Australia at the 1900 Summer Olympics
Encyclopedia
Australia
competed at the 1900 Summer Olympics
in Paris
, France
.
Most Olympic historians keep Australian records at early Olympics separate from those of the United Kingdom
despite Australia's lack of independence at the time.
Australia was represented by two athletes, both of whom won a medal in each event in which he competed. Frederick Lane
won two gold medals in swimming and Stan Rowley won a gold medal (as part of a mixed team with Great Britain) and three bronze medals in athletics.
Stan Rowley also won a gold medal as part of a mixed team
— athletics, 5000 metre team race
were the only nations to send teams) finished, Rowley was still 1500 metres from the finish; officials allowed him to retire and claim 10th place at that point.
Rowley's four medals put him, and Australia, in third place on the athletics leaderboard.
. He was travelling through Europe competing in a series of traditional competitions. He won the live game shooting (Prix Centenaire de Paris) with 22 consecutive kills of live pigeons, one more than Marquis de Villancosa of Spain. He finished in the joint third position alongside Crittenden Robinson of the United States
in the live pigeon shooting (Grand Prix d'Exposition) with 18, behind the winner Leon de Lunden
, who scored 21. Mackintosh' status has often been confused, as some historians were under the impression that game-shooting was an archery contest. The International Olympic Committee
does not consider either event Olympic.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
competed at the 1900 Summer Olympics
1900 Summer Olympics
The 1900 Summer Olympics, today officially known as the Games of the II Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event which was celebrated in 1900 in Paris, France. No opening or closing ceremonies were held; competitions began on May 14 and ended on October 28. The Games were held as part of...
in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
.
Most Olympic historians keep Australian records at early Olympics separate from those of the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
despite Australia's lack of independence at the time.
Australia was represented by two athletes, both of whom won a medal in each event in which he competed. Frederick Lane
Frederick Lane
Frederick Claude Vivian Lane was an Australian swimmer.Lane, from Manly, New South Wales, was the first Australian to represent his country in swimming at the Olympic Games, although he was actually a part of the British team when he competed at the 1900 Paris Games and won two gold medals.He...
won two gold medals in swimming and Stan Rowley won a gold medal (as part of a mixed team with Great Britain) and three bronze medals in athletics.
Gold
- Frederick LaneFrederick LaneFrederick Claude Vivian Lane was an Australian swimmer.Lane, from Manly, New South Wales, was the first Australian to represent his country in swimming at the Olympic Games, although he was actually a part of the British team when he competed at the 1900 Paris Games and won two gold medals.He...
— swimming, men's 200 metre freestyle - Frederick Lane — swimming, men's 200 metre obstacle event
Stan Rowley also won a gold medal as part of a mixed team
Mixed team at the 1900 Summer Olympics
Early Olympic Games allowed for individuals in a team to be from different nations. The International Olympic Committee now groups their results together under the mixed team designation . During the 1900 Summer Olympics several teams comprising international members won 12 medals in 7 different...
— athletics, 5000 metre team race
Bronze
- Stan Rowley — athletics, 60 metres
- Stan Rowley — athletics, 100 metres
- Stan Rowley — athletics, 200 metres
Athletics
Rowley was Australia's only competitor in athletics. He entered the three sprint events, taking the bronze medal in each of the three. Rowley also joined the Great Britain team in the 5-man team race, as the British squad had only 4 members. The 5 kilometres of the race was much further than Rowley was used to racing. After the first lap of the track, he injured his foot and began to walk. When the last of the other nine competitors (the United Kingdom and FranceFrance at the 1900 Summer Olympics
France was the host of the 1900 Summer Olympics in Paris. France was one of many nations that had competed in the 1896 Summer Olympics in Greece and had returned to compete at the 1900 Games....
were the only nations to send teams) finished, Rowley was still 1500 metres from the finish; officials allowed him to retire and claim 10th place at that point.
Rowley's four medals put him, and Australia, in third place on the athletics leaderboard.
| Event | Place | Athlete | Heat | Semifinal | Repechage | Final |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 60 metres | 3rd | Stan Rowley | Unknown 2nd, heat 2 |
None held | 7.2 seconds | |
| 100 metres | 3rd | Stan Rowley | Unknown 2nd, heat 3 |
Unknown 2nd, semifinal 1 |
11.0 seconds 1st |
11.2 seconds |
| 200 metres | 3rd | Stan Rowley | 25.0 seconds 1st, heat 2 |
None held | 22.9 seconds | |
| Event | Place | Team / Athlete | Score / Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5000 metre team race | 1st |  |
26 points |
| 1st | Charles Bennett Charles Bennett (athlete) Charles Bennett was a British athlete, winner of the 1500 m at the 1900 Summer Olympics and the first British track and field athlete to become Olympic champion... (GBR) |
1 point 15:29.2 |
|
| 2nd | John Rimmer John Rimmer John Thomas "Jack" Rimmer was a British athlete, winner of two gold medals at the 1900 Summer Olympics.Born in Ormskirk, Lancashire, John Rimmer won the British AAA Championships in in 1900.... (GBR) |
2 points Unknown |
|
| 6th | Sidney Robinson (GBR) | 6 points Unknown |
|
| 7th | Alfred Tysoe Alfred Tysoe Alfred Ernest Tysoe was a British athlete, winner of two gold medals at the 1900 Olympic Games.... (GBR) |
7 points Unknown |
|
| 10th | Stan Rowley | 10 points Did not finish |
|
Swimming
Lane won the 200 metre freestyle and obstacle races, both on the same day. He did not receive gold medals, but instead received bronze sculptures of a horse and peasant girl respectively. He was also the favourite for the 100 metre freestyle, but this event was cancelled.| Event | Place | Swimmer | Semifinals | Final |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Men's 200 metre freestyle |
1st | Frederick Lane Frederick Lane Frederick Claude Vivian Lane was an Australian swimmer.Lane, from Manly, New South Wales, was the first Australian to represent his country in swimming at the Olympic Games, although he was actually a part of the British team when he competed at the 1900 Paris Games and won two gold medals.He... |
2:59.0 1st, semifinal 3 |
2:25.2 |
| Men's 200 metre obstacle event |
1st | Frederick Lane | 3:04.0 1st, semifinal 1 |
2:38.4 |
Shooting
Donald Mackintosh was a professional shooter from MelbourneMelbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
. He was travelling through Europe competing in a series of traditional competitions. He won the live game shooting (Prix Centenaire de Paris) with 22 consecutive kills of live pigeons, one more than Marquis de Villancosa of Spain. He finished in the joint third position alongside Crittenden Robinson of the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in the live pigeon shooting (Grand Prix d'Exposition) with 18, behind the winner Leon de Lunden
Léon de Lunden
Léon de Lunden was a Belgian sports shooter who competed at the 1900 Summer Olympics. He won the first prize in the live pigeon shoot, an event that was unique to the 1900 Games and is no longer recognised by the International Olympic Committee. He totaled 21 kills during the tournament to take...
, who scored 21. Mackintosh' status has often been confused, as some historians were under the impression that game-shooting was an archery contest. The International Olympic Committee
International Olympic Committee
The International Olympic Committee is an international corporation based in Lausanne, Switzerland, created by Pierre de Coubertin on 23 June 1894 with Demetrios Vikelas as its first president...
does not consider either event Olympic.