United States at the 1920 Summer Olympics


The United States competed at the 1920 Summer Olympics in Antwerp, Belgium. 288 competitors, 274 men and 14 women, took part in 113 events in 18 sports.

Medalists

Further information: 1920 Summer Olympics medal table
MedalNameSportEvent
Charles PaddockAthleticsMen's 100 m
Morris KirkseyAthleticsMen's 100 m
Allen WoodringAthleticsMen's 200 m
Charles PaddockAthleticsMen's 200 m
Earl EbyAthleticsMen's 800 m
Lawrence ShieldsAthleticsMen's 1500 m
Harold BarronAthleticsMen's 110 m hurdles
Feg MurrayAthleticsMen's 110 m hurdles
Frank LoomisAthleticsMen's 400 m hurdles
John NortonAthleticsMen's 400 m hurdles
August DeschAthleticsMen's 400 m hurdles
Patrick FlynnAthleticsMen's 3000 m steeplechase

Charles Paddock
Jackson Scholz
Lorin Murchison
Morris Kirksey		AthleticsMen's 4 × 100 m relay

Horace Brown
Arlie Schardt
Ivan Dresser		AthleticsMen's 3000 m team race
Richard RemerAthleticsMen's 3 km walk
Joseph PearmanAthleticsMen's 10 km walk
Carl JohnsonAthleticsMen's long jump
Richmond LandonAthleticsMen's high jump
Harold MullerAthleticsMen's high jump
Frank FossAthleticsMen's pole vault
Edwin MyersAthleticsMen's pole vault
Harry LiversedgeAthleticsMen's shot put
Gus PopeAthleticsMen's discus throw
Patrick RyanAthleticsMen's hammer throw
Basil BennettAthleticsMen's hammer throw
Pat McDonaldAthleticsMen's 56 lb weight throw
Patrick RyanAthleticsMen's 56 lb weight throw
Everett BradleyAthleticsMen's pentathlon
Brutus HamiltonAthleticsMen's decathlon
United States men's rugby team RugbyMen's rugby union
Frankie GenaroBoxingMen's flyweight
Samuel MosbergBoxingMen's lightweight
Frederick ColbergBoxingMen's welterweight
Eddie EaganBoxingMen's light heavyweight
Louis KuehnDivingMen's 3 m springboard
Clarence PinkstonDivingMen's 3 m springboard
Louis BalbachDivingMen's 3 m springboard
Clarence PinkstonDivingMen's 10 m platform
Harry PriesteDivingMen's 10 m platform
Aileen RigginDivingWomen's 3 m springboard
Helen WainwrightDivingWomen's 3 m springboard
Thelma PayneDivingWomen's 3 m springboard
John B. Kelly Sr.RowingMen's single sculls

Paul Costello
John B. Kelly Sr.		RowingMen's double sculls

Ken Myers
Carl Klose
Franz Federschmidt
Erich Federschmidt
Sherm Clark		RowingMen's coxed four

Virgil Jacomini
Edwin Graves
William Jordan
Edward Moore
Alden Sanborn
Donald Johnston
Vince Gallagher
Clyde King
Sherm Clark		RowingMen's eight
Raymond BrackenShootingMen's 30 m military pistol

Karl Frederick
Louis Harant
Michael Kelly
Alfred Lane
James H. Snook		ShootingMen's 30 m team military pistol
Karl FrederickShootingMen's 50 m free pistol
Alfred LaneShootingMen's 50 m free pistol
Raymond Bracken
Karl Frederick
Michael Kelly
Alfred Lane
James H. Snook		ShootingMen's 50 m team free pistol
Lawrence NuessleinShootingMen's 50 m small bore rifle
Arthur RothrockShootingMen's 50 m small bore rifle
Dennis FentonShootingMen's 50 m small bore rifle
Dennis Fenton
Willis A. Lee
Lawrence Nuesslein
Arthur Rothrock
Oliver Schriver		ShootingMen's 50 m team small bore rifle
Morris FisherShootingMen's 300 m free rifle, 3 positions
Dennis Fenton
Morris Fisher
Willis A. Lee
Carl Osburn
Lloyd Spooner		ShootingMen's team free rifle
Morris Fisher
Joseph Jackson
Willis A. Lee
Carl Osburn
Lloyd Spooner		ShootingMen's 300 m team military rifle, prone
Carl OsbornShootingMen's 300 m military rifle, standing
Lawrence NuessleinShootingMen's 300 m military rifle, standing

Thomas Brown
Willis A. Lee
Lawrence Nuesslein
Carl Osburn
Lloyd Spooner		ShootingMen's 300 m team military rifle, standing
Lloyd SpoonerShootingMen's 600 m military rifle, prone

Dennis Fenton
Joseph Jackson
Willis A. Lee
Oliver Schriver
Lloyd Spooner		ShootingMen's 600 m team military rifle, prone

Joseph Jackson
Willis A. Lee
Carl Osburn
Oliver Schriver
Lloyd Spooner		ShootingMen's 300 + 600 m team military rifle, prone

Thomas Brown
Willis A. Lee
Lawrence Nuesslein
Carl Osburn
Lloyd Spooner		ShootingMen's 100 m team running deer, single shots
Mark ArieShootingMen's trap
Frank TroehShootingMen's trap
Frank WrightShootingMen's trap

Mark Arie
Horace Bonser
Jay Clark
Forest McNeir
Frank Troeh
Frank Wright		ShootingMen's team clay pigeons
Duke KahanamokuSwimmingMen's 100 m freestyle
Pua KealohaSwimmingMen's 100 m freestyle
Bill HarrisSwimmingMen's 100 m freestyle
Norman RossSwimmingMen's 400 m freestyle
Ludy LangerSwimmingMen's 400 m freestyle
Norman RossSwimmingMen's 1500 m freestyle
Warren KealohaSwimmingMen's 100 m backstroke
Ray KegerisSwimmingMen's 100 m backstroke

Duke Kahanamoku
Pua Kealoha
Perry McGillivray
Norman Ross		SwimmingMen's 4 × 200 m freestyle relay
Ethelda BleibtreySwimmingWomen's 100 m freestyle
Irene GuestSwimmingWomen's 100 m freestyle
Frances SchrothSwimmingWomen's 100 m freestyle
Ethelda BleibtreySwimmingWomen's 300 m freestyle
Margaret WoodbridgeSwimmingWomen's 300 m freestyle
Frances SchrothSwimmingWomen's 300 m freestyle

Ethelda Bleibtrey
Irene Guest
Frances Schroth
Margaret Woodbridge		SwimmingWomen's 4 × 100 m freestyle relay
Charles AckerlyWrestlingMen's featherweight
Sam GersonWrestlingMen's featherweight
Charley JohnsonWrestlingMen's middleweight
Walter MaurerWrestlingMen's light heavyweight
Nat PendletonWrestlingMen's heavyweight
Fred MeyerWrestlingMen's heavyweight
Raymond Bonney
Anthony Conroy
Herbert Drury
Edward Fitzgerald
George Geran
Frank Goheen
Joseph McCormick
Lawrence McCormick
Frank Synott
Leon Tuck
Cyril Weidenborner		Ice HockeyMen's competition

Francis Honeycutt
Arthur Lyon
Robert Sears
Henry Breckinridge
Harold Rayner		FencingMen's team foil

Arthur Harris
Terry Allen
John Montgomery
Nelson Margetts		PoloMen's competition
Theresa WeldFigure SkatingLadies' singles

Aquatics

Diving

Fourteen divers, seven men and seven women, represented the United States in 1920. It was the nation's fourth appearance in the sport; the United States was the only nation to have competed at each Olympic diving contest to that point. The Americans won their first gold medals in the sport since 1904, winning championships in three of the five diving events in 1920. The team swept both the men's and women's springboard events, and added a gold and a bronze in the men's platform. Pinkston was the only diver from any nation in 1920 to win multiple medals.
; Men
Ranks given are within the semifinal group.
; Women
Ranks given are within the semifinal group.

Swimming

Twenty-two swimmers, sixteen men and six women, represented the United States in 1920. It was the nation's sixth appearance in the sport; the United States was the only nation to have competed in every Olympic swimming edition to that point. The Americans took eight of the ten gold medals, along with five silvers and three bronzes. This gave the team more than half of the available medals—16 out of 30; more than three times the next-best country. Eleven different Americans finished with at least one medal. The United States set five new world records and tied another.
Kahanamoku set a new Olympic record in the quarterfinals of the 100 free, then tied the world record twice in the semis and the final as the Americans swept the medals in that event. Ross took a pair of gold medals in the other two freestyle events. Kegeris briefly took the Olympic record in the 100 metre backstroke semifinals before Warren Kealoha broke the world record in the second semifinal; Kealoha took gold and Kegeris silver in the final. The relay team also set a world record in winning the gold medal.
Schroth, like Kegeris, briefly held an Olympic record in the 100 free before Bleibtrey broke the world record in a later semifinal. Bleibtrey bettered her own new record, leading the American women to a sweep of the medals in that event. Bleibtrey took her second world record and second gold medal in the 300 free, as the Americans swept that event as well. Her third gold medal and third world record came as part of the 4x100 free relay team along with Schroth, Guest, and Woodbridge.
Ranks given are within the heat.
; Men
; Women

Water polo

The United States competed in the Olympic water polo tournament for the second time in 1920. The Bergvall System was in use at the time. The Americans shut out Greece in the quarterfinals, advancing to the semifinals. They were defeated there by a dominant Great Britain side, which went on to win the gold medal. This gave the United States an opportunity to play for the silver under the Bergvall System. In the silver medal semifinals, they shut out Spain, but were again stymied in a loss to Belgium in the silver medal match. With one last chance at a medal, the Americans again defeated Greece in the bronze medal semifinals. In the bronze medal match, however, the team was shut out by Sweden.
; Quarterfinals
; Semifinals
; Silver medal semifinals
; Silver medal match
; Bronze medal semifinals
; Bronze medal match
; Final rank: 4th

Athletics

90 athletes represented the United States in 1920. It was the sixth appearance of the nation in athletics, a sport in which the United States had competed at every Games. The American team, used to dominance of the sport, was seriously challenged for the first time. The nine gold medals won by the team tied the mark for fewest the nation had ever won, matching the 1896 total. Finland matched the United States gold medal for gold medal, the first time any other nation had done so and the last time until the 1972 Games. The depth of the American team allowed the team to collect twelve silver and eight bronze medals as well, allowing the team to remain on top of the athletics medals leader board yet again.
Ranks given are within the heat.

Boxing

16 boxers represented the United States at the 1920 Games. It was the nation's second appearance in boxing. The American team was one of two to send the maximum number of boxers, two in each weight class, along with Great Britain. The Americans' three gold medals was the best of any nation, but their four total medals was only the third most.

Cycling

Nine cyclists represented the United States in 1920. It was the nation's fifth appearance in the sport. Taylor's semifinal qualification in the sprint was the best result on the cycling track for the Americans, with Kockler's 13th-place finish in the individual time trial the best American result in road cycling, leading the American road cyclists to a 7th place team total.

Road cycling

Track cycling

Ranks given are within the heat.

Equestrian

Eight equestrians represented the United States in 1920. It was the nation's third appearance in the sport, having been one of three countries to have appeared at every Olympic equestrian competition to that point. The Americans earned no medals in 1920, unable to add to the bronze won in 1912. The team's best individual result was Chamberlin's sixth place in the eventing; the eventing team took fourth place. In a somewhat unusual result, all three of the American dressage competitors earned exactly the same score.

Fencing

Nineteen fencers represented the United States in 1920. It was the nation's fourth appearance in the sport. The Americans won a single medal, the bronze in the team foil. It was the country's first fencing medal since hosting the Games in 1904. None of the individual fencers reached an event final, though both teams which had to compete in semifinals did advance.
Ranks given are within the group.

Gymnastics

Four gymnasts represented the United States in 1920. It was the nation's second appearance in the sport, and first since hosting the Games in 1904.

Artistic gymnastics

Ice hockey

The United States competed in the inaugural Olympic ice hockey tournament. The team cruised through its quarterfinal, beating Switzerland 29–0. The Americans met Canada in a semifinal matchup; the two were clearly the best teams in the tournament. Canada came out the better, winning 2–0 to send the United States into the silver medal tournament. There, the Americans beat Sweden and Czechoslovakia by a combined score of 23–0 to emerge winners of the silver medal, using the Bergvall System.
; Quarterfinals
; Semifinals
; Silver medal semifinals
; Silver medal match
;Final rank: Silver

Modern pentathlon

Two pentathletes represented the United States in 1920. It was the nation's second appearance in the sport, having competed at both instances of the Olympic modern pentathlon.
A point-for-place system was used, with the lowest total score winning.

Polo

The United States competed in the Olympic polo tournament for the second time. The team took the bronze medal, losing to Spain in the semifinals but defeating Belgium in the bronze medal match.
; Semifinals
; Final
; Final rank: Bronze

Rowing

Fifteen rowers represented the United States in 1920. It was the nation's third appearance in the sport. Three of the four boats took gold medals, with the fourth having to settle for silver after a 4-second loss to Switzerland in the coxed fours final.
Ranks given are within the heat.

Rugby union

The United States competed in the Olympic rugby tournament for the first time. They faced France in the only match of the tournament, as the two countries were the only ones to compete. The Americans won the match to take the gold medal.
; Final
;Final rank: Gold

Skating

Figure skating

Two figure skaters represented the United States in 1920. It was the nation's second appearance in the sport; Sweden was one of three countries to compete in both Summer Olympics figure skating competitions. Weld took the bronze medal in the ladies' singles, with Niles finishing sixth in the men's. The two took fourth place in the pairs competition.

Shooting

Twenty-nine shooters represented the United States in 1920. It was the nation's fourth appearance in the sport. The country took 13 of 21 gold medals, won at least one medal in 18 of the 21 events, and finished with 23 medals—more than twice Norway's 11, which was second-best. The American teams took gold medals in 8 of the 11 team events, with a silver, a bronze, and a fourth-place finish rounding out its team results. In individual competitions, the United States won five golds, three silvers, and five bronzes. Twelve men won individual medals, and ten more received medals as parts of teams.
They swept the individual small-bore rifle medals, as well as taking the gold medal in the team event. They repeated this performance in the trap and team clay pigeons events.
The American shooters won both the individual and team golds in the free rifle.
The team took both team pistol golds, as well as one of two individual pistol golds.
The military rifle events gave the United States more trouble; the team won no medal in the individual 300 metre prone event, and took only silver in the team 300 metre standing competition.
The running deer was by far the worst category for the Americans; of the four events, the United States took only a single bronze medal in the team single shots event.

Tug of war

The United States competed in the Olympic tug of war tournament for the third time in 1920, the final appearance of the sport in the Olympics. The Americans joined the British in tying Sweden's mark for most appearances in the short life of tug of war at the Olympics at three of five.
The Bergvall System was used in 1920. The Americans lost in the quarterfinals to eventual gold-medallist Great Britain, thus putting the United States in contention for the silver medal. In the silver medal semifinals, they were defeated by Belgium. They won their first match of the tournament in the bronze medal semifinals, defeating Italy, before again losing to Belgium in the bronze medal match. The United States finished in fourth place of the five teams.
All matches were best-of-three pulls.
; Quarterfinals
; Silver medal semifinals
; Bronze medal semifinals
; Bronze medal match
; Final rank: 4th

Wrestling

Eighteen wrestlers competed for the United States in 1920, tying Finland for most wrestlers that year. It was the nation's fourth appearance in the sport, matching Great Britain for most to that point. The American wrestlers took six medals, including one gold medal, and finished third on the medals leaderboard, behind Finland with five golds and Sweden with three golds. Ackerly was the American gold medalist, finishing 1–2 with Gerson in the freestyle featherweight. Metropoulos and Pendleton competed in both freestyle and Greco-Roman events, as the United States entered two wrestlers in each weight class. Most of the American success came in the freestyle competitions, with all six medals coming in that discipline.

Freestyle

Greco-Roman