Germany at the 1896 Summer Olympics

Sporting event delegation

Germany at the
1896 Summer Olympics

Flag of the German Empire

IOC code| GER
NOC| German Olympic Sports Confederation
Website| www.dosb.de (in German, English, and French)
in Athens, Greece
April 6, 1896 – April 15, 1896
Competitors| 19 in 6 sports and 24 events
Medals
Ranked 3rd|

Gold

Silver

Bronze

Total

Summer Olympics appearances (overview)

* 1896
* 1900
* 1904
* 1908
* 1912
* 1920–1924
* 1928
* 1932
* 1936
* 1948
* 1952
* 1956–1988
* 1992
* 1996
* 2000
* 2004
* 2008
* 2012
* 2016
* 2020
* 2024

Other related appearances
1906 Intercalated Games

––––

Saar (1952)
United Team of Germany (1956–1964)
East Germany (1968–1988)
West Germany (1968–1988)

Germany competed at the 1896 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece. The Germans were the third most successful nation in terms of both gold medals (6 plus 1 as part of a mixed team) and total medals (13). Gymnastics was the sport in which Germany excelled. The German team had 19 athletes. The Germans had 75 entries in 26 events (of which 48 entries were in the 8 gymnastics events), taking 13 medals.

## Medalists

[edit]

Further information: 1896 Summer Olympics medal table and List of 1896 Summer Olympics medal winners

The following competitors won medals at the games. In the discipline sections below, the medalists' names are bolded. Medals awarded to participants of mixed-NOC teams are represented in italics. These medals are not counted towards the individual NOC medal tally.

Medal  | Name  | Sport  | Event  | Date

|
|
|
|

Gold | Hermann Weingärtner | Gymnastics | Men's horizontal bar | April 9
Gold | Alfred Flatow | Gymnastics | Men's parallel bars | April 10
Gold | Conrad Böcker, Alfred Flatow, Gustav Flatow,
Georg Hilmar, Fritz Hofmann, Fritz Manteuffel,
Karl Neukirch, Richard Röstel, Gustav Schuft,
Carl Schuhmann, Hermann Weingärtner | Gymnastics | Men's team parallel bars | April 9
Gold | Conrad Böcker, Alfred Flatow, Gustav Flatow,
Georg Hilmar, Fritz Hofmann, Fritz Manteuffel,
Karl Neukirch, Richard Röstel, Gustav Schuft,
Carl Schuhmann, Hermann Weingärtner | Gymnastics | Men's team horizontal bar | April 9
Gold | Carl Schuhmann | Gymnastics | Men's vault | April 9
Gold | Friedrich Traun | Tennis | Men's doubles | April 9
Gold | Carl Schuhmann | Wrestling | Men's Greco-Roman | April 11
Silver | Fritz Hofmann | Athletics | Men's 100 m | April 10
Silver | August von Gödrich | Cycling | Men's road race | April 12
Silver | Alfred Flatow | Gymnastics | Men's horizontal bar | April 9
Silver | Hermann Weingärtner | Gymnastics | Men's pommel horse | April 9
Silver | Hermann Weingärtner | Gymnastics | Men's rings | April 9
Bronze | Fritz Hofmann | Gymnastics | Men's rope climbing | April 10
Bronze | Hermann Weingärtner | Gymnastics | Men's vault | April 9
Medals by sport

Sport  |  |  |  | Total
Gymnastics | 5  | 3  | 2  | 10
Wrestling | 1  | 0  | 0  | 1
Athletics | 0  | 1  | 0  | 1
Cycling | 0  | 1  | 0  | 1
Total  | 6  | 5  | 2  | 13

### Multiple medalists

[edit]

The following competitors won multiple medals at the 1896 Olympic Games.

Name  | Medal  | Sport  | Event

|
|
|

Carl Schuhmann |  Gold
Gold
Gold
Gold | Gymnastics
Wrestling  | Men's team parallel bars
Men's team horizontal bar
Men's vault
Men's Greco-Roman
Hermann Weingärtner |  Gold
Gold
Gold
Silver
Silver
Bronze | Gymnastics | Men's team parallel bars
Men's team horizontal bar
Men's horizontal bar
Men's pommel horse
Men's rings
Men's vault
Alfred Flatow |  Gold
Gold
Gold
Silver | Gymnastics | Men's team parallel bars
Men's team horizontal bar
Men's parallel bars
Men's horizontal bar
Fritz Hofmann |  Gold
Gold
Silver
Bronze | Gymnastics
Athletics | Men's team parallel bars
Men's team horizontal bar
100 m
Men's rope climbing
Conrad Böcker |  Gold
Gold | Gymnastics | Men's team parallel bars
Men's team horizontal bar
Gustav Flatow |  Gold
Gold | Gymnastics | Men's team parallel bars
Men's team horizontal bar
Georg Hillmar |  Gold
Gold | Gymnastics | Men's team parallel bars
Men's team horizontal bar
Fritz Manteuffel |  Gold
Gold | Gymnastics | Men's team parallel bars
Men's team horizontal bar
Karl Neukirch |  Gold
Gold | Gymnastics | Men's team parallel bars
Men's team horizontal bar
Richard Röstel |  Gold
Gold | Gymnastics | Men's team parallel bars
Men's team horizontal bar
Gustav Schuft |  Gold
Gold | Gymnastics | Men's team parallel bars
Men's team horizontal bar

## Competitors

[edit]

The following is the list of number of competitors in the Games.

| Sport  | Men  | Women  | Total

|
|
|

Athletics | 5 | 0 | 5
Cycling | 3 | 0 | 3
Gymnastics | 11 | 0 | 11
Tennis | 1 | 0 | 1
Weightlifting | 1 | 0 | 1
Wrestling | 1 | 0 | 1
Total | 19[1] | 0 | 19

| Medals by day

Day  | Date  |  |  |  | Total
1  | 6 April  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0
2  | 7 April  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0
3  | 8 April  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0
4  | 9 April  | 4  | 3  | 1  | 8
5  | 10 April  | 1  | 1  | 1  | 3
6  | 11 April  | 1  | 0  | 0  | 1
7  | 12 April  | 0  | 1  | 0  | 1
8  | 13 April  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0
Total  | 6  | 5  | 2  | 13

## Athletics

[edit]

Main article: Athletics at the 1896 Summer Olympics

Hofmann's silver medal in the 100 metres was the only medal earned by the German athletes, though they finished 4th or 5th an additional 4 times. Alfred Flatow was entered in the 100 metres but did not start.[2][3][4]

Track & road events

Athlete  | Event  | Heat  | Final

|
|
|

Time  | Rank  | Time  | Rank
Kurt Doerry | 100 m | Unknown  | 4  | Did not advance
Alfred Flatow | DNS | Did not advance
Fritz Hofmann | 12.6  | 2 Q | 12.2  |
Friedrich Traun | 13.5  | 3  | Did not advance
Kurt Doerry | 400 m | Unknown  | 3-4  | Did not advance
Fritz Hofmann | 58.6  | 2 Q | 56.7  | 4
Friedrich Traun | DNS | Did not advance
Kurt Doerry | 800 m | DNS | Did not advance
Fritz Hofmann | DNS | Did not advance
Friedrich Traun | 2:13.4  | 3  | Did not advance
Carl Galle | 1500 m | —  | 4:39.0  | 4
Kurt Doerry | 110 m hurdles | Unknown  | 3-4  | Did not advance
Fritz Hofmann | DNS | Did not advance
Friedrich Traun | DNS | Did not advance
Carl Galle | Marathon | —  | DNS

Field events

Athlete  | Event  | Final

|
|

Distance  | Position
Conrad Böcker | High jump | DNS
Kurt Doerry | DNS
Alfred Flatow | DNS
Gustav Flatow | DNS
Carl Galle | DNS
Fritz Hofmann | 1.55  | 5
Fritz Manteuffel | DNS
Gustav Schuft | DNS
Carl Schuhmann | DNS
Friedrich Traun | DNS
Kurt Doerry | Pole vault | DNS
Alfred Flatow | DNS
Gustav Flatow | DNS
Carl Galle | DNS
Fritz Hofmann | DNS
Fritz Manteuffel | DNS
Karl Neukirch | DNS
Carl Schuhmann | DNS
Friedrich Traun | DNS
Hermann Weingärtner | DNS
Kurt Doerry | Long jump | DNS
Alfred Flatow | DNS
Carl Galle | DNS
Fritz Hofmann | DNS
Friedrich Traun | DNS
Carl Schuhmann | 5.70  | 8
Hermann Weingärtner | DNS
Alfred Flatow | Triple jump | DNS
Fritz Hofmann | Unknown  | 6-7
Carl Schuhmann | Unknown  | 5
Friedrich Traun | DNS
Conrad Böcker | Shot put | DNS
Alfred Flatow | DNS
Fritz Hofmann | 10.00  | 5-7
Carl Schuhmann | Unknown  | 5-7
Hermann Weingärtner | DNS
Carl Schuhmann | Discus throw | DNS

## Cycling

[edit]

Main article: Cycling at the 1896 Summer Olympics

### Track

[edit]

Athlete  | Event  | Time / Distance  | Rank

|
|
|

Theodor Leupold | Men's time trial | 27.0  | 5
Joseph Rosemeyer | 27.2  | 8
Joseph Rosemeyer | Men's sprint | DNF
Joseph Rosemeyer | 10 km | Unknown  | 4
Bernard Knubel | 100 km | DNF
Theodor Leupold | DNF
Joseph Rosemeyer | DNF
Joseph Welzenbacher | DNF
Joseph Welzenbacher | Men's 12 hour race | DNF

### Road

[edit]

Athlete  | Event  | Time  | Rank

|
|
|

August von Gödrich | Men's road race | 3:42:18  |
Bernard Knubel | DNS
Theodor Leupold | DNS
Fritz Manteuffel | DNS
Joseph Rosemeyer | DNS
Joseph Welzenbacher | DNS

## Gymnastics

[edit]

Main article: Gymnastics at the 1896 Summer Olympics

Germany dominated the gymnastics program, taking 5 of the 8 gold medals and medalling in each event.

German team at parallel bars German team on horizontal bars

Team
Athlete  | Event  | Result  | Rank

|
|
|

Conrad Böcker
Alfred Flatow
Gustav Flatow
Georg Hilmar
Fritz Hofmann
Fritz Manteuffel
Karl Neukirch
Richard Röstel
Gustav Schuft
Carl Schuhmann
Hermann Weingärtner | Men's team parallel bars | Unknown  |
Conrad Böcker
Alfred Flatow
Gustav Flatow
Georg Hilmar
Fritz Hofmann
Fritz Manteuffel
Karl Neukirch
Richard Röstel
Gustav Schuft
Carl Schuhmann
Hermann Weingärtner | Men's team horizontal bar | Unknown  |

Individual
Athlete  | Event  | Result  | Rank

|
|
|

Conrad Böcker | Men's vault | Unknown  | 4-15
Alfred Flatow | Unknown  | 4-15
Gustav Flatow | Unknown  | 4-15
Georg Hilmar | Unknown  | 4-15
Fritz Manteuffel | Unknown  | 4-15
Karl Neukirch | Unknown  | 4-15
Richard Röstel | Unknown  | 4-15
Gustav Schuft | Unknown  | 4-15
Carl Schuhmann | Unknown  |
Hermann Weingärtner | Unknown  |
Conrad Böcker | Men's pommel horse | Unknown  | 3-15
Alfred Flatow | Unknown  | 3-15
Gustav Flatow | Unknown  | 3-15
Georg Hilmar | Unknown  | 3-15
Fritz Manteuffel | Unknown  | 3-15
Karl Neukirch | Unknown  | 3-15
Richard Röstel | Unknown  | 3-15
Gustav Schuft | Unknown  | 3-15
Carl Schuhmann | Unknown  | 3-15
Hermann Weingärtner | Unknown  |
Conrad Böcker | Men's rings | Unknown  | 6-8
Alfred Flatow | Unknown  | 6-8
Gustav Flatow | Unknown  | 6-8
Carl Schuhmann | Unknown  | 5
Hermann Weingärtner | Unknown  |
Conrad Böcker | Men's horizontal bar | Unknown  | 3-15
Alfred Flatow | Unknown  |
Gustav Flatow | Unknown  | 3-15
Georg Hilmar | Unknown  | 3-15
Fritz Manteuffel | Unknown  | 3-15
Karl Neukirch | Unknown  | 3-15
Richard Röstel | Unknown  | 3-15
Gustav Schuft | Unknown  | 3-15
Carl Schuhmann | Unknown  | 3-15
Hermann Weingärtner | Unknown  |
Conrad Böcker | Men's parallel bars | Unknown  | 3-18
Alfred Flatow | Unknown  |
Gustav Flatow | Unknown  | 3-18
Georg Hilmar | Unknown  | 3-18
Fritz Manteuffel | Unknown  | 3-18
Karl Neukirch | Unknown  | 3-18
Richard Röstel | Unknown  | 3-18
Gustav Schuft | Unknown  | 3-18
Carl Schuhmann | Unknown  | 3-18
Hermann Weingärtner | Unknown  | 3-18
Fritz Hofmann | Men's rope climbing | 12.5  |

## Tennis

[edit]

Main article: Tennis at the 1896 Summer Olympics

Traun was defeated by Boland in the first round of the singles tournament. The two entered the doubles tournament as a pair, winning the gold medal in that competition as part of a mixed team; that medal is not counted for Germany.

Athlete  | Event  | First round  | Quarterfinals  | Semifinals  | Final

|
|
|
|
|

Opposition
Score  | Opposition
Score  | Opposition
Score  | Opposition
Score  | Rank
Friedrich Traun | Singles |  Boland (GBR)
L 0–6, 6–2, 2–6  | Did not advance  | =8
Friedrich Traun (GER)
John Boland (GBR) | Doubles | —  |  Akratopoulos /
Akratopoulos (GRE) W | Bye  |  Kasdaglis /
Petrokokkinos (GRE)
W 5-7, 6-4, 6-1  |

## Weightlifting

[edit]

Main article: Weightlifting at the 1896 Summer Olympics

Schuhmann's lift was equal to that of the bronze medallist, but lifting form was used as a tie-breaker in the event.

Athlete  | Event  | Weight  | Rank

|
|
|

Carl Schuhmann | Two hand lift | 90.0  | 4

## Wrestling

[edit]

Main article: Wrestling at the 1896 Summer Olympics

Schuhmann first faced Launceston Elliot, the one-handed lift weightlifting champion, defeating him fairly easily. He received a bye in the semifinals, to face Georgios Tsitas in the final match. That contest took two days, after it had been postponed on account of darkness 40 minutes into the first day. Schuhmann quickly won on the second morning.

Athlete  | Event  | Quarterfinal  | Semifinal  | Final

|
|
|
|

Opposition
Result  | Opposition
Result  | Opposition
Result  | Rank
Carl Schuhmann | Men's Greco-Roman |  Elliot (GBR)
W | Bye  |  Tsitas (GRE)
W |

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Fritz Hofmann competed in athletics and gymnastics while Carl Schuhmann competed in athletics, gymnastics, weightlifting and wrestling, and Friedrich Traun competed in athletics and tennis
2. ^ Butler, Maynard. The Olympic Games. In Mallon & Widlund, pp. 37–41.
3. ^ Ekkehard zur Megede : The history of Olympic athletics. Volume 1: 1896-1936. Verlag Bartels & Wernitz KG, Berlin, 2nd edition 1970.
4. ^ "100 metres, Men". Olympedia. Retrieved 21 July 2020.

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Germany at the 1896 Summer Olympics.

* Lampros, S.P.; Polites, N.G.; De Coubertin, Pierre; Philemon, P.J.; Anninos, C. (1897). The Olympic Games: BC 776 - AD 1896. Athens: Charles Beck. (Digitally available at [1])
* Mallon, Bill; Widlund, Ture (1998). The 1896 Olympic Games. Results for All Competitors in All Events, with Commentary. Jefferson: McFarland. ISBN 0-7864-0379-9. (Excerpt available at [2])
* Smith, Michael Llewellyn (2004). Olympics in Athens 1896. The Invention of the Modern Olympic Games. London: Profile Books. ISBN 1-86197-342-X.

* v
* t
* e

National Olympic Committees at the 1896 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece

* Australia
* Austria
* Bulgaria
* Chile
* Denmark
* France
* Germany
* Great Britain
* Greece
* Hungary
* Italy
* Sweden
* Switzerland
* United States
* Mixed teams

*[DNS]: Did not start
*[DNF]: Did not finish
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template