Tug of war at the Summer Olympics
Encyclopedia
Tug of war
Tug of war
Tug of war, also known as tug o' war, tug war, rope war or rope pulling, is a sport that directly pits two teams against each other in a test of strength. The term may also be used as a metaphor to describe a demonstration of brute strength by two opposing groups, such as a rivalry between two...

was contested as a team event in the Summer Olympics at every Olympiad from 1900 to 1920. Originally the competition was entered by clubs, which meant that one country could win several medals. This happened in 1904
1904 Summer Olympics
The 1904 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the III Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event which was celebrated in St. Louis, Missouri, in the United States from 1 July 1904, to November 23, 1904, at what is now known as Francis Field on the campus of Washington University...

, when the United States
United States at the Olympics
The United States of America has sent athletes to every celebration of the modern Olympic Games, except the 1980 Summer Olympics, which it boycotted.The United States Olympic Committee is the National Olympic Committee for the United States....

 won all three medals, and in 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...

 when the podium was occupied by three British teams. Sweden was also among the top countries with two medals, one as a member of the mixed team.

During its time as an Olympic sport, it was considered to be part of the Olympic athletics programme
Athletics at the Summer Olympics
Athletics has been contested at every Summer Olympics since the birth of the modern Olympic movement at the 1896 Summer Olympics. The athletics program traces its earliest roots to events used in the ancient Greek Olympics. The modern program now comprises track and field events, road running...

, although the sports of tug of war
Tug of war
Tug of war, also known as tug o' war, tug war, rope war or rope pulling, is a sport that directly pits two teams against each other in a test of strength. The term may also be used as a metaphor to describe a demonstration of brute strength by two opposing groups, such as a rivalry between two...

 and athletics are now considered distinct.

Medal table

1  United Kingdom 2 2 1 5
2  United States 1 1 1 3
3  Sweden 1 0 0 1
1 0 0 1
5  France 0 1 0 1
 Netherlands 0 1 0 1
7  Belgium 0 0 1 1
Total 5 5 3 13

Medal summary

1900 Paris
Tug of war at the 1900 Summer Olympics
At the 1900 Summer Olympics, a tug of war tournament was contested. Three teams entered, but the United States withdrew because of scheduling conflicts with the athletics program. Twelve athletes, comprising two teams and representing three nations, competed....








Raymond Basset
Raymond Basset
Denis Raymond Basset was a French tug of war competitor, who competed in the 1900 Summer Olympics.He participated in the tug of war competition and won a silver medal as a member of French team.-External links:*...


Jean Collas
Jean Collas
Jean Collas was a French rugby union player and tug of war competitor, who competed in the 1900 Summer Olympics.He was a member of the French rugby union team, which won the gold medal....


Charles Gondouin
Charles Gondouin
Charles Gondouin was a French rugby union player and tug of war competitor, who competed in the 1900 Summer Olympics.He was a member of the French rugby union team, which won the gold medal....


Joseph Roffo
Joseph Roffo
Joseph Roffo was a French rugby union player and tug of war competitor, who competed in the 1900 Summer Olympics.He participated in the tug of war competition and won a silver medal as a member of French team....


Emile Sarrade
Émile Sarrade
Émile Sarrade was a French rugby union player and tug of war competitor, who competed in the 1900 Summer Olympics.He was a member of the French rugby union team, which won the gold medal....


Constantin Henriquez de Zubiera
Constantin Henriquez de Zubiera
Constantin Henriquez de Zubiera was a Haitian-born French rugby union footballer. He played as number eight, wing and centre.He played at Olympique de Paris and Stade Français...

none - only two teams competed
1904 St. Louis
Tug of war at the 1904 Summer Olympics
At the 1904 Summer Olympics, a tug of war tournament was contested. Six teams from three nations competing, with a total of 30 athletes involved. The four American teams took the top four places.-Results:...


(Milwaukee Athletic Club)
Oscar Olson
Oscar Olson
Oscar G. Olson was an American tug of war athlete who competed in the 1904 Summer Olympics.In the 1904 Olympics he won a gold medal as a member of Milwaukee Athletic Club team....


Sidney Johnson
Sidney Johnson (tug of war)
Sidney B. Johnson was an American tug of war athlete who competed in the 1904 Summer Olympics.He was born in Ohio.In the 1904 Olympics he won a gold medal as a member of Milwaukee Athletic Club team....


Henry Seiling
Henry Seiling
Henry Seiling was an American tug of war athlete who competed in the 1904 Summer Olympics.He was born in Wisconsin.In the 1904 Olympics he won a gold medal as a member of Milwaukee Athletic Club team....


Conrad Magnusson
Conrad Magnusson
Conrad Magnusson was an American tug of war athlete who competed in the 1904 Summer Olympics.In the 1904 Olympics he won a gold medal as a member of Milwaukee Athletic Club team.-External links:**...


Patrick Flanagan
Patrick Flanagan (tug of war)
Patrick "Pat" Flanagan was an American tug of war athlete who competed in the 1904 Summer Olympics.In the 1904 Olympics he won a gold medal as a member of Milwaukee Athletic Club team.-External links:*...


(Southwest Turnverein of Saint Louis No. 1)
Max Braun
Max Braun
Max Braun was an American tug of war competitor and Olympic medalist. He competed in the 1904 Summer Olympics in St. Louis, where he received a silver medal.-References:...


William Seiling
William Seiling
William Bernard Seiling was an American tug of war athlete who competed in the 1904 Summer Olympics.He was born in St. Louis, Missouri and died in Rural-Meramec....


Orrin Upshaw
Orrin Upshaw
Orrin Thomas Upshaw was an American tug of war athlete who competed in the 1904 Summer Olympics.In the 1904 Olympics he won a silver medal as a member of Southwest Turnverein of Saint Louis No. 1 team....


Charles Rose
Charles Rose (athlete)
Charles "Chuck" Rose was an American tug of war athlete who competed in the 1904 Summer Olympics.In the 1904 Olympics he won a silver medal as a member of St. Louis Southwest Turnverein team.-External links:*...


August Rodenberg
August Rodenberg
August Henry Rodenberg was an American tug of war athlete who competed in the 1904 Summer Olympics.He was born and died in St. Louis, Missouri....


(Southwest Turnverein of Saint Louis No. 2)
Charles Haberkorn
Charles Haberkorn
Charles Haberkorn was an American tug of war competitor and wrestler who competed in the 1904 Summer Olympics.In the 1904 Olympics he won a bronze medal as a member of Southwest Turnverein of Saint Louis No...


Frank Kugler
Frank Kugler
Frank X. Kugler was an American wrestler, weightlifter and tug of war competitor who competed in the 1904 Summer Olympics....


Charles Thias
Charles Thias
Charles Henry Robert Thias was an American tug of war athlete who competed in the 1904 Summer Olympics....


Harry Jacobs
Harry Jacobs (tug of war)
Harry Jacobs was an American tug of war athlete who competed in the 1904 Summer Olympics.In the 1904 Olympics he won a bronze medal as a member of St. Louis Southwest Turnverein team.-External links:*...


Oscar Friede
Oscar Friede
Oscar Charles Friede was an American tug of war athlete who competed in the 1904 Summer Olympics.He died in St. Louis, Missouri....

1908 London
Tug of war at the 1908 Summer Olympics
-Medal table:-Medal summary:-City of London Police:* Edward Barrett* John Duke* Frederick Goodfellow* Frederick Humphreys* William Hirons* Albert Ireton* Frederick Merriman* Edwin Mills* John James Shepherd-Liverpool Police:* James Clarke...


(City of London Police)
William Hirons
William Hirons
William Hirons was a British tug of war competitor who competed in the 1908 Summer Olympics.He was part of the British team that won the gold medal in the tug of war competition.-External links:*...


Frederick Goodfellow
Frederick Goodfellow
Frederick "Fred" William Goodfellow was a British tug of war competitor who competed in the 1908 Summer Olympics.He was part of the British team, which won the gold medal in the tug of war competition.-External links:*...


Edward Barrett
John James Shepherd
John James Shepherd
John James Shepherd was a British tug of war competitor who competed in the 1908 Summer Olympics, in the 1912 Summer Olympics, and in the 1920 Summer Olympics....


Frederick Humphreys
Frederick Humphreys (athlete)
Frederick Harkness Humphreys was a British tug of war competitor and sport wrestler who competed in the 1908 Summer Olympics, in the 1912 Summer Olympics, and in the 1920 Summer Olympics....


Edwin Mills
Edwin Mills
Edwin Archer Mills was a British tug of war competitor who competed in the 1908 Summer Olympics, in the 1912 Summer Olympics, and in the 1920 Summer Olympics....


Albert Ireton
Albert Ireton
Albert Ireton was a British tug of war competitor and boxer who competed in the 1908 Summer Olympics....


Frederick Merriman
Frederick Merriman (athlete)
Frederick "Fred" Harris Merriman was a British tug of war competitor who competed in the 1908 Summer Olympics.He was part of the British team, which won the gold medal in the tug of war competition.-External links:*...


John Duke

(Liverpool Police)
Patrick Philbin
James Clarke
James Clarke (athlete)
James Michael Clarke was a British tug of war competitor who competed in the 1908 Summer Olympics.In 1908 he won the silver medal as member of the British team Liverpool Police.-External links:*...


Thomas Butler
Alexander Kidd
Alexander Kidd
Alexander Kidd was a British tug of war competitor who competed in the 1908 Summer Olympics. In 1908 he won the silver medal as member of the British team Liverpool Police.-External links:**...


George Smith
George Smith (athlete)
George Smith was a British tug of war competitor who competed in the 1908 Summer Olympics.In 1908 he won the silver medal as member of the British team Liverpool Police.-External links:*...


Thomas Swindlehurst
Thomas Swindlehurst
Thomas Swindlehurst was a British tug of war competitor who competed in the 1908 Summer Olympics.In 1908 he won the silver medal as member of the British team Liverpool Police.-External links:*...


Daniel Lowey
Daniel Lowey
Daniel McDonald Lowey was a British tug of war competitor who competed in the 1908 Summer Olympics.In 1908 he won the silver medal as member of the British team Liverpool Police.-External links:*...


William Greggan
William Greggan
William Greggan was a British tug of war competitor who competed in the 1908 Summer Olympics.In 1908 he won the silver medal as member of the British team Liverpool Police.-External links:*...


Charles Foden

(Metropolitan Police K Division)
Walter Tammas
Walter Tammas
Walter Baldry Tammas was a British tug of war competitor who competed in the 1908 Summer Olympics.In 1908 he won the bronze medal as member of the British team Metropolitan Police "K" Division....


William Slade
William Slade (athlete)
William Slade was a British tug of war competitor who competed in the 1908 Summer Olympics.In 1908 he won the bronze medal as member of the British team Metropolitan Police "K" Division.-External links:*...


Alexander Munro
Ernest Ebbage
Ernest Ebbage
Ernest Walter Ebbage was a British tug of war competitor who competed in the 1908 Summer Olympics.In 1908 he won the bronze medal as member of the British team Metropolitan Police "K" Division....


Thomas Homewood
Thomas Homewood
Thomas Homewood was a British tug of war competitor who competed in the 1908 Summer Olympics.In 1908 he won the bronze medal as member of the British team Metropolitan Police "K" Division.-External links:**...


Walter Chaffe
Walter Chaffe
Walter Chaffe was a British tug of war competitor who competed in the 1908 Summer Olympics and in the 1912 Summer Olympics....


James Woodget
James Woodget
James Henry Woodget was a British tug of war competitor who competed in the 1908 Summer Olympics.In 1908 he won the bronze medal as member of the British team Metropolitan Police "K" Division....


Joseph Dowler
Joseph Dowler
Joseph Dowler was a British tug of war competitor who competed in the 1908 Summer Olympics and in the 1912 Summer Olympics....


T. J. Williams
1912 Stockholm
Tug of war at the 1912 Summer Olympics
The tug of war contest at the 1912 Summer Olympics consisted of a single match, as only two teams entered the competition.Sweden was represented by the Stockholm Police, while Great Britain's team came from the defending champion City of London Police...


Arvid Andersson
Adolf Bergman
Adolf Bergman
Adolf Bergman was a Swedish tug of war competitor who competed in the 1912 Summer Olympics.He was part of the Swedish team, which won the gold medal in the tug of war competition.-External links:*...


Johan Edman
Johan Edman
Johan Viktor Edman was a Swedish tug of war competitor who competed in the 1912 Summer Olympics.He was part of the Swedish team, which won the gold medal in the tug of war competition.-External links:*...


Erik Algot Fredriksson
Erik Algot Fredriksson
Erik Algot Fredriksson was a Swedish tug of war competitor who competed in the 1912 Summer Olympics.He was part of the Swedish team, which won the gold medal in the tug of war competition.-External links:*...


Carl Jonsson
Carl Jonsson
Carl Jonsson was a Swedish tug of war competitor who competed in the 1912 Summer Olympics.He was part of the Swedish team, which won the gold medal in the tug of war competition.-External links:*...


Erik Larsson
August Gustafsson
August Gustafsson
Per August Gustafsson was a Swedish tug of war competitor who competed in the 1912 Summer Olympics.He was part of the Swedish team, which won the gold medal in the tug of war competition.-External links:*...


Herbert Lindström
Herbert Lindström
Carl Herbert Lindström was a Swedish tug of war competitor who competed in the 1912 Summer Olympics.He was part of the Swedish team, which won the gold medal in the tug of war competition.-External links:*...


Alexander Munro
John Sewell
John Sewell (athlete)
John Sewell was a British tug of war competitor who competed in the 1912 Summer Olympics and in the 1920 Summer Olympics.In 1912 he won the silver medal as part of the British team City of London Police....


John James Shepherd
John James Shepherd
John James Shepherd was a British tug of war competitor who competed in the 1908 Summer Olympics, in the 1912 Summer Olympics, and in the 1920 Summer Olympics....


Joseph Dowler
Joseph Dowler
Joseph Dowler was a British tug of war competitor who competed in the 1908 Summer Olympics and in the 1912 Summer Olympics....


Edwin Mills
Edwin Mills
Edwin Archer Mills was a British tug of war competitor who competed in the 1908 Summer Olympics, in the 1912 Summer Olympics, and in the 1920 Summer Olympics....


Frederick Humphreys
Frederick Humphreys (athlete)
Frederick Harkness Humphreys was a British tug of war competitor and sport wrestler who competed in the 1908 Summer Olympics, in the 1912 Summer Olympics, and in the 1920 Summer Olympics....


Mathias Hynes
Mathias Hynes
Mathias Hynes was a British tug of war competitor who competed in the 1912 Summer Olympics.In 1912 he won the silver medal as member of the British team City of London Police, though he was Irish....


Walter Chaffe
Walter Chaffe
Walter Chaffe was a British tug of war competitor who competed in the 1908 Summer Olympics and in the 1912 Summer Olympics....

none - only two teams competed
1920 Antwerp
Tug of war at the 1920 Summer Olympics
The tug of war contest at the 1920 Summer Olympics was held on August 17, 1920 and on August 18, 1920.-Medal summary:-Participating nations:A total of 40 tug of war competitors from 5 nations competed at the Antwerp Games:...


George Canning
George Canning (athlete)
George Walter Canning was a British tug of war competitor who competed in the 1920 Summer Olympics.In 1920 he won the gold medal as member of the British team.-External links:*...


Frederick Holmes
Frederick Holmes
Frederick William Holmes was a British tug of war competitor who competed in the 1920 Summer Olympics.In 1920 he won the gold medal as member of the British team.-External links:*...


Edwin Mills
Edwin Mills
Edwin Archer Mills was a British tug of war competitor who competed in the 1908 Summer Olympics, in the 1912 Summer Olympics, and in the 1920 Summer Olympics....


John James Shepherd
John James Shepherd
John James Shepherd was a British tug of war competitor who competed in the 1908 Summer Olympics, in the 1912 Summer Olympics, and in the 1920 Summer Olympics....


Harry Stiff
Harry Stiff
Harold "Harry" Joseph Stiff was a British tug of war competitor who competed in the 1920 Summer Olympics, and won the gold medal.-External links:*...


John Sewell
John Sewell (athlete)
John Sewell was a British tug of war competitor who competed in the 1912 Summer Olympics and in the 1920 Summer Olympics.In 1912 he won the silver medal as part of the British team City of London Police....


Frederick Humphreys
Frederick Humphreys (athlete)
Frederick Harkness Humphreys was a British tug of war competitor and sport wrestler who competed in the 1908 Summer Olympics, in the 1912 Summer Olympics, and in the 1920 Summer Olympics....


Ernest Thorn
Ernest Thorn
Ernest Arthur Thorn was a British tug of war competitor who competed in the 1920 Summer Olympics.In 1920 he won the gold medal as member of the British team.-External links:*...


Willem van Rekum
Willem van Rekum
Willem Cornelis van Rekum was a Dutch tug of war competitor who competed in the 1920 Summer Olympics.He was born in Arnhem and died in Arnhem....


Marinus van Rekum
Marinus van Rekum
Marinus Cornelis van Rekum was a Dutch tug of war competitor who competed in the 1920 Summer Olympics.He was born in Arnhem and died in Arnhem....


Willem van Loon
Willem van Loon
Willem van Loon was a Dutch tug of war competitor, who competed in the 1920 Summer Olympics.He was born in Arnhem and died in Arnhem.In 1920 Van Loon won the silver medal as member of the Dutch tug of war team....


Henk Janssen
Henk Janssen
Hendrikus Alexander Janssen was a Dutch tug of war competitor, who competed in the 1920 Summer Olympics.He was born in Arnhem and died in Arnhem....


Wilhelmus Bekkers
Wilhelmus Bekkers
Wilhelmus Johannes Bekkers was a Dutch tug of war competitor, who competed in the 1920 Summer Olympics.He was born and died in Arnhem....


Johannes Hengeveld
Johannes Hengeveld
Johannes Hendrikus Hengeveld was a Dutch tug of war competitor, who competed in the 1920 Summer Olympics.He was born in Arnhem and died in Arnhem....


Sijtse Jansma
Sijtse Jansma
Sijtse Jansma was a Dutch tug of war competitor who competed in the 1920 Summer Olympics.He was born in Leeuwarden and died in Amsterdam.In 1920 he won the silver medal as member of the Dutch tug of war team....


Antonius van Loon
Antonius van Loon
Antonius van Loon was a Dutch tug of war competitor, who competed in the 1920 Summer Olympics.He was born in Arnhem and died in Arnhem.In 1920 Van Loon won the silver medal as member of the Dutch tug of war team....


Édouard Bourguignon
Édouard Bourguignon
Édouard Bourguignon was a Belgian tug of war competitor who competed in the 1920 Summer Olympics.In 1920 he won the bronze medal as member of the Belgian tug of war team.-External links:*...


Alphonse Ducatillon
Alphonse Ducatillon
Alphonse Ducatillon was a Belgian tug of war competitor who competed in the 1920 Summer Olympics.In 1920 he won the bronze medal as member of the Belgian tug of war team.-External links:*...


Raymond Maertens
Christin Piek
Christin Piek
Christin Albert Piek was a Belgian tug of war competitor who competed in the 1920 Summer Olympics.In 1920 he won the bronze medal as member of the Belgian tug of war team.-External links:*...


Henri Pintens
Henri Pintens
Henri Pintens was a Belgian tug of war competitor who competed in the 1920 Summer Olympics.In 1920 he won the bronze medal as member of the Belgian tug of war team.-External links:*...


Charles Van den Broeck
Charles Van den Broeck
Charles Van den Broeck was a Belgian tug of war competitor who competed in the 1920 Summer Olympics.In 1920 he won the bronze medal as member of the Belgian tug of war team.-External links:*...


François Van Hoorenbeek
François Van Hoorenbeek
François Van Hoorenbeek was a Belgian tug of war competitor who competed in the 1920 Summer Olympics.In 1920 he won the bronze medal as member of the Belgian tug of war team.-External links:*...


Gustave Wuyts
Gustave Wuyts
Gustave Marius Wuyts was a Belgian tug of war competitor who competed in the 1920 Summer Olympics.In 1920 he won the bronze medal as member of the Belgian tug of war team.-External links:*...


Nations

Teams consisted of 6 members in 1900 (Denmark and Sweden competed together), 5 members in 1904, and 8 members in the last three appearances of the sport.
Nation 00
Tug of war at the 1900 Summer Olympics
At the 1900 Summer Olympics, a tug of war tournament was contested. Three teams entered, but the United States withdrew because of scheduling conflicts with the athletics program. Twelve athletes, comprising two teams and representing three nations, competed....

 
04
Tug of war at the 1904 Summer Olympics
At the 1904 Summer Olympics, a tug of war tournament was contested. Six teams from three nations competing, with a total of 30 athletes involved. The four American teams took the top four places.-Results:...

 
08
Tug of war at the 1908 Summer Olympics
-Medal table:-Medal summary:-City of London Police:* Edward Barrett* John Duke* Frederick Goodfellow* Frederick Humphreys* William Hirons* Albert Ireton* Frederick Merriman* Edwin Mills* John James Shepherd-Liverpool Police:* James Clarke...

 
12
Tug of war at the 1912 Summer Olympics
The tug of war contest at the 1912 Summer Olympics consisted of a single match, as only two teams entered the competition.Sweden was represented by the Stockholm Police, while Great Britain's team came from the defending champion City of London Police...

 
20
Tug of war at the 1920 Summer Olympics
The tug of war contest at the 1920 Summer Olympics was held on August 17, 1920 and on August 18, 1920.-Medal summary:-Participating nations:A total of 40 tug of war competitors from 5 nations competed at the Antwerp Games:...

Years
 Belgium 8 1
 Denmark 3 1
 France 6 1
 United Kingdom 24 8 8 3
 Greece 5 1
 Italy 8 1
 Netherlands 8 1
 South Africa 5 1
 Sweden 3 8 8 3
 United States 20 8 8 3
No. of nations 3 3 3 2 5 10
No. of pullers 12 30 40 16 40 128

External link

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