Paul Pilgrim
Encyclopedia
Paul Henry Pilgrim (October 26, 1883 – January 8, 1958) was an American
athlete who won three gold medals at the 1904
and 1906 Summer Olympics
.
He was born in New York City
and died in White Plains, New York
.
At the 1904 Summer Olympics
in St. Louis, Missouri
, Pilgrim competed in the 400 metre competition
and 800 metre races
, without success. He finished sixth in the four mile team run, aiding the New York Athletic Club (NYAC) to win the gold medal.
In the 1906 Summer Olympics
at Athens
, Pilgrim was an 11th-hour addition to the team. He travelled to Athens on his own, missing the wave that washed over the deck of the American team's ship in Gibraltar
. The wave injured about half-dozen athletes aboard the deck, including one of the favorites in the 400 metres, Harry Hillman
.
Pilgrim advanced to the final in the 400 metres, and was third before the final straight. On that stretch, he passed Wyndham Halswelle
of Great Britain
and Nigel Barker
of Australia
to win in time of 53.2 seconds. In the 800 metres, Pilgrim passed James Lightbody on the final lap and won by 2 feet. This medal does not appear in results or tables published by the International Olympic Committee, which retroactively downgraded the 1906 Summer Olympics
and does not consider them to have been true "Games of the Olympiad."
At the 1908 Summer Olympics
in London
Pilgrim competed in the 400 metre competition
. He did not advance to the semifinals.
Following his wins at the Athens Games, he never won a major competition again. He worked the rest of his career at NYAC, where one of his medals is on display.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
athlete who won three gold medals at the 1904
1904 Summer Olympics
The 1904 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the III Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event which was celebrated in St. Louis, Missouri, in the United States from 1 July 1904, to November 23, 1904, at what is now known as Francis Field on the campus of Washington University...
and 1906 Summer Olympics
1906 Summer Olympics
The 1906 Intercalated Games or 1906 Olympic Games were an international multi-sport event which was celebrated in Athens, Greece. They were at the time considered to be Olympic Games and were referred to as the "Second International Olympic Games in Athens" by the International Olympic Committee...
.
He was born in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
and died in White Plains, New York
White Plains, New York
White Plains is a city and the county seat of Westchester County, New York, United States. It is located in south-central Westchester, about east of the Hudson River and northwest of Long Island Sound...
.
At the 1904 Summer Olympics
1904 Summer Olympics
The 1904 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the III Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event which was celebrated in St. Louis, Missouri, in the United States from 1 July 1904, to November 23, 1904, at what is now known as Francis Field on the campus of Washington University...
in St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
, Pilgrim competed in the 400 metre competition
Athletics at the 1904 Summer Olympics - Men's 400 metres
The men's 400 metres was a track and field athletics event held as part of the Athletics at the 1904 Summer Olympics programme. It was the third time the event was held. 12 athletes from 3 nations participated...
and 800 metre races
Athletics at the 1904 Summer Olympics - Men's 800 metres
The men's 800 metres was a track and field athletics event held as part of the Athletics at the 1904 Summer Olympics programme. It was the third time the event was held. 13 runners from 3 nations participated...
, without success. He finished sixth in the four mile team run, aiding the New York Athletic Club (NYAC) to win the gold medal.
In the 1906 Summer Olympics
1906 Summer Olympics
The 1906 Intercalated Games or 1906 Olympic Games were an international multi-sport event which was celebrated in Athens, Greece. They were at the time considered to be Olympic Games and were referred to as the "Second International Olympic Games in Athens" by the International Olympic Committee...
at Athens
Athens
Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...
, Pilgrim was an 11th-hour addition to the team. He travelled to Athens on his own, missing the wave that washed over the deck of the American team's ship in Gibraltar
Gibraltar
Gibraltar is a British overseas territory located on the southern end of the Iberian Peninsula at the entrance of the Mediterranean. A peninsula with an area of , it has a northern border with Andalusia, Spain. The Rock of Gibraltar is the major landmark of the region...
. The wave injured about half-dozen athletes aboard the deck, including one of the favorites in the 400 metres, Harry Hillman
Harry Hillman
Harry Livingston Hillman Jr. was an American athlete and winner of three gold medals at the 1904 Summer Olympics....
.
Pilgrim advanced to the final in the 400 metres, and was third before the final straight. On that stretch, he passed Wyndham Halswelle
Wyndham Halswelle
Wyndham Halswelle was a British athlete, winner of the controversial 400m race at the 1908 Summer Olympics, becoming the only athlete to win an Olympic title by a walkover....
of Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
and Nigel Barker
Nigel Barker (athlete)
Nigel Chase Barker was an Australian athlete, who is regarded as holder of Australia's first athletics world record, in the 400 yards, and is an Olympic Games bronze medalist....
of Australia
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...
to win in time of 53.2 seconds. In the 800 metres, Pilgrim passed James Lightbody on the final lap and won by 2 feet. This medal does not appear in results or tables published by the International Olympic Committee, which retroactively downgraded the 1906 Summer Olympics
1906 Summer Olympics
The 1906 Intercalated Games or 1906 Olympic Games were an international multi-sport event which was celebrated in Athens, Greece. They were at the time considered to be Olympic Games and were referred to as the "Second International Olympic Games in Athens" by the International Olympic Committee...
and does not consider them to have been true "Games of the Olympiad."
At the 1908 Summer Olympics
1908 Summer Olympics
The 1908 Summer Olympics, officially the Games of the IV Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was held in 1908 in London, England, United Kingdom. These games were originally scheduled to be held in Rome. At the time they were the fifth modern Olympic games...
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
Pilgrim competed in the 400 metre competition
Athletics at the 1908 Summer Olympics - Men's 400 metres
The men's 400 metres was an Olympic event for the fourth time at the 1908 Summer Olympics in London. The competition was held originally scheduled from July 21, 1908 to July 23, 1908. The rerun of the final was held on July 25, 1908...
. He did not advance to the semifinals.
Following his wins at the Athens Games, he never won a major competition again. He worked the rest of his career at NYAC, where one of his medals is on display.