Swimming at the 1920 Summer Olympics – Men's 100 metre backstroke

The men's 100 metre backstroke was a swimming event held as part of the swimming at the 1920 Summer Olympics programme.[1] It was the fourth appearance of the event.

Men's 100 meter backstroke
at the Games of the VII Olympiad
VenueStade Nautique d'Antwerp
DatesAugust 22–23
Competitors12 from 6 nations
Medalists
1st place, gold medalist(s) Warren Kealoha  United States
2nd place, silver medalist(s) Ray Kegeris  United States
3rd place, bronze medalist(s) Gérard Blitz  Belgium
← 1912
1924 →

A total of 12 swimmers from six nations competed in the event, which was held on Sunday, August 22 and on Monday, August 23, 1920.

Records edit

These were the standing world and Olympic records (in minutes) prior to the 1920 Summer Olympics.

World Record 1:15.6   Otto Fahr Magdeburg (GER) April 29, 1912
Olympic Record 1:20.8   Harry Hebner Stockholm (SWE) July 10, 1912

In the first semi-final Ray Kegeris bettered the Olympic record to 1:17.8 minutes. In the second semi-final Warren Kealoha set a new world record with 1:14.8 minutes.

Results edit

Semifinals edit

Sunday, August 22, 1920: The fastest two in each semi-final and the faster of the two third-placed swimmer advanced to the final.

Semifinal 1

Place Swimmer Time Qual.
1   Ray Kegeris (USA) 1:17.8 Q OR
2   Harold Kruger (USA) 1:19.0 Q
3   Gaspard Lemaire (BEL) 1:28.0
4   Asbjørn Wang (NOR) 1:28.2
5   Henri Matter (FRA)
6   George Robertson (GBR)

Semifinal 2

Place Swimmer Time Qual.
1   Warren Kealoha (USA) 1:14.8 Q WR
2   Gérard Blitz (BEL) 1:18.6 Q
3   Perry McGillivray (USA) 1:20.4 q
4   Per Holmström (SWE) 1:26.0
5   George Webster (GBR)
6   Daniel Lehu (FRA)

Final edit

Monday, August 23, 1920:

Place Swimmer Time
1   Warren Kealoha (USA) 1:15.2
2   Ray Kegeris (USA) 1:16.8
3   Gérard Blitz (BEL) 1:19.0
4   Perry McGillivray (USA) 1:19.4
5   Harold Kruger (USA)

References edit

  1. ^ "Swimming at the 1920 Antwerp Summer Games: Men's 100 metres Backstroke". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on 17 April 2020. Retrieved 29 August 2016.

Notes edit

  • Belgium Olympic Committee (1957). Olympic Games Antwerp 1920: Official Report (in French).
  • Wudarski, Pawel (1999). "Wyniki Igrzysk Olimpijskich" (in Polish). Retrieved 2 May 2008.