Olympians

Olympians from Princeton have placed among the top three in twenty-four events since the ancient games were revived in their modern form in 1896: fifteen in track and field, three in swimming, two in fencing and rowing, and one in basketball and pistol shooting. In the first Olympic Games, Robert Garrett 1897 set a Princeton record that has yet to be equalled when he won a third place, a second, and two firsts -- one in the discus throw, an event in which he had never competed before. Princeton's most recent Olympic winner was oarswoman Carol Brown '75, who earned a bronze medal as a member of the United States eight-oared crew that finished third at Montreal in 1976. Princetonians who have placed among the top three in their events have been:*

1896-ATHENS

Robert Garrett 1897, first place, discus throw (95 feet, 7« inches); first place, shot put (36 feet, 2 inches); second place, long jump (20 feet, 3¬ inches); third place, high jump (5 feet, 73/8 inches).
Herbert B. Jamison 1897, second place, 400-meter run (55.2 seconds).
Albert C. Tyler 1897, second place, pole vault (10 feet, 8 inches).

1900-PARIS

Frank W. Jarvis '00, first place, 100-meter dash (10 4/5 seconds).
John F. Cregan 1899, second place, 800-meter run (2 minutes, 1.2 seconds).
Robert Garrett 1897, third place, shotput (40 feet, 7 inches).

1904-ST LOUIS

William W. Coe '03, second place, shot-put (47 feet, 3 inches).
John R. DeWitt '04, second place, hammer throw (164 feet, 11 inches).
G. P. Serviss '03, second place, high jump (5 feet, 9 inches).

1920-ANTWERP

Karl T. Frederick '03, gold medal, free pistol shooting at range of 50 meters (496 points).
Henry Breckinridge '07, bronze medal, as member of the U.S. foil team which placed third.

1924-PARIS

William E. Stevenson '22, gold medal as member of winning team in 1600-meter relay (3 minutes, 16 seconds -- a new Olympic record).
Ralph G. Hills '25, bronze medal, shotput (48 feet, « inch).

1928-AMSTERDAM

Benjamin van D. Hedges, Jr. '30, silver medal, high jump (6 feet, 3¬ inches).

1932-LOS ANGELES

Tracy Jaeckel '28, bronze medal, as member of U.S. ‚pe‚ team, which placed third.

1936-BERLIN

Albert Vande Veghe '40, silver medal, 100-meter backstroke (1 minute, 7.7 seconds).

1964-TOKYO

William W. Bradley, Jr. '65, gold medal as member (and captain) of winning U.S. basketball team that beat the U.S.S.R. team in the final game, 73-59.
Jed R. Graef '64, gold medal in 200-meter backstroke (2 minutes, 10.3 seconds -- a world and Olympic record).
Seymour L. Cromwell II '56, silver medal in double sculls (7 minutes, 13.16 seconds).

1968-MEXICO CITY

Ross Wales '69, bronze medal, 100-meter butterfly (57.2 seconds).

1976-MONTREAL

Carol Brown '75, bronze medal, as member of women's eight-oared crew that placed third.

In addition to the foregoing medalists, a score of other Princetonians have represented the United States on various Olympic teams, and members of the faculty and administration have played key roles in the organization and development of the Games. Professor William M. Sloane was a member of the international committee that organized the first Olympics in 1896, and Professor Charles W. Kennedy '03 and Dr. Joseph W. Raycroft both served as vice-chairman of the United States Olympic Committee, with which Asa S. Bushnell '21 was identified in various capacities for almost forty years. University Physician Harry R. McPhee was head physician for the United States teams in 1952, 1960, and 1964, and Princeton's head trainer Edward G. Zanfrini was trainer for the United States teams in 1952, 1956, 1960, 1964, and 1968.

*The practice of awarding gold, silver, and bronze medals to winners of first, second, and third places was not begun until 1908.

From Alexander Leitch, A Princeton Companion, copyright Princeton University Press (1978).

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