George Calnan
Encyclopedia
George Charles Calnan (January 18, 1900 – April 4, 1933) was a United States Navy
officer who also competed for the United States
as a fencer. Competing in four Summer Olympics, he earned three bronze medals (Indivudual épée: 1928
, Team foil: 1932
, Team épée: 1932)
A native of Boston, Massachusetts, Calnan did not start fencing until he was a student at the United States Naval Academy
in Annapolis, Maryland
. By the time he was a senior, he was captain of the Navy's fencing team. Two years later, Calnan competed for the US at the 1924 Summer Olympics
in Paris
where he finished tied for fifth in the team épée competition. Calnan took the Olympic Oath
at the 1932 Summer Olympics
in Los Angeles
.
Calnan was among the 73 fatalities of the USS Akron
crash in 1933. He had a lieutenant
's rank at the time of the crash.
He was posthumously inducted in the US Fencing Hall of Fame in 1963, among the first inductees.
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
officer who also competed for the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
as a fencer. Competing in four Summer Olympics, he earned three bronze medals (Indivudual épée: 1928
1928 Summer Olympics
The 1928 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the IX Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event which was celebrated in 1928 in Amsterdam, Netherlands. Amsterdam had bid for the 1920 and 1924 Olympic Games, but had to give way to war-victim Antwerp, Belgium, and Pierre de...
, Team foil: 1932
1932 Summer Olympics
The 1932 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the X Olympiad, was a major world wide multi-athletic event which was celebrated in 1932 in Los Angeles, California, United States. No other cities made a bid to host these Olympics. Held during the worldwide Great Depression, many nations...
, Team épée: 1932)
A native of Boston, Massachusetts, Calnan did not start fencing until he was a student at the United States Naval Academy
United States Naval Academy
The United States Naval Academy is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located in Annapolis, Maryland, United States...
in Annapolis, Maryland
Annapolis, Maryland
Annapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Maryland, as well as the county seat of Anne Arundel County. It had a population of 38,394 at the 2010 census and is situated on the Chesapeake Bay at the mouth of the Severn River, south of Baltimore and about east of Washington, D.C. Annapolis is...
. By the time he was a senior, he was captain of the Navy's fencing team. Two years later, Calnan competed for the US at the 1924 Summer Olympics
1924 Summer Olympics
The 1924 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the VIII Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was celebrated in 1924 in Paris, France...
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...
where he finished tied for fifth in the team épée competition. Calnan took the Olympic Oath
Olympic Oath
The Olympic Oath is a solemn promise made by one athlete -- as a representative of each of the participating Olympic competitors; and by one judge -- as a representative of each officiating Olympic referee or other official, at the opening ceremonies of each Olympic Games...
at the 1932 Summer Olympics
1932 Summer Olympics
The 1932 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the X Olympiad, was a major world wide multi-athletic event which was celebrated in 1932 in Los Angeles, California, United States. No other cities made a bid to host these Olympics. Held during the worldwide Great Depression, many nations...
in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
.
Calnan was among the 73 fatalities of the USS Akron
USS Akron (ZRS-4)
USS Akron was a helium-filled rigid airship of the United States Navy that was lost in a weather-related accident off the New Jersey coast early on April 4, 1933, killing 73 of the 76 crew and passengers on board...
crash in 1933. He had a lieutenant
Lieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
's rank at the time of the crash.
He was posthumously inducted in the US Fencing Hall of Fame in 1963, among the first inductees.
External links
- Hickoksport.com biography of Calnan - accessed June 5, 2008.
- IOC 1932 Summer Olympics
- US Fencing Hall of Fame profile
- Wallechinsky, David (1984). "Fencing". In The Complete Book of the Olympics: 1896-1980. New York: Penguin Books. pp. 248, 252, 256.