The 1900 Summer Olympics

1900 Summer Olympics

The 1900 Summer Olympics, today officially known as the Games of the II Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event which was celebrated in 1900 in Paris, France. No opening or closing ceremonies were held; competitions began on May 14 and ended on October 28. The Games were held as part of...

in Paris

Paris

Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...

 were the first Olympics at which a Canadian

Canada

Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...

athlete participated. Two Canadians entered, though national teams as they are now were not introduced until later Olympics. Canada's Olympians were George Orton

George Orton

George Washington Orton was a Canadian middle-distance runner. In 1900, he became the first Canadian to win an Olympic medal.-Biography:...

 and Ronald J. MacDonald

Ronald J. MacDonald

Ronald MacDonald was a Canadian runner and winner of the second Boston Marathon in 1898.- First marathon :...

. Orton was the first Canadian to win a medal, finishing first in the 2500 metre steeplechase

Steeplechase (athletics)

The steeplechase is an obstacle race in athletics, which derives its name from the steeplechase in horse racing.-Rules:The length of the race is usually 3000 m; junior events are 2000 m, as women's events formerly were. The circuit has four ordinary barriers and one water jump. Over 3000 m, each...

. He later finished third in the 400 metre hurdles and fifth in the 4000 metre steeplechase. Orton, who was at school at the University of Pennsylvania

University of Pennsylvania

The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...

, had accompanied a United States delegation to the games.

Gold

• George Orton
  George Orton
  George Washington Orton was a Canadian middle-distance runner. In 1900, he became the first Canadian to win an Olympic medal.-Biography:...
  
   — Athletics
  Athletics at the 1900 Summer Olympics
  At the 1900 Summer Olympics, twenty-three athletics events were contested. 117 athletes from 15 nations competed. In many countries, due in part to the conflagration of the Olympic Games and the World's Fair in Paris, the media discussed only the athletics events under the "Olympic" name while...
  
  , Men's 2500 metre Steeplechase

Bronze

• George Orton — Athletics
  Athletics at the 1900 Summer Olympics
  At the 1900 Summer Olympics, twenty-three athletics events were contested. 117 athletes from 15 nations competed. In many countries, due in part to the conflagration of the Olympic Games and the World's Fair in Paris, the media discussed only the athletics events under the "Olympic" name while...
  
  , Men's 400 metre Hurdles

Athletics

Both of Canada's competitors competed in athletics, with Orton taking a gold and a bronze medal to tie the nation for 4th on the athletics medal leaderboard.

Event	Place	Athlete	Heat	Final
400 metre hurdles	3rd	George Orton George Orton George Washington Orton was a Canadian middle-distance runner. In 1900, he became the first Canadian to win an Olympic medal.-Biography:...	Walkover 2nd, heat 2	Unknown
2500 metre steeplechase	1st	George Orton	None held	7:34.4
4000 metre steeplechase	5th	George Orton	None held	Unknown
Marathon	6th/7th	Ronald MacDonald Ronald J. MacDonald Ronald MacDonald was a Canadian runner and winner of the second Boston Marathon in 1898.- First marathon :...	None held	Unknown