Swimming at the 1908 Summer Olympics

Dates 13 – 25 July 1908
Medal Events 6

This was likely the best international swimming meet to the date. All of the top swimmers of Britain, Australia, Sweden, the United States, and Hungary were present. The races were held in the 100 metre long pool which was erected in the infield of the White City Stadium, just inside the running track, on the west side of the stadium.

The quality of competition was excellent. Although at this time, world records were not ratified by any organized group, in all six races, the winning time was considered to be a world record. During the 1908 Olympics, however, specifically on 19 July, representatives from England, Ireland, Wales, Belgium, Sweden, Germany, Finland, Hungary, France and Denmark gathered and formed the international swimming federation which has since become known as the Fédération Internationale de Natation Amateur (FINA).

Events

Event Status Date Participants NOCs
100 metres Freestyle, Men Olympic 17 – 20 July 1908 34 12
400 metres Freestyle, Men Olympic 13 – 16 July 1908 25 10
1,500 metres Freestyle, Men Olympic 21 – 25 July 1908 19 8
4 x 200 metres Freestyle Relay, Men Olympic 24 July 1908 24 6
100 metres Backstroke, Men Olympic 16 – 17 July 1908 21 11
200 metres Breaststroke, Men Olympic 15 – 18 July 1908 27 10
100 (100/0) 14 (14/0)

Medals

Event Gold Silver Bronze
100 metres Freestyle, Men Charlie DanielsUSA Zoltán HalmayHUN Harald JulinSWE
400 metres Freestyle, Men Henry TaylorGBR Frank BeaurepaireANZ Otto ScheffAUT
1,500 metres Freestyle, Men Henry TaylorGBR Sydney BattersbyGBR Frank BeaurepaireANZ
4 × 200 metres Freestyle Relay, Men Great BritainGBR HungaryHUN United StatesUSA
100 metres Backstroke, Men Arno BiebersteinGER Ludvig DamDEN Bert HaresnapeGBR
200 metres Breaststroke, Men Fred HolmanGBR William RobinsonGBR Pontus HansonSWE

Medal table

NOC Gold Silver Bronze Total
Great Britain GBR 4 2 1 7
United States USA 1 0 1 2
Germany GER 1 0 0 1
Hungary HUN 0 2 0 2
Australasia ANZ 0 1 1 2
Denmark DEN 0 1 0 1
Sweden SWE 0 0 2 2
Austria AUT 0 0 1 1