The 1924 Olympics had been scheduled for Amsterdam, but in his final act as IOC President Pierre de Coubertin transferred the Games to Paris (despite the misgivings of many). He wanted to give his native France a chance to redeem itself after the many difficulties of the Paris 1900 Games. To everyone’s pleasure, it did.
The 1924 Games was a spectacle featuring many firsts. The Olympic motto, “Citius, Altius, Fortius” (“Swifter, Higher, Stronger”) was introduced, athletes stayed in a “village” of wooden cabins (a forerunner of the Olympic Village), and the Closing Ceremony ritual of raising three flags, the Olympic flag, the Host Nation’s flag, and the next Host Nation’s flag, was introduced.
Paris marked the arrival of the Olympic Games as a major international event. Competitors came from 44 nations, the main stadium could accommodate a crowd of 60,000, a swimming pool was especially built for competition, and 625,000 spectators and 1000 journalists attended.
Australia at these Games
Australia sent a team of 34 athletes, all men, to the Paris 1924 Olympics. It was the biggest Australian representation at an Olympics yet, with the team equaling the record medal tally from 1912 by winning six medals: three gold, one silver and two bronze.
The gold medals were won by Anthony Winter in the triple jump, Dick Eve in plain high diving, and swimmer Andrew ‘Boy’ Charlton, who became the first Australian to win the 1500m freestyle. All three champions lived around the Sydney suburb of Manly and received a great civic reception upon their return home.
Charlton beat the Swedish hero Arne Borg in the 1500m after Borg had set a new world record in the heats. That mark didn’t last long: in the final, Charlton slashed more than a minute off Borg’s world record to win in 20 minutes, 6.06 seconds.
Charlton also won a bronze medal in the 400m freestyle and a silver medal in the 4x200m freestyle relay, teaming with Frank Beaurepaire, Maurice 'Moss' Christie and Ernest Henry. Due to his busy schedule Charlton only swam the final with Ivan Stedman swimming the heat and semifinal.
The other bronze medal was won by Beaurepaire in the 1500m freestyle. It was his third 1500m bronze, having also placed third in the race in 1908 and 1920. Beaurepaire also was the first Australian to win medals at three different Olympics.
Edwin Carr became Australia’s first flag bearer at an Opening Ceremony. He was also busy during track competition, placing seventh in both the 100m and 200m, and also racing in the 400m and 4x400m relay.
Australia’s first Olympic wrestler, Claude Angelo, won one bout then lost in the second round of the featherweight division.
