Stunning Historical Photos from the First Winter Olympics in Chamonix, France in 1924

The Winter Olympics 1924  was a multi-sport event held by the International Olympic Committee in 1924 in Chamonix, France. The first summer Olympics were held between 25 January and 5 February 1924 at the foot of Mont Blanc in Chamonix and Haute-Savoie, France. Originally called the “International Winter Sports Week,” the event was known as the “International Winter Games” by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) due to its success.

Winter Olympics were traditionally held in the same year as the Summer Olympics until 1992, after which Winter Olympics are held in the second year following each Summer Olympics.

Winter sports have always been limited by the season, despite figure skating and ice hockey being Olympic events in London and Antwerp. In 1921, at the IOC’s convention in Lausanne, there was a call for equality for winter sports. After much discussion, it was decided to organize an “international week of winter sport” for 1924 in Chamonix. Medals were awarded for 16 events in 5 sports (9 disciplines). Several sources do not mention curling or the military patrol or list them as demonstration events. However, these designations were not made in 1924. In February 2006, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) decided that curling was an official part of the Olympic program and included the medals awarded in the count.

#1 The Olympic medalists in figure skating are seen at the Winter Olympics in Chamonix, France, in 1924.

Herma Planck-Szabo (from left) of Austria won gold, Ethel Muckelt of Britain won bronze and Beatrix Loughran of the United States won silver.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#2 Charles Jewtraw became the first competitor to win a gold medal in a Winter Olympics when he sped to victory in the 500 meter speedskating event in Chamonix, France, 1924.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#3 The United States is represented during opening ceremonies for the 1924 Winter Olympics in Chamonix, France, on Jan. 25, 1924.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#4 The Olympic Stadium at Chamonix, France, is seen in 1924.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#5 French athletes swear that they will conduct the Winter Olympic Games in a loyal way at the opening of the first Winter Olympics in Chamonix, France, on Jan. 25, 1924.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#6 English speed skaters B. H. Sutton (from left), L. H. Cambridgeshire and A. E.

Tibbet practice before the Winter Olympic Games in Chamonix, France, on Jan. 16, 1924.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#7 A group of American skaters practices during the 1924 Winter Olympics at Chamonix, France, in 1924.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#8 The British curling team practices during the Winter Olympics in Chamonix, France, on Jan. 28, 1924.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#9 Norwegian figure skater Sonja Henie, 11, practices during the Winter Olympics in Chamonix, France, in 1924.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#10 Norwegian figure skater Sonja Henie practices during the Winter Olympic Games on Jan. 29, 1924.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#11 Herma Planck-Szabo of Austria skates on her way to winning the ladies’ singles figure skating Olympic gold medal at the 1924 Chamonix Winter Olympics in January 1924.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#12 Norway’s Sonja Henie competes in her first Olympic Games at the age of 11, at Chamonix, France, in January 1924.

She placed eighth in the ladies’ singles in figure skating, but would go on to win Olympic gold at the 1928 Winter Games in St. Moritz, Switzerland.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#13 Figure skaters Sonja Henie, 11, of Norway and Gilles Grafstrom of Sweden pose at the Olympic Games in Chamonix, France, in 1924.

Henie placed eighth of eight in the ladies’ singles, but would win the gold in the 1928, 1932 and 1936 Winter Olympic Games. Grafstrom won the Olympic gold medal in the men’s singles in 1924. He also won gold in the 1920 and 1928 games.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#14 The four-man bobsleigh team from Italy rides the bobsleigh track at the Winter Games in Chamonix, France, in February 1924.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#15 The British four-man bobsleigh team — Ralph Broome, Thomas Arnold, Alexander Richardson and Rodney Soher — is seen in action at the Winter Olympics at Chamonix, France, in February 1924.

The team took the silver medal in the games.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#16 The Canadian ice hockey team, the Toronto Granites, scores during the final in which they beat the United States 6-1 to take the Olympic gold medal in the Winter Games at Chamonix, France, on Feb. 3, 1924.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#17 The Canadian ice hockey team, the Toronto Granites, scores during the final in which they beat the United States 6-1 to take the Olympic gold medal in the Winter Games at Chamonix, France, on Feb. 3, 1924.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#18 The Canadian ice hockey team, the Toronto Granites, are seen after beating the United States to take the Olympic gold medal at the Winter Games in Chamonix, France, in February 1924.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#19 American ice hockey goalkeeper La Croix during a practice at the rink at Chamonix ahead of their match against France, 1924.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote