QuickCheck: Did the Olympics ever have non-sporting events?

THE Olympic Games currently has been the world’s ultimate arena for athletes to test their mettle against each other for over a hundred years.

But in its past it used to host events that had nothing to do with sports. Is this true?

Verdict:

Red_Tick

TRUE

In its early days (from 1912 to 1948), the Olympics gave out medals for art competitions.

More than 150 medals were awarded during these four decades, in five categories - painting, sculpture, music, architecture and literature.

American Walter Winans won the first gold medal for sculpture in 1912, for his bronze work of a horse titled ‘An American Trotter’. (On the sports side, he bagged silver for sharpshooting in the same year.)

All works entered for these art competitions had to be inspired by sports.

In 1948, art competitions were held for the last time in the Olympics.

It was this year that British artist John Copley became the oldest recipient of an Olympic medal when he won a silver medal in the Painting and Engraving category for his ‘Polo Players’, at the age of 73.

At least, he would be the oldest medal winner if the art competitions still counted.

Since the art competitions are no longer recognised these days, the official oldest sporting medal winner is Swedish shooter Oscar Swahn who was 72 years old when he won a silver medal in the 1920 Olympics.

References:

1. https://olympics.com/

2. https://web.archive.org/web/20200417203831/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/wi/walter-winans-1.html

3. https://web.archive.org/web/20120415094057/http://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/co/john-copley-1.html

4. https://www.topendsports.com/events/summer/oldest-youngest.htm