Quick Intro: 1924 Winter Olympics

The 1924 Winter Olympics games, are considered to be the first official Winter Olympics. The opening ceremonies were held on January 25th 1924, and the games were officially closed on February 5 1924. The games were held in Chamonix France. There were 258 athletes that participated in 16 different events. Some games that were included in the 1924 Winter Olympics were the biathlon, hockey and figure skating.

Over 10,000 paying spectators showed up, to the 1924 Winter Olympic games, to cheer on their favorite countries to victory. Sixteen countries participated in the events, with Norway winning the most medals. Norway wound up with a grand total of seventeen medals. Even though the United States would wind up with a final total of only four medals at the end of the 1924 Winter Olympic games, it was a US athlete that was decorated with the games first gold medal. This medal was awarded to Charles Jewtraw, for finishing first in the 500 meter speed skate.

The Canadian hockey team would rule the ice outscoring their opponents 122-3, and win the gold. Other countries such as Austria, Finland and Switzerland, would find themselves on top of the medal stand many times throughout the 1924 Winter Olympic games. It was here at the 1924 Winter Olympic games, where ski jumper Ander Haugen would begin his 50 year wait for a medal. A mathematical scoring mistake made at the games, resulted in Hagen finishing in fourth place rather than third. When the scores were reviewed for a fiftieth anniversary celebration, the mistake was finally realized. The Olympic Committee awarded Haugen his bronze medal at the anniversary celebration, Haugen was 84 years-old by that time.

Medals Many of the Olympic athletes from the 1924 Winter Olympic games, were not able to receive their medals personally.  Medals were handed out at the 1924 Winter Olympic closing ceremonies, and many of the athletes had already gone home. The 1924 Winter Olympic committee was forced to hand out their medals to other members of their team. This would later change to awarding the medals after each individual event, so that athletes could receive their medals personally.

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