Olympic Winter Games Lake Placid 1932

Lake Placid 1932

Date4 February - 15 February
CountryUnited States
Athletes252
Teams17
Events14
Lake Placid 1932
1932: the podium makes its Olympic debut

About the Games

A Family Donation

At the time, Lake Placid was a town with a population of fewer than 4,000 people. Faced with major obstacles to raising money in the midst of a depression, Mr Godfrey Dewey, President of the Organising Committee, donated a plot of land belonging to his family for the construction of the bobsleigh track.

Memorable Champions

Norway’s Sonja Henie and the French pair of Andrée and Pierre Brunet successfully defended their figure skating titles. American Billy Fiske won a second gold medal in the four-man bobsleigh. However, Gillis Grafström of Sweden was thwarted in his attempt to win his fourth gold medal, placing second behind Austrian Karl Schäfer.

American Heats

For the first and only time in Olympic history, the American group race method was used in the speed skating competition. This involved mass starts and athletes racing against all other competitors, in contrast to the European system of heats where two participants compete against each other and the clock.

All Medals

Medal Table

See the list of teams and medals won by each.

Lake Placid
1932

Featured Athletes

All Athletes
Gold
Silver
Bronze
  • United States of AmericaUnited States of America
    1G
    -
    -
  • NorwayNorway
    1G
    -
    -
  • United States of AmericaUnited States of America
    2G
    -
    -
  • FranceFrance
    1G
    -
    -
  • Replays from
    Lake Placid 1932

    Lake Placid
    1932

    Discover the Games

    The Brand

    A visual identity is developed for each edition of the Olympic Games.

    Brand

    Brand

    The Medals

    Beginning as an olive wreath, medal designs have evolved over the years.

    Medals

    Medals