New Zealand at the 1920 Summer Olympics

Summary

New Zealand competed at the 1920 Summer Olympics in Antwerp, Belgium. It was the first time that the nation had competed independently at the Olympic Games (even though the International Olympic Committee had a New Zealand member — Leonard Cuff — at its establishment). At the 1908 and 1912 Summer Olympics, New Zealand had competed with Australia in a combined team called Australasia.

New Zealand at the
1920 Summer Olympics
IOC codeNZL
NOCOlympic Council of New Zealand
Websitewww.olympic.org.nz
in Antwerp
Competitors4 in 3 sports
Flag bearerHarry Wilson (athlete)
Medals
Ranked 22nd
Gold
0
Silver
0
Bronze
1
Total
1
Summer Olympics appearances (overview)
Other related appearances
 Australasia (1908–1912)

The New Zealand team consisted of four competitors including the first woman to represent New Zealand at the Olympic Games, Violet Walrond who was only aged 15 at the time. The team can be considered one of the most successful ever as all team members finished fifth or better in at least one of their events. The opening flagbearer was hurdler Harry Wilson. Walrond's father Cecil, generally known as Tui Walrond, was both her chaperone and also the unofficial trainer for the New Zealand team.[1][2]

Medallists edit

Medal Name Sport Event
  Bronze Darcy Hadfield Rowing Men's single sculls

Athletics edit

Two athletes represented New Zealand in the nation's independent Olympic debut in 1920. The two men advanced to the final in two of their three events, placing fourth and fifth.

Athlete Event Heats Quarterfinals Semifinals Final
Result Rank[i] Result Rank[i] Result Rank[i] Result Rank
George Davidson 100 m 11.1 2 Q 10.9 3 did not advance
200 m 22.6 1 Q 22.8 1 Q 22.5 3 Q 22.3 5
Harry Wilson 110 m hurdles 15.8 2 Q 15.3 3 Q 15.2 4
  1. ^ a b c Ranks given are within each individual heat, quarterfinal or semifinal

Rowing edit

 
Back row from left: Tui and Violet Walrond, George Davidson; front: Harry Wilson and Darcy Hadfield

A single rower represented New Zealand in 1920. It was the nation's debut in the sport. Hadfield was defeated in the semifinals of the single sculls, but took the bronze medal as the faster losing semifinalist.[3]

Athlete Event Quarterfinals Semifinals Final
Result Rank Result Rank Result Rank
Darcy Hadfield Single sculls 8:05.0 1 Q 7:49.2 2 Did not race  

Swimming edit

A single swimmer represented New Zealand in 1920. It was the nation's debut in the sport as well as its first independent appearance at the Olympics. Walrond was the first woman from New Zealand to compete in the Olympics.

Swimmer Event Semifinals Final
Result Rank[i] Result Rank
Violet Walrond Women's 100 m freestyle 1:21.4 3 q Unknown 5
Women's 300 m freestyle 5:04.6 2 Q Unknown 7
  1. ^ Ranks given are within the semifinal

References edit

  1. ^ "Birth of an Olympic rowing tradition". Ministry for Culture and Heritage. 20 December 2012. Retrieved 17 June 2017.
  2. ^ "Violet Walrond, our first female Olympian". Ministry for Culture and Heritage. 15 July 2013. Retrieved 17 June 2017.
  3. ^ Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Rowing at the 1920 Antwerpen Summer Games: Men's Single Sculls Semi-Finals". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on 17 April 2020. Retrieved 24 September 2016.
  • Belgium Olympic Committee (1957). Olympic Games Antwerp 1920: Official Report (PDF) (in French).
  • Palenski, Ron and Terry Maddaford (1983). The Games. MOA Publications Limited. ISBN 0-908570-62-7.
  • Wudarski, Pawel (1999). "Wyniki Igrzysk Olimpijskich" (in Polish). Retrieved 16 August 2007.
  • International Olympic Committee results database

External links edit

  • Photo of New Zealand team on ship en route to Antwerp
  • Cover of 1920 Olympic Programme owned by Walrond family