Francis Adonijah Lane (23 September 1874–17 February 1927) was an American

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

 athlete. He competed at the 1896 Summer Olympics

1896 Summer Olympics

The 1896 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the I Olympiad, was a multi-sport event celebrated in Athens, Greece, from April 6 to April 15, 1896. It was the first international Olympic Games held in the Modern era...

 in Greece

Greece

Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....

.

Lane competed in the 100 metres, winning his heat with a time of 12.2 seconds. In the final, Lane finished in a dead heat for third place with Alojz Sokol

Alojz Sokol

Alajos Szokolyi or Alajos Szokoly was a Hungarian athlete and physician from the Kingdom of Hungary. He competed in the 1896 Summer Olympics....

 of Hungary

Kingdom of Hungary

The Kingdom of Hungary comprised present-day Hungary, Slovakia and Croatia , Transylvania , Carpatho Ruthenia , Vojvodina , Burgenland , and other smaller territories surrounding present-day Hungary's borders...

 at 12.6 seconds, just barely ahead of Alexandros Chalkokondilis of Greece. Lane and Szokolyi are currently both considered to be bronze medal

Bronze medal

A bronze medal is a medal awarded to the third place finisher of contests such as the Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games, etc. The practice of awarding bronze third place medals began at the 1904 Olympic Games in St...

lists by the International Olympic Committee

International Olympic Committee

The International Olympic Committee is an international corporation based in Lausanne, Switzerland, created by Pierre de Coubertin on 23 June 1894 with Demetrios Vikelas as its first president...

. The Olympic Champion was honoured with a silver medal, an olive branch and a diploma. The second athlete with a bronze medal, laurel branch and a diploma, nothing for the third best man.

Lane was one of four students from Princeton University

Princeton University

Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....

 who participated in the Athens Games. The other Princetonians were Robert Garrett

Robert Garrett

Robert Garrett was an American athlete. He was the first modern Olympic champion in discus throw and shot put.-Biography:...

, Albert Tyler

Albert Tyler (athlete)

Albert Clinton Tyler was an American athlete. He competed at the 1896 Summer Olympics in Athens....

 and Herbert Jamison

Herbert Jamison

Herbert Jamison was an American track and field athlete. He competed at the 1896 Summer Olympics in Athens....

.