1959 Pan American Games
Encyclopedia
The 3rd Pan American Games
opened on August 27, 1959 in sunny 90°F (32°C) heat before 40,000 people in Chicago
, Illinois
, United States
. The first Pan American Games held in North America, they were originally scheduled for Cleveland, Ohio
, but the U.S. Congress’s decision to cut $5,000,000 in federal funding forced the city to withdraw as host. Chicago, led by Mayor Richard J. Daley
, then became the choice of Pan American Sports Organization.
The Games opened at Chicago’s Soldier Field
, with 2,263 athletes competing in eighteen sports. Yachting
was on the sports program for the first time. Swimming events were held in the Olympic-size pool in Portage Park
on the city's Northwest Side. The male athletes’ village was located on the campus of the University of Chicago
. The 298 female athletes stayed nearby at the Shoreland Hotel
.
To sort this table by nation, total medal count, or any other column, click on the icon next to the column title.
Note
The medal counts for the United States
, Argentina
, Mexico
and Canada
are disputed.
Pan American Games
The Pan-American or Pan American Games are a major event in the Americas featuring summer and formerly winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Pan American Games are the second largest multi-sport event after the Summer Olympics...
opened on August 27, 1959 in sunny 90°F (32°C) heat before 40,000 people in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The first Pan American Games held in North America, they were originally scheduled for Cleveland, Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
, but the U.S. Congress’s decision to cut $5,000,000 in federal funding forced the city to withdraw as host. Chicago, led by Mayor Richard J. Daley
Richard J. Daley
Richard Joseph Daley served for 21 years as the mayor and undisputed Democratic boss of Chicago and is considered by historians to be the "last of the big city bosses." He played a major role in the history of the Democratic Party, especially with his support of John F...
, then became the choice of Pan American Sports Organization.
The Games opened at Chicago’s Soldier Field
Soldier Field
Soldier Field is located on Lake Shore Drive in Chicago, Illinois, United States, in the Near South Side. It is home to the NFL's Chicago Bears...
, with 2,263 athletes competing in eighteen sports. Yachting
Yachting
Yachting refers to recreational sailing or boating, the specific act of sailing or using other water vessels for sporting purposes.-Competitive sailing:...
was on the sports program for the first time. Swimming events were held in the Olympic-size pool in Portage Park
Portage Park (Chicago)
Portage Park is a park in the Portage Park community area of Chicago, Illinois on the National Register of Historic Places. The park stretches from Irving Park Road on the south to Berteau Avenue between Central and Long Avenues...
on the city's Northwest Side. The male athletes’ village was located on the campus of the University of Chicago
University of Chicago
The University of Chicago is a private research university in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It was founded by the American Baptist Education Society with a donation from oil magnate and philanthropist John D. Rockefeller and incorporated in 1890...
. The 298 female athletes stayed nearby at the Shoreland Hotel
Shoreland Hotel
The Shoreland is a former hotel in the Hyde Park neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois. It was added to the United States National Register of Historic Places in 1986...
.
Medal count
| 1 | Host nation |
To sort this table by nation, total medal count, or any other column, click on the icon next to the column title.
| 1 |  United States 1 |
115/122 | 69/73 | 52/54 | 236/249 |
| 2 | 9 | 19/22 | 11/12 | 39/43 | |
| 3 | 8 | 8 | 6 | 22 | |
| 4 | 6 | 11 | 12/13 | 29/30 | |
| 5 | 5/7 | 19/21 | 24/28 | 48/56 | |
Note
The medal counts for the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
, Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
and Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
are disputed.
Sports
- AthleticsAthletics at the 1959 Pan American GamesThis page shows the medal winners during the Athletics Competition at the 1959 Pan American Games, held in Chicago, United States. The United States continued its domination, winning 18 out of a possible 22 gold medals at Soldier Field. Controversy occurred in the hammer throw event. Hal Connolly...
- BaseballBaseball at the 1959 Pan American GamesThe 1959 Pan American Games were the first Pan American Games held in the USA and the third ever. They were held at Wrigley Field in Chicago, IL from August 27 through September 7. They were the only Pan Am Games won by Venezuela....
- BasketballBasketball at the 1959 Pan American GamesThe Men's Basketball Tournament at the 1959 Pan American Games was held from August 27 to September 6, 1959 in Chicago, United States.-Final ranking:-References:**...
- BoxingBoxing at the 1959 Pan American GamesThe Men's Boxing Tournament at the 1959 Pan American Games was held in Chicago, United States, from August 27 to September 7.- Medal winners :-Medal table:-External links:*...
- CyclingCycling at the 1959 Pan American GamesThis page shows the results of the Cycling Competition at the 1959 Pan American Games, held from August 27 to September 7, 1959 in Chicago, United States...
- DivingDiving at the 1959 Pan American GamesThis page shows the results of the Diving Competition for men and women at the 1959 Pan American Games, held from August 27 to September 7, 1959 in Chicago, United States. There were two events, for both men and women.-3m Springboard:-10m Platform:...
- Football (soccer)Football at the 1959 Pan American GamesThe third edition of the football tournament at the Pan American Games was held in Chicago, Illinois, from August 21 to September 5, 1959. Seven teams did compete in a round-robin competition, with Argentina defending the title once again.-Matches:...
- Sailing
- Tennis
- VolleyballVolleyball at the 1959 Pan American GamesThis page presents the results of the Men's and Women's Volleyball Tournament during the 1959 Pan American Games, which was held from August 28 to September 6, 1959 in Chicago, United States.-Final Ranking:-Final Ranking:-References:* *...