• Bill Wheatley

Boxing

• Jack Wilson – Won 1 silver medal in the bantamweight.
• Louis Laurie – Won 1 bronze medal in the flyweight.

Canoeing

• Ernest Riedel – Won 1 bronze medal in K1 10000 meters.

Football (soccer)

Results

• U.S. 0–1 Italy

Roster

• Charles Altemose
• Frank Bartkus
• Edward Begley
• Julius Chmielewski
• James Crockett
• William Fiedler
• Andrew Gajda
• Frank Greinert
• Fred Lutkefedder
• George Nemchik
• Peter Pietras
• Francis Ryan
• Fred Zbikowski
• Fritz Stoll
• Rob Denton

Rowing

The men's eight-man team won the gold medal. The team consisted of the following rowers:

• Herbert Morris
• Charles Day
• Gordon Adam
• John White
• James McMillin
• George Hunt
• Joe Rantz
• Don Hume
• Robert Moch

Women competitors

Athletics

• Helen Stephens – Won 2 gold medals in the 100 m race and the 4 × 100 m relay.
• Harriet Bland – Won 1 gold medal in the 4 × 100 m relay.
• Betty Robinson – Won 1 gold medal in the 4 × 100 m relay.
• Annette Rogers – Won 1 gold medal in the 4 × 100 m relay.

Swimming

Main article: Swimming at the 1936 Summer Olympics

• Famous swimmer Eleanor Holm was not able to compete due to a decision by leaders of the team. She had been a top athlete and had won gold in past Olympics. Her teammates tried to change the decision, but it was not successful. Years later, she shared her thoughts with a friend about her experiences.

Athletics

Main article: Athletics at the 1936 Summer Olympics

Three great runners from the United States took part in the athletics events at the 1936 Summer Olympics. Louis Zamperini ran the 5000-meter race, while Don Lash competed in both the 5000-meter and 10,000-meter events. Ellison Brown was the marathon runner for the U.S. team.

Basketball

Main article: Basketball at the 1936 Summer Olympics

The United States took part in the basketball events at the 1936 Summer Olympics held in Berlin, Germany. This was an important moment in the sport's history as teams from around the world came together to compete.

Boxing

Main article: Boxing at the 1936 Summer Olympics

The United States sent athletes to compete in boxing at the 1936 Summer Olympics held in Berlin, Germany. Boxing was one of the many sports where competitors from around the world showed their skills. The event included several weight classes, and athletes fought to win medals in their categories.

Canoeing

Main article: Canoeing at the 1936 Summer Olympics

The United States took part in canoeing events at the 1936 Summer Olympics held in Berlin, Germany. This sport involved racing in small boats along a course, and athletes from many countries competed to see who was the fastest.

Cycling

Main article: Cycling at the 1936 Summer Olympics

Six cyclists from the United States took part in the 1936 Summer Olympics. They competed in several cycling events, including the individual road race, team road race, sprint, time trial, tandem, and team pursuit.

Diving

Main article: Diving at the 1936 Summer Olympics

Men

Women

Equestrian

Main article: Equestrian at the 1936 Summer Olympics

The United States took part in the equestrian events at the 1936 Summer Olympics held in Berlin, Germany. This sport included various competitions where athletes rode horses to complete different tasks. The American team joined many other countries in showing their skills during these events.

Fencing

Main article: Fencing at the 1936 Summer Olympics

Twenty-two fencers from the United States took part in the fencing events at the 1936 Summer Olympics. They competed in several categories, including men's foil, men's team foil, men's épée, men's team épée, men's sabre, men's team sabre, and women's foil.

Football (soccer)

Main article: Football at the 1936 Summer Olympics

The United States took part in football (soccer) at the 1936 Summer Olympics held in Berlin, Germany. This was one of the sports where American athletes competed during the games.

Gymnastics

Main article: Gymnastics at the 1936 Summer Olympics

Sixteen gymnasts from the United States competed in the 1936 Summer Olympics — eight men and eight women.

The men's team included Frank Cumiskey, Kenny Griffin, Frank Haubold, Al Jochim, Fred Meyer, Chet Phillips, Artie Pitt, and George Wheeler.

The women's team had Jennie Caputo, Connie Caruccio-Lenz, Margaret Duff, Irma Haubold, Marie Kibler, Ada Lunardoni, Adelaide Meyer, and Mary Wright.

Handball

Main article: Handball at the 1936 Summer Olympics

The United States took part in handball during the 1936 Summer Olympics held in Berlin, Germany. This was one of the sports where athletes from many countries competed against each other.

Hockey

Main article: Field hockey at the 1936 Summer Olympics

The United States took part in field hockey at the 1936 Summer Olympics held in Berlin, Germany. This sport was one of the events where American athletes competed during the Games.

Modern pentathlon

Main article: Modern pentathlon at the 1936 Summer Olympics

Three athletes from the United States joined the competition in 1936. They were:

• Charles Leonard
• Alfred Starbird
• Frederick Weber

Rowing

Main article: Rowing at the 1936 Summer Olympics

The United States sent 26 rowers to compete in all seven rowing events at the 1936 Summer Olympics.

Men's single sculls

• Dan Barrow

Men's double sculls

• John Houser
• Bill Dugan

Men's coxless pair

• Harry Sharkey
• George Dahm

Men's coxed pair

• Tom Curran
• Joe Dougherty
• George Loveless (cox)

Men's coxless four

• James Thomson
• Eugene Fruehauf
• George Hague
• Alfred Sapecky

Men's coxed four

• William Haskins
• Roger W. Cutler Jr.
• Paul Austin
• Robert B. Cutler
• Edward Bennett (cox)

Men's eight

• Herbert Morris
• Charles Day
• Gordon Adam
• John White
• James McMillin
• George Hunt
• Joe Rantz
• Don Hume
• Robert Moch (cox)

Sailing

Main article: Sailing at the 1936 Summer Olympics

Two American athletes, William G. Waterhouse and Woody Metcalf, competed in the 2-person Keelboat, open event using a Star Class boat.

Shooting

Main article: Shooting at the 1936 Summer Olympics

Six shooters represented the United States in 1936.

25 m rapid fire pistol

• Ingals Fisher
• Morris Doob
• Dean Hudnutt

50 m pistol

• Elliott Jones
• William Riedell
• Ralph Marshall

Swimming

Main article: Swimming at the 1936 Summer Olympics

In the 1936 Summer Olympics held in Berlin, Germany, the United States took part in swimming events. Many talented swimmers from the U.S. competed in both men's and women's categories. Some swimmers reached the semifinals but did not win medals.

*Swimmers who participated in the semifinals only and did not receive medals.

*Swimmers who participated in the semifinals only and did not receive medals.

Water polo

Main article: Water polo at the 1936 Summer Olympics

The United States took part in the water polo events at the 1936 Summer Olympics held in Berlin, Germany. This sport involved teams trying to throw a ball into the other team’s goal. The American team competed against other countries, showcasing their skills in this exciting water sport.

Weightlifting

Main article: Weightlifting at the 1936 Summer Olympics

The United States sent athletes to compete in weightlifting at the 1936 Summer Olympics held in Berlin, Germany. This event tested strength and skill in lifting heavy weights. Many countries participated, and athletes from the U.S. joined in to try for medals.

Wrestling

Main article: Wrestling at the 1936 Summer Olympics

In the 1936 Summer Olympics held in Berlin, Germany, wrestling was one of the sports where athletes from many countries, including the United States, competed. The event featured different styles of wrestling, and athletes worked hard to win medals in front of crowds and judges.

Art competitions

Main article: Art competitions at the 1936 Summer Olympics

The 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin, Germany, included special events for artists. These art competitions let artists show their work inspired by sports and the Olympic Games. Different kinds of art were allowed, such as paintings, sculptures, and architectural designs. This was a way to celebrate creativity along with athletic achievements during the Olympics.