Helsinki 1952

The XV summer olympics were given to Helsinki, Finland. Helsinki was originally given the 1940 summer olympic games after the IOC took the

privilege from Tokyo. Tokyo lost those games because of the Sino-Japanese War. Of course the 1940 games were canceled due to World War II so until 1952 Helsinki did truely host the olympic games. 69 nations competed in the 149 events (17 sports) during the XV Games. The games were opened by the Finnish president at the time Juho Kuski Paasikivi.

Historic Events

• Russian Athletes participate for the first time in 40 years (appearing though as the Soviet Union for the first time)
• Nina Romashkova becomes the first Soviet Athlete to win gold. Thanks to preformance in the woman's discus throwing event
• Soviet Maria Gorokhovskaya sets a new world record with the most medals by a woman in one games. With two golds and five silvers.
• Czechoslovakian Emil Zátopek sets Olympic records in the 5,000 meter race, 10,000 meter race, and the marathon, an event he'd never run before
• Germany and Japan are invited after being barred from the 1948 Summer olympics
• Isreal makes it's first ever appearence in the olympics (they didn't compete in 1948 because of their war of independance)
• The Republic of China (Taiwan) withdrew from the Games on July 20, in protest of the allowing of the People's Republic of China's men and women to compete
• Saarland competed for the first and only time in the Olympic games. They joined The Federal Republic of Germany (west Germany) the 1952 Oslo Games
• East Germany did not compete in these games
• Non Military officers are now allowed to be equestrian riders. Also a female equestrian event was started for the first time to which Denmark's Lis Hartel won the first gold medal.
• Bob Mathias of the United States became the first Olympian to successfully defend his decathlon title with a total score of 7,887 points.

Medals

1. United States of America 40 Gold, 19 Silver and 17 Bronze. 76 Total.
2. Soviet Union 22 Gold, 30 Silver and 19 Bronze. 71 Total.
3. Hungary 16 Gold, 10 Silver and 16 Bronze. 42 Total.
4. Sweden 12 Gold, 13 Silver and 10 Bronze. 35 Total.
5. Finland 6 Gold, 3 Silver and 13 Bronze. 22 Total.
6. Italy 8 Gold, 9 Silver and 4 Bronze. 21 Total.
7. France 6 Gold, 6 Silver and 6 Bronze. 18 Total.
8. Czechoslovakia 7 Gold, 3 Silver and 3 Bronze. 13 Total.
9. Australia 6 Gold, 2 Silver and 3 Bronze. 11 Total.
10. Norway 3 Gold and 2 Silver. 5 Total.

Lighting of the cauldron

Front side of a helsinki medal

back of the helsinki medal

Helsinki olympic torch

The participant medal for the games