Ayrton Oneill
The 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin, Germany, was the first time basketball was included as an official Olympic medal event. 23 nations entered the competition, but only 21 competed as Hungary and Spain withdrew. The United States men's basketball team won the gold medal, defeating Canada 19-8 in the final. Canada and Mexico took silver and bronze, respectively.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year | 1936 |
| Event | Basketball |
| Medal | Gold |
| Winner | United States of America |
| Runner-up | Canada |
| Third place | Mexico |
| Final score | 19-8 |
| Coach | Jimmy Needles |
| Assistant coach | Gene Johnson |
| Team director | Joe Reilly |
| Player with the highest score | Joe Fortenberry (8 points) |
| Number of teams that entered | 23 |
| Number of teams that competed | 21 |
| Location | Berlin, Germany |
| Dates | 7-14 August 1936 |
| Courts used | Lawn and dirt tennis courts |
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What You'll Learn
The United States men's basketball team won gold
The 1936 United States men's Olympic basketball team won the gold medal in the Games of the XI Olympiad in Berlin, Germany. This was the first year that basketball was included as an official medal sport, and the US team made their mark by winning the first gold. The team was coached by Jimmy Needles of the Amateur Athletic Union's (AAU) Universal Pictures team, with assistance from Gene Johnson of Wichita University, and Joe Reilly, who served as the team's director.
The US team's first match was won by forfeit, as their scheduled opponent, Spain, did not attend due to the Spanish Civil War. In the second match, the US team defeated Estonia 52-28, and then went on to beat the Philippines to secure their place in the medal round. Here, they defeated Mexico, setting up a final against Canada.
The gold medal game was played outdoors on a clay and sand court in challenging weather conditions, with heavy rain impacting the Canadian team's fast break playing style. The US team emerged victorious with a final score of 19-8, in a match with a notably low combined score, partly due to the difficult weather conditions. Joe Fortenberry of the United States was the highest scorer in the game, with eight points.
The 1936 tournament was also notable for the absence of the 1935-36 Long Island Blackbirds, a strong team who boycotted the trials due to the games being held in Berlin, Germany. The Blackbirds' decision was influenced by the fact that the team was largely Jewish, and they refused to participate in the Olympics being held in Germany at that time.
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Canada won silver
The 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin, Germany, was the first time basketball was included as an official medal sport. Twenty-three nations entered the competition, making basketball the largest team sport tournament of the games. However, Hungary and Spain withdrew, leaving 21 nations to compete.
The Canadian team's journey to the final included a match against Estonia, which they won with a score of 52-28. They then defeated the Philippines to land a place in the medal round, where they played Mexico. Canada's victory over Mexico secured their place in the gold medal match against the United States.
The inventor of basketball, James Naismith, watched many of the 1936 Olympic basketball matches and helped award medals at the end of the tournament.
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Mexico won bronze
The 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin, Germany, was the first time basketball was included as an official medal sport. Twenty-three nations entered the competition, making basketball the largest team sport tournament of the Games. However, Hungary and Spain withdrew, leaving 21 nations to compete.
The United States men's team won the gold medal, defeating Canada 19-8 in the final. The final was played outdoors on a clay and sand court in driving rain, which made playing conditions extremely difficult. The weather put a damper on Canada's trademark fast-break playing style, and the two teams could only muster a combined total of eight points in the second half. The highest scorer in the game was Joe Fortenberry of the United States, with eight points.
Canada took silver, and Mexico won the bronze medal. Poland, the Philippines, Uruguay, Italy, and Peru rounded out the top nine finishers.
The 1936 Olympic basketball tournament was also notable for the absence of the 1935-36 Long Island Blackbirds, a largely Jewish team that boycotted the trials due to the Games being held in Berlin, Germany.
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The final was played in the rain
The 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin, Germany, marked the first appearance of basketball as an official Olympic medal event. The United States men's basketball team competed against 20 other nations and ultimately clinched the gold medal. The final match against Canada was played outdoors on a clay and sand court in driving rain, creating challenging conditions for both players and spectators alike.
The adverse weather transformed the court into a quagmire, making dribbling extremely difficult and affecting the players' ability to score. The highest scorer in the game was Joe Fortenberry of the United States, who scored eight points. The challenging court conditions were further exacerbated by the lack of seating for spectators, leaving nearly 1,000 attendees standing in the rain to watch the final.
The United States' victory in the gold medal match was a historic moment, with a final score of 19-8. The win was witnessed by James Naismith, the inventor of basketball, who also helped award medals at the end of the basketball competition. The inclusion of basketball as an official medal sport in the 1936 Olympics was a significant milestone, as it had only been a demonstration sport in 1904.
The United States' triumph in the 1936 Olympic basketball tournament was not without its challenges. The team had to adapt to FIBA rules that differed from those in the States, including the absence of a three-second rule. Additionally, their initial opponent, Spain, did not show up due to the Spanish Civil War, resulting in a forfeit win for the US. Despite these obstacles, the US team demonstrated their skill and resilience, ultimately claiming the gold medal in a final match characterized by inclement weather conditions.
The impact of the rain on the final match cannot be overstated. The downpour significantly influenced the playing style and outcome of the game. Canada's national team, known for their fast-break playing style, found their strategy dampened by the rain. The combination of a clay and sand court with heavy rain made ball control and movement challenging, resulting in a low-scoring game. The weather-affected final highlighted the experimental nature of outdoor basketball at the time and the need for considerations regarding court surfaces and spectator comfort in future tournaments.
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The Long Island Blackbirds boycotted the trials
The 1936 Olympic Games in Berlin, Germany, marked the first appearance of basketball as an official Olympic medal event. The United States men's basketball team won the gold medal, defeating Canada 19-8. This victory was witnessed by James Naismith, the inventor of the game, who also awarded the medals.
The road to the Olympics began with the Olympic trials, which consisted of a tournament between top teams from the AAU (Amateur Athletic Union), the YMCA, and the NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association). One notable absence from these trials was the 1935-36 Long Island Blackbirds, who had just completed a remarkable 25-0 season, led by stars Jules Bender, Ben Kramer, and Art Hillhouse. The Long Island Blackbirds, a predominantly Jewish team, boycotted the trials due to the games being held in Berlin, Germany, and the antisemitic ideology of the country's leader, Adolf Hitler.
The decision to boycott was not taken lightly. The team's success on the court had positioned them as a potential Olympic representative. However, the concerns about participating in a country that espoused antisemitism outweighed the allure of Olympic glory. LIU president Tristram Walker Metcalfe articulated their stance:
> "Our conviction that the United States should not participate in the Olympic Games since they are being held in Germany has not been altered by the fact that our basketball team is now recognized generally as a possible Olympic representative. Such participation would be [an] indirect, if not direct, contribution [to] the raising of funds to finance such participation."
The boycott by the Long Island Blackbirds shines a light on the intersection of sports and politics, where athletes and teams can use their platform to make powerful statements beyond the realm of competition. In this case, the team's stance against participating in a country led by a leader with antisemitic views took precedence over their Olympic aspirations.
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Frequently asked questions
The United States of America won the gold medal.
The final score was 19-8 to the USA.
The USA played Canada in the final.
Canada won the silver medal.
Mexico won the bronze medal.
