1964 Toyko Olympic Games
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1964 Toyko Olympic Games
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Twenty-six years after Japan's wartime government forced the Japanese Olympic Committee to resign as hosts of the 1940 Summer Games, Tokyo welcome the world to the first Asian Olympics. The new Japan spared no expense - a staggering $3 Billion was spent to rebuild the city - and was rewarded with a record-breaking fortnight.
Medal Count Gold Silver Bronze Total USA
USSR
Germany
Japan
Italy
Hungary
Poland
Great Britain
Australia
Czechoslovakia36
30
10
16
10
10
7
4
6
526
31
22
5
10
7
6
12
2
628
35
18
8
7
5
10
2
10
390
96
50
29
27
22
23
18
18
14Twelve world and six Olympic records fell in swimming, with Americans accounting for 13. Eighteen-year-old Don Schollander led the way, winning two individual and two relay gold medals to become the first swimmer to win four events in one Games. Sharon Stouder collected three golds and a silver for the U.S. women, but the most remarkable performance of all belonged to Australian Dawn Fraser, who won the 100-meter freestyle for the third straight Olympics.
In track and field, Al Oerter of the U.S. won the discus for the third straight time. His record toss was one of 25 world and Olympic marks broken. Another fell when Billy Mills of the U.S. electrified the Games by coming from behind for an upset win in the 10,000 meters. New Zealander Peter Snell, the defending 800-meter champion, won both the 800 and 1,500 (last done in 1920).
Sprinter Bob Hayes of the U.S. equaled the world record of10 seconds flat in the 100-meters, but stunned the crowd with a sub-9 second, come-from-behind anchor leg to lead the U.S. to set a new world record in the 4x100 meters.
Abebe Bikila of Ethiopia became the first runner to win consecutive marathons. The remarkable Betty Cuthbert of Australia, who won three sprint gold medals in Melbourne, came back eight years later at age 26 to win the 400. And Russian gymnast Larissa Latynina won six medals for the second Olympics in a row.
Source: 1996 Information Please Sports Almanac
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