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Athletics at the 1900 Summer Olympics – Men's 200 metres hurdles

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Men's 200 metres hurdles
at the Games of the II Olympiad
Alvin Kraenzlein
VenueBois de Boulogne
DateJuly 16
Competitors11 from 5 nations
Winning time25.4 OR
Medalists
1st place, gold medalist(s) Alvin Kraenzlein
 United States
2nd place, silver medalist(s) Norman Pritchard
 India
3rd place, bronze medalist(s) Walter Tewksbury
 United States
1904 →

The men's 200 metres hurdles was a hurdling event on the athletics programme at the 1900 Summer Olympics in Paris. It was held on July 16, 1900. 11 athletes from five nations competed in the middle of the three hurdling events. The event was won by Alvin Kraenzlein of the United States, earning his fourth individual gold in athletics in one Games—a record that still stands as of the 2016 Games. The silver medal went to Norman Pritchard of India, while another American (Walter Tewksbury) earned bronze.

Background

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This was the first of only two times the event was held; it would return in 1904 but then be eliminated from the programme. American Alvin Kraenzlein was an overwhelming favorite; he had already won the 60 metres, 110 metres hurdles, and long jump by the time of the 200 metres hurdles.[1]

France, Germany, Hungary, India, and the United States competed in the inaugural 200 metres hurdles event.

Competition format

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The low hurdles competition consisted of two rounds: semifinals and a final. The semifinal round consisted of two heats, with 5 hurdlers in one and 6 in the other. The top 2 athletes in each semifinal advanced to the final.

Records

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World record  Alvin Kraenzlein (USA) 23.8y (220 yds = 201.1 m) New York City 28 May 1898 [2]
Olympic record New event n/a n/a n/a

This was the first time the event was held. Alvin Kraenzlein set the first Olympic record for this event when he ran 27.0 seconds in the first heat of the first round. Norman Pritchard improved this record in the second heat with 26.8 seconds. Finally Alvin Kraenzlein took the Olympic record by winning the final with 25.4 seconds.

Schedule

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Date Time Round
Monday, 16 July 1900 Semifinals
Final

Results

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Semifinals

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In the semifinal round, there were two heats. The top two runners in each advanced to the final.

Semifinal 1

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Kraenzlein won by four yards.

Rank Athlete Nation Time Notes
1 Alvin Kraenzlein  United States 27.0 Q, OR
2 Eugène Choisel  France 27.5 Q
3 Frederick Moloney  United States 27.6
4 William Remington  United States Unknown
5 Gustav Rau  Germany Unknown

Semifinal 2

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Pritchard won by two yards.

Rank Athlete Nation Time Notes
1 Norman Pritchard  India 26.8 Q, OR
2 Walter Tewksbury  United States 27.1 Q
3 Thaddeus McClain  United States 27.2
4 Henri Tauzin  France Unknown
5 William Lewis  United States Unknown
6 Zoltán Speidl  Hungary Unknown

Final

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Kraenzlein won by five yards, despite having been penalized one metre for a false start. The 200 metre hurdles was his fourth individual victory in Paris; no other track and field athlete has won as many individual victories in a single Olympics.

Rank Athlete Nation Time Notes
1st place, gold medalist(s) Alvin Kraenzlein  United States 25.4 OR
2nd place, silver medalist(s) Norman Pritchard  India 26.0
3rd place, bronze medalist(s) Walter Tewksbury  United States 26.1
4 Eugène Choisel  France Unknown

Results summary

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Rank Athlete Nation Semifinals Final Notes
1st place, gold medalist(s) Alvin Kraenzlein  United States 27.0 25.4 OR
2nd place, silver medalist(s) Norman Pritchard  India 26.8 26.0
3rd place, bronze medalist(s) Walter Tewksbury  United States 27.1 26.1
4 Eugène Choisel  France 27.5 Unknown
5 Thaddeus McClain  United States 27.2 did not advance
6 Frederick Moloney  United States 27.6
7 William Remington  United States Unknown 4th in semifinal
Henri Tauzin  France Unknown 4th in semifinal
9 William Lewis  United States Unknown 5th in semifinal
Gustav Rau  Germany Unknown 5th in semifinal
11 Zoltán Speidl  Hungary Unknown 6th in semifinal

References

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  1. ^ "200 metres Hurdles, Men". Olympedia. Retrieved 8 January 2021.
  2. ^ "Progression of IAAF World Records 2015 edition" (PDF). p. 124. Retrieved 14 July 2023.

Sources

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