New Zealand at the 1920 Summer Olympics
Encyclopedia
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.
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 5th or better in at least one of their events. The opening flagbearer was hurdler Harry Wilson
.
Ranks given are within the heat.
Women
Ranks given are within the heat.
Ranks given are within the heat.
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
competed at the 1920 Summer Olympics
1920 Summer Olympics
The 1920 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the VII Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event in 1920 in Antwerp, Belgium....
in Antwerp, Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
. It was the first time that the nation had competed independently at the Olympic Games (even though 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...
had a New Zealand member - Leonard Cuff
Leonard Cuff
Leonard Albert Cuff was a sportsman and sports administrator from New Zealand...
- at its establishment). At the 1908
1908 Summer Olympics
The 1908 Summer Olympics, officially the Games of the IV Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was held in 1908 in London, England, United Kingdom. These games were originally scheduled to be held in Rome. At the time they were the fifth modern Olympic games...
and 1912 Summer Olympics
1912 Summer Olympics
The 1912 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the V Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event held in Stockholm, Sweden, between 5 May and 27 July 1912. Twenty-eight nations and 2,407 competitors, including 48 women, competed in 102 events in 14 sports...
, New Zealand had competed with Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
in a combined team called Australasia.
The New Zealand team consisted of four competitors including the first woman to represent New Zealand at the Olympic Games, Violet Walrond
Violet Walrond
Violet Ethel Mary Walrond was a New Zealand swimmer, who represented New Zealand at the 1920 Summer Olympics at Antwerp at the age of 15, making her New Zealand's first female Olympic athlete...
who was only aged 15 at the time. The team can be considered one of the most successful ever as all team members finished 5th or better in at least one of their events. The opening flagbearer was hurdler Harry Wilson
Harry Wilson (athlete)
Harry Ernest Wilson was a New Zealand track and field athlete who competed in the 1920 Summer Olympics.He was born in Wellington.In 1920 he finished fourth in the 110 metre hurdles competition....
.
Bronze
- Clarence Hadfield D'ArcyClarence Hadfield D'ArcyDarcy Clarence Hadfield was a New Zealand rower who won a bronze medal at the 1920 Summer Olympics in Antwerp. Subsequently he became the third New Zealander to hold the Professional World Sculling Championship....
— RowingRowing at the 1920 Summer OlympicsThe Olympic Rowing Events at the 1920 Summer Olympics, the first Olympics after World War I, saw five events. The competitions were held from August 27, 1920 to August 29, 1920 in Antwerp, Belgium....
, Men's single scull (1x)
Swimming
A single swimmer represented the Netherlands 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.Ranks given are within the heat.
Women
| Swimmer | Event | Semifinals | Final | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Result | Rank | Result | Rank | ||
| Violet Walrond Violet Walrond Violet Ethel Mary Walrond was a New Zealand swimmer, who represented New Zealand at the 1920 Summer Olympics at Antwerp at the age of 15, making her New Zealand's first female Olympic athlete... |
100 m free Swimming at the 1920 Summer Olympics - Women's 100 metre freestyle The women's 100 metre freestyle was a swimming event held as part of the swimming at the 1920 Summer Olympics programme. It was the second appearance of the event, which was one of the two women's events held in 1912.... |
1:21.4 | 3 q | Unknown | 5 |
| 300 m free Swimming at the 1920 Summer Olympics - Women's 300 metre freestyle The women's 300 metre freestyle was a swimming event held as part of the swimming at the 1920 Summer Olympics programme. It was the first appearance of the event, which was later adjusted to 400 metres to match the men's competition.... |
5:04.6 | 2 Q | Unknown | 7 | |
Athletics
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.Ranks given are within the heat.
| Athlete | Event | Heats | Quarterfinals | Semifinals | Final | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Result | Rank | Result | Rank | Result | Rank | Result | Rank | ||
| George Davidson George Davidson (athlete) George Davidson was a New Zealand track and field athlete who competed in the 1920 Summer Olympics, as one of the few "kiwi" sprinters.In 1920 he finished fifth in the 200 metres competition... |
100 m Athletics at the 1920 Summer Olympics - Men's 100 metres The men's 100 metres event was part of the track and field athletics programme at the 1920 Summer Olympics. The competition was held on Sunday, August 15, 1920 and on Monday, August 16, 1920.Sixty-one sprinters from 23 nations competed.-Records:... |
11.1 | 2 Q | Unknown | 3 | Did not advance | |||
| 200 m Athletics at the 1920 Summer Olympics - Men's 200 metres The men's 200 metres event was part of the track and field athletics programme at the 1920 Summer Olympics. The competition was held on Thursday, August 19, 1920 and on Friday, August 20, 1920.Forty-eight sprinters from 22 nations competed.-Records:... |
22.6 | 1 Q | 22.8 | 1 Q | 22.7 | 3 | 22.3 | 5 | |
| Harry Wilson Harry Wilson (athlete) Harry Ernest Wilson was a New Zealand track and field athlete who competed in the 1920 Summer Olympics.He was born in Wellington.In 1920 he finished fourth in the 110 metre hurdles competition.... |
110 m hurdles Athletics at the 1920 Summer Olympics - Men's 110 metre hurdles The men's 110 metres hurdles event was part of the track and field athletics programme at the 1920 Summer Olympics. The competition was held on Tuesday, August 17, 1920 and on Wednesday, August 18, 1920.24 runners from 15 nations competed.-Records:... |
N/A | 15.8 | 2 Q | 15.3 | 3 Q | 15.2 | 4 | |
Rowing
A single rower represented New Zealand in 1920. It was the nation's debut in the sport. D'Arcy was defeated in the semifinals of the single sculls, but took the bronze medal as the fastest losing semifinalist.Ranks given are within the heat.
| Rower | Cox | Event | Quarterfinals | Semifinals | Final | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Result | Rank | Result | Rank | Result | Rank | |||
| Clarence Hadfield D'Arcy Clarence Hadfield D'Arcy Darcy Clarence Hadfield was a New Zealand rower who won a bronze medal at the 1920 Summer Olympics in Antwerp. Subsequently he became the third New Zealander to hold the Professional World Sculling Championship.... |
N/A | Single sculls Rowing at the 1920 Summer Olympics - Men's single sculls The men's single sculls event was part of the rowing programme at the 1920 Summer Olympics. The competition, the fifth appearance of the event, was held from August 27, 1920 to August 29, 1920.Ten rowers, each from a different nation, competed.... |
8:05.0 | 1 Q | 7:49.2 | 2 | Did not advance | |