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Chamonix 1924 Olympic Winter Games
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Former U.S. Army World Class Athlete Program bobsledder Steven Holcomb, front, is greeted at the finish line after teaming with Justin Olsen, Steve Mesler and Curtis Tomasevicz to win the first Olympic bobsleigh gold medal in 62 years for Team USA ,(cont)
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January 25, 1924 - February 5, 1924
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First Winter Olympic Games
First Winter Olympic Games The start of the 10,000-meter speed skating event at the inaugural Winter Olympics in Chamonix, France, January 1924.

Chamonix 1924 Olympic Winter Games

Also known as: I Olympic Winter Games
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History

Chamonix 1924 Olympic Winter Games, athletic festival held in Chamonix, France, that took place January 25–February 5, 1924. The Chamonix Games were the first occurrence of the Winter Olympic Games.

The Chamonix Games were originally staged as International Winter Sports Week, a meet sponsored by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) but not sanctioned as an official Olympic Games. Well-organized and equipped with new facilities, the event was a success and led the IOC to amend its charter in 1925, establishing the Winter Games. Chamonix was thereafter recognized as the first Winter Olympics.

Some 250 athletes representing 16 countries attended the Games, competing in 16 events. The 13 female athletes participated in the figure skating competitions, the only sport open to women at the Winter Games until the addition of the Alpine (skiing) combined in the 1936 Olympics in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany.

Silhouette of hand holding sport torch behind the rings of an Olympic flag, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; February 3, 2015.
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U.S. Olympic hockey team in Chamonix
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U.S. Olympic hockey team in ChamonixMembers of the U.S. Olympic ice hockey team before a practice during the Chamonix Olympic Winter Games, January 30, 1924.
On the ice
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On the iceFigure skaters (from left) Herma Planck-Szabo of Austria, Ethel Muckelt of Great Britain, and Beatrix Loughran of the United States during the Chamonix 1924 Olympic Winter Games.

Finnish speed skater Clas Thunberg turned in the most impressive performance at Chamonix, capturing three gold medals, one silver, and one bronze. Norwegian Thorleif Haug was the star of the Nordic skiing competition, winning three events. Canada dominated the ice hockey competition, winning games by as many as 33 goals before defeating the United States in the championship game 6–1. Chamonix also marked the Olympic debut of 11-year-old figure skater Sonja Henie of Norway. Though she would become one of the greatest figure skaters of all time, she finished last in the standings.

Most medals by country

  • Norway: 17
  • Finland: 11
  • United States: 4
  • Great Britain: 4
  • Austria: 3
  • Switzerland: 3
  • France: 3

Note: Medal count per the IOC website.

The Editors of Encyclopaedia BritannicaThis article was most recently revised and updated by Will Gosner.
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