Athletics at the 1920 Summer Olympics – Men's 1500 metres

The men's 1500 metres event was part of the track and field athletics programme at the 1920 Summer Olympics. The competition was held on Wednesday, August 18, 1920, and on Thursday, August 19, 1920. Twenty-nine runners from 12 nations competed.[1] No nation had more than 4 runners, suggesting the limit had been reduced from the 12 maximum in force in 1908 and 1912. The event was won by Albert Hill of Great Britain, completing his middle-distance double (gold in the 800 metres and 1500 metres). It was the nation's second consecutive and third overall championship in the men's 1500 metres.

Men's 1500 metres
at the Games of the VII Olympiad
VenueOlympisch Stadion
DatesAugust 18–19
Competitors29 from 12 nations
Winning time4:01.8
Medalists
Albert Hill
 Great Britain
Philip Noel-Baker
 Great Britain
Lawrence Shields
 United States

Background

This was the sixth appearance of the event, which is one of 12 athletics events to have been held at every Summer Olympics. Two finalists from the pre-war 1912 Games returned: sixth-place finisher Philip Noel-Baker of Great Britain and seventh-place finisher John Zander of Sweden. Zander was the world record holder.[2]

Czechoslovakia, Estonia, Japan, and Spain each made their first appearance in the event. The United States made its sixth appearance, the only nation to have competed in the men's 1500 metres at each Games to that point.

Competition format

The competition consisted of two rounds, the format used since 1908. With a smaller field, the focus shifted to fewer semifinals with more qualifiers from each. Only four semifinals were held, with anywhere between 5 and 8 runners in each. The top three runners in each heat advanced to the final, for a 12-man final race (increased to 13 when one semifinalist was advanced after being obstructed).[2]

Records

These were the standing world and Olympic records prior to the 1920 Summer Olympics.

World record John Zander (SWE)3:54.7Stockholm, Sweden5 August 1917
Olympic record Arnold Jackson (GBR)3:56.8Stockholm, Sweden10 July 1912

No world or Olympic records were set during the competition.

Schedule

Date Time Round
Wednesday, 18 August 192015:15Semifinals
Thursday, 19 August 192017:15Final

Results

Semifinal 1

RankAthleteNationTimeNotes
1Václav Vohralík Czechoslovakia4:02.2Q
2Albert Hill Great Britain4:03.2Q
3André Audinet France4:03.7Q
4Edvin Wide Sweden4:03.8
5Edward Lawrence Canada4:03.9
6Carlo Martinenghi ItalyUnknown
Lucien Bangels BelgiumDNF
Edward Curtis United StatesDNF

Semifinal 2

RankAthleteNationTimeNotes
1Sven Lundgren Sweden4:07.0Q
2Duncan McPhee Great Britain4:07.2Q
3Lawrence Shields United States4:07.4Q
4Armand Burtin France4:07.7
5Eivind Rasmussen Norway4:08.2
6Tommy Town CanadaUnknown
7Giuseppe Bonini ItalyUnknown
8Théophile Roeckaert BelgiumUnknown

Semifinal 3

RankAthleteNationTimeNotes
1John Zander Sweden4:08.1Q
2Arturo Porro Italy4:09.0Q
3James Connolly United States4:09.3Q
4Maurice de Conninck France4:09.8
5Léoncé Oleffe Belgium4:11.5

Semifinal 4

René Leray was advanced to the final after being interfered with by Villemson on the final lap.

RankAthleteNationTimeNotes
1Joie Ray United States4:13.4Q
2Philip Noel-Baker Great Britain4:14.3Q
3Léon Fourneau Belgium4:14.8Q
4Fritz Kiölling Sweden4:14.8
5René Leray France4:15.0q
6Saburo Hasumi JapanUnknown
Juan Muguerza SpainDNF
Johannes Villemson EstoniaDSQ

Final

RankAthleteNationTime
1Albert Hill Great Britain4:01.8
2Philip Noel-Baker Great Britain4:02.3
3Lawrence Shields United States4:03.0
4Václav Vohralík Czechoslovakia4:04.6
5Sven Lundgren Sweden4:06.3
6André Audinet France4:06.4
7Arturo Porro Italy4:06.6
8Joie Ray United States4:10.0
9Léon Fourneau Belgium4:10.3
10René Leray France4:16.5
Duncan McPhee Great BritainDNF
James Connolly United StatesDNF
John Zander SwedenDNF

References

  1. "Athletics at the 1920 Antwerp Games: Men's 1500 metres". sports-reference.com. Archived from the original on 17 April 2020. Retrieved 23 October 2017.
  2. "1500 metres, Men". Olympedia. Retrieved 12 August 2020.
  • Belgium Olympic Committee (1957). Olympic Games Antwerp 1920: Official Report (in French).
  • Wudarski, Pawel (1999). "Wyniki Igrzysk Olimpijskich" (in Polish). Retrieved 11 August 2007.
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