Australia at the 1900 Summer Olympics

Australia at the 1900 Summer Olympics
IOC code	AUS
NOC	Australian Olympic Committee
Website	www.olympics.com.au
in Paris, France 14 May – 28 October 1900
Competitors	2 in 2 sports and 5 events
Medals Ranked 9th	Gold 2 Silver 0 Bronze 3 Total 5
Summer Olympics appearances (overview)
1896 1900 1904 1908 1912 1920 1924 1928 1932 1936 1948 1952 1956 1960 1964 1968 1972 1976 1980 1984 1988 1992 1996 2000 2004 2008 2012 2016 2020 2024
Other related appearances
1906 Intercalated Games ––––  Australasia (1908–1912)

Australia competed at the 1900 Summer Olympics in Paris, France. Most Olympic historians keep Australian records at early Olympics separate from those of the United Kingdom despite Australia's lack of independence at the time.

Australia was represented by two athletes, both of whom won a medal in each event in which they competed. Frederick Lane won two gold medals in swimming and Stan Rowley won a gold medal (as part of a mixed team with Great Britain) and three bronze medals in athletics.

Medalists

Further information: 1900 Summer Olympics medal table

Medals awarded to participants of mixed-NOC teams are represented in italics. These medals are not counted towards the individual NOC medal tally.

Medal	Name	Sport	Event	Date
Gold	Stan Rowley	Athletics	5000 m team race	July 22
Gold	Frederick Lane	Swimming	200 m freestyle	August 12
Gold	Frederick Lane	Swimming	200 m obstacle event	August 12
Bronze	Stan Rowley	Athletics	60 m	July 15
Bronze	Stan Rowley	Athletics	100 m	July 14
Bronze	Stan Rowley	Athletics	200 m	July 22

Swimming

Main article: Swimming at the 1900 Summer Olympics

One swimmer, (Frederick Lane) represented Australia in 1900. It was the nation's debut appearance in the sport. Lane won the 200 metre freestyle and obstacle races, both on the same day. He did not receive gold medals, but instead received bronze sculptures of a horse and peasant girl respectively. He was also the favourite for the 100 metre freestyle, but this event was cancelled.

Athlete	Event	Semi-final		Final
		Time	Rank	Time	Rank
Frederick Lane	200 m freestyle	2:59.0	1 Q	2:25.2
	200 m obstacle event	3:04.0	1 Q	2:38.4

Athletics

Main article: Athletics at the 1900 Summer Olympics

Rowley was Australia's only competitor in athletics. It was Australia's second appearance in the sport. He entered the three sprint events, taking the bronze medal in each of the three. Rowley also joined the Great Britain team in the 5-man team race, as the British squad had only 4 members. The 5 kilometres of the race was much further than Rowley was used to racing. After the first lap of the track, he injured his foot and began to walk. When the last of the other nine competitors (the United Kingdom and France were the only nations to send teams) finished, Rowley was still 1500 metres from the finish; officials allowed him to retire and claim 10th place at that point.

Rowley's three individual medals put him, and Australia, in ninth place on the athletics leaderboard.

Athlete	Event	Heat		Semifinal		Repechage		Final
		Result	Rank	Result	Rank	Result	Rank	Result	Rank
Stan Rowley	60 m	7.3	2 Q	—				7.2
Stan Rowley	100 m	10.9	2 Q	11.2	2 R	11.0	2	11.2
Stan Rowley	200 m	25.0	1 Q	—				22.9
Stan Rowley	400 m	Did not start		—				Did not advance

Non-Olympic events

Shooting

Main article: Shooting at the 1900 Summer Olympics

Donald Mackintosh was a professional shooter from Melbourne. He was travelling through Europe competing in a series of traditional competitions. He won the live game shooting (Prix Centenaire de Paris) with 22 consecutive kills of live pigeons, one more than Marquis de Villancosa of Spain. He finished in the joint third position alongside Crittenden Robinson of the United States in the live pigeon shooting (Grand Prix d'Exposition) with 18, behind the winner Leon de Lunden, who scored 21. Mackintosh' status has often been confused, as some historians were under the impression that game-shooting was an archery contest. The International Olympic Committee does not consider either event Olympic.

References

• Andrews, Malcolm (2000). Australia at the Olympic Games.
• De Wael, Herman. Herman's Full Olympians: "1900 Olympians from Australia". Accessed 11 March 2006. Available electronically at [1].
• Mallon, Bill (1998). The 1900 Olympic Games, Results for All Competitors in All Events, with Commentary. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers. ISBN 0-7864-0378-0.