1924 Paris Olympics and the first Winter Games in Chamonix

Lore & Background

The tradition of holding the Winter Olympics in the same year as the Summer Olympics continued until 1992. Although figure skating had been an Olympic event in both London and Antwerp and ice hockey had been an event in Antwerp, winter sports had always been limited by the season. At the 1921 IOC convention in Lausanne, there was a call for equality for winter sports. It was decided that France, host nation for the 1924 Summer Olympics, would hold an 'international week of winter sport' in Chamonix. The closing ceremony included Pierre de Coubertin presenting gold medals in 'Alpinism' (mountaineering) to the members of the 1922 British Mount Everest expedition, represented by Lt Col Edward Strutt.

In Their Own Story

The air in Chamonix was crisp and thin, carrying the scent of pine and snow. Spectators bundled in furs watched as Norwegian speed skater Roald Larsen carved his name into history, his blades whispering across the ice as he claimed gold in the 5,000m. In Paris, the roar of the crowd at the Stade Olympique de Colombes echoed for Paavo Nurmi, whose relentless stride left rivals gasping—he even won the 1,500m and 5,000m just an hour apart. These twin celebrations, separated by geography but united in spirit, showed the world that the Olympics could embrace both the sun-drenched track and the frozen lake.

Reader's Guide

Medals were awarded in 16 events contested in 5 sports (9 disciplines). Many sources do not list curling and the military patrol as Olympic events, but in February 2006 the IOC ruled that curling and military patrol were part of the Olympic program and included the medals in the official count. Venues included La Piste de Bobsleigh des Pellerins for bobsleigh, Le Tremplin Olympique du Mont for ski jumping and Nordic combined (ski jumping), and Stade Olympique de Chamonix for cross-country skiing, curling, figure skating, ice hockey, military patrol, Nordic combined (cross-country skiing), and speed skating. Athletes from 16 nations competed; Germany was banned.

Did You Know?

• Charles Jewtraw of the United States won the first gold medal of the games in the 500-meter speed skate, making him the first Winter Olympic champion.
• Sonja Henie of Norway, at just eleven years old, took part in the ladies' figure skating competition. She finished last but went on to take gold at the following three Winter Olympics.
• Figure skater Gillis Grafström of Sweden became the first athlete to successfully defend his Summer Olympic title at the Winter Olympics (having won a gold medal in 1920).
• The Canadian ice hockey team (Toronto Granites) finished their qualifying round with three wins, scoring 85 goals and conceding none.
• Taffy Abel was the first Native American in the Winter Olympic Games (1924 Hockey Silver Medal) and the 1924 Flag Bearer for the United States.