1960 Rome Olympic Games
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1960 Rome Olympic Games
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Free of political entanglements, save the ruling that Nationalist China had to compete as Formosa, the 1960 Games attracted a record 5,348 athletes from 83 countries. More importantly, it was the first Summer Games covered by U.S. television. CBS bought the rights for $349,000.
Medal Count Gold Silver Bronze Total USSR
USA
Germany
Italy
Australia
Hungary
Poland
Japan
Great Britain
Turkey43
34
12
13
8
6
4
4
2
729
21
19
10
8
8
6
7
6
231
16
11
13
6
7
11
7
12
0103
71
42
36
22
21
21
18
20
9Rome was a coming-out party for 18-year-old Louisville boxer Cassius Clay. The brash but engaging Clay, who would later change his name to Muhammad Ali and hold the world heavyweight title three times, won the Olympic light heavyweight crown, pummeling Polish opponent Zbigniew Pietryskowsky in the final. Clay was so proud of his gold medal he didn't take it off for two days.
Sprinter Wilma Rudolph and swimmer Chris von Saltza each won three gold medals for the U.S. Rudolph, who was one of 19 children and who couldn't walk without braces until she was 11, struck gold at 100 and 200 meters and anchored the winning 400-meter relay team. Von Saltza won the 400-meter freestyle, placed second in the 100-free and anchored the winning 400-free and medley relays.
The U.S. men won nine track and field titles, including repeat gold medals for Lee Calhoun, Glenn Davis and Al Oerter. Rafer Johnson and C.K. Yang of Formosa, college teammates at UCLA, finished 1-2 in the decathlon.
Among the other stars in Rome were barefoot Ethiopian marathoner Abebe Bikila, Australia's Herb Elliott in the 1,500 meters, Russian gymnasts Boris Shakhlin and Larissa Latynina.
Finally, the greatest amateur basketball team ever assembled represented the U.S. and won easily. The 12-man roster included Oscar Robertson, Jerry West, Jerry Lucas, Walt Bellamy and Terry Dischinger - four of whom would become NBA Rookies of the Year from 1961-1964.
Source: 1996 Information Please Sports Almanac
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