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Winter Olympics

By brandonandkonnor

  • Beginings

    Beginings
    Chamonix, France Initially organized as an International Winter Sports Week, the Games at Chamonix were not officially recognized as the first Winter Olympics by the International Olympic Committee until 1925. Five sports were represented: Nordic skiing, figure skating, speed skating, bobsled and hockey. Canada established its reign as hockey champion by winning the gold in the first four Winter Olympics. Anders Haugen (United States) was logged as coming in fourth in the ski jump, but a c

  • 1928

    Chamonix, France Initially organized as an International Winter Sports Week, the Games at Chamonix were not officially recognized as the first Winter Olympics by the International Olympic Committee until 1925. Five sports were represented: Nordic skiing, figure skating, speed skating, bobsled and hockey. Canada established its reign as hockey champion by winning the gold in the first four Winter Olympics. Anders Haugen (United States) was logged as coming in fourth in the ski jump, but a c

  • 1932

    Lake Placid, United States Due to the Depression, turnout was low, with only 17 nations participating. Half of the athletes were from the United States or Canada. Dog sledding was included as a demonstration sport. John Shea (United States) won golds in the 500-meter and 1,500-meter speed skating events. The U.S. bobsled team captured gold for the second time in a row. Team-member Eddie Eagan became the only person to win a gold medal in both the Winter and Summer Olympics. He already had

  • 1936

    Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany The Germans saw these Winter Games as a prelude to the Summer Games in Berlin. An attempt by German immigrants in the United States for a national boycott failed. Great Britain's hockey team toppled the Canadian hold on gold. Sonja Henie (Norway) won her third consecutive gold medal, making her the most successful individual woman figure skater.

  • 1948

    St. Moritz, Switzerland The popularity of Alpine skiing increased, and slalom and downhill events were added. The winter pentathlon (cross country skiing, downhill skiing, fencing, shooting and horse riding) was held as a demonstration sport and was not successful. Barbara Ann Scott (Canada) became the first North American to win a gold in figure skating. Gretchen Fraser (United States) captured gold in the women's slalom, the United States' first skiing medal.

  • 1952

    Oslo, Norway Germany and Japan were allowed to compete for the first time since World War II. The Oslo Games marked the first time the Olympics were held in a Scandinavian country. Andrea Mead (United States) was victorious in the slalom and giant slalom, becoming the first U.S. athlete to win two golds in a Winter Olympics.

  • 1956

    Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy An Italian television station provided the first Winter Olympic live coverage. "Eurovision" allowed parts of central Europe to watch competition. The United States swept the men's figure skating competition. Gold went to Hayes Alan Jenkins, silver to Ronald Robertson and bronze to David Jenkins, younger brother of Hayes. The new Soviet hockey team upset Canada in the finals and took the gold undefeated.

  • 1960

    Squaw Valley, United States The opening and closing ceremonies were stage-managed by Walt Disney, chairman of the Olympic Pageantry Committee. South Africa was represented for the first and last time until 1994. Figure skating events moved indoors. The U.S. hockey team defeated Canada and captured gold for the first time.

  • 1964

    Innsbruck, Austria Computers helped officials time and judge events. Mild weather prompted the Austrian military to truck in snow. Luge made its Olympic debut. Ortun Enderlein (Germany) won gold in the first women's Olympic luge event.

  • 1968

    Grenoble, France For the first time there were two separate German teams competing in an Olympics. Peggy Fleming (United States) took home the gold in women's figure skating. U.S. speed skaters Mary Meyers, Dianne Holum and Jennifer Fish triple-tied for silver in the 500-meter event. Jean-Claude Killy (France), the host coun-try's favorite son, won gold medals in all three Alpine skiing events. The Games were dubbed the "Killympics."