The 1924 Paris Olympics Featured Titanic Survivors and Flying Fins

Matt Growcoot
A diver in mid-air, captured at the peak of their dive, is seen in a streamlined, horizontal position. They are wearing a swimsuit and goggles. The diving platform is visible on the right side of the image. The background is a clear sky.
Elizabeth Becker, from the United States, dives during the 1924 Games.

The 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris begins tonight and as is now tradition here at PetaPixel on a Friday, we look at a set of historical photographs.

So it seems obvious to look at the Summer Games 100 years ago which was also held in the French capital.

The 1924 Summer Olympics saw more than 3,000 athletes from 44 nations competing in 17 different sports, many of which we are familiar with today. By contrast, the 2024 Paris Games will see more than 10,000 athletes from 206 countries compete in 32 sports.

A black-and-white photo of a weightlifter holding a heavy barbell overhead in an indoor setting. The athlete is wearing a tank top and shorts. A few pieces of equipment and a white fence barrier are visible in the background.
A French weightlifter at the 1924 Olympic Games.
A vintage black-and-white photo shows a group of male acrobats performing an intricate balancing act outdoors. They wear matching white outfits, with some balancing on others' hands and shoulders. Shelters and trees are visible in the background.
The American gymnast team practice at their training camp.
Black and white image of five sprinters at the starting line of a race track, poised in the starting position. The background features empty bleachers and a few onlookers. The sprinters' concentration is evident as they wait for the race to begin.
Ropes separate these 100-meter runners during a qualifying heat.
Black and white photo of a cross-country race with several runners traversing a grassy, hilly terrain. The runners are wearing numbered bibs and are surrounded by trees and flags marking the course. A few spectators and a photographer are visible in the background.
A photographer with a hefty camera, left, captures the men’s individual cross-country event won by Paavo Nurmi (Finland), right.
A female tennis player in mid-action wearing traditional early 20th-century tennis attire hits a backhand shot on an outdoor court. The stands in the background are filled with spectators, and a scoreboard is visible above the crowd.
Helen Wills of the USA during a doubles tennis match.

In 1924, the United States topped the medal table by a large margin. One of the more notable gold medal-winning Americans was Titanic survivor Richard Norris Williams.

A young man stands outdoors with his hands on his hips, wearing a white button-up shirt. Behind him is a tall structure with a sign displaying the number "2". Two people in hats are partially visible in the background. The image is in black and white.
Titanic survivor and Olympian Richard William Norris.

Williams narrowly avoided having both legs amputated after jumping into frozen water during the sinking of the Titanic on April 15, 1912.

After he reached a lifeboat, a doctor wanted to amputate his frozen legs. But he declared that “he needed them”, which it turned out he did. After making a recovery, he went on to enjoy a highly successful tennis career, the highlight of which was a mixed doubles gold with Hazel Hotchkiss Wightman at the Olympic Games Paris 1924.

A black-and-white photo showing a formal event with a large crowd of well-dressed people in an indoor setting. In the foreground, four seated individuals wear elegant attire and hats. The background reveals more attendees, some standing and conversing.
British Royal, Edward, Prince of Wales (center), and Gaston Doumergue, president of France (right), at the Opening Ceremony of the Summer Olympics in July 1924.
A large crowd fills the stands of a stadium, watching athletes parading along the track during an Olympic ceremony. Flags wave in the distance, and the stadium is surrounded by trees. The atmosphere is one of celebration and international unity.
The opening ceremony of the Summer Olympics at Colombes Stadium on July 5, 1924.
A black and white photo of a male athlete in mid-air during a long jump event, with spectators and officials watching. He wears a light-colored shirt with a badge and dark shorts. The background shows an outdoor stadium with bleachers and a track.
DeHart Hubbard of the United States wins the running long jump with a distance of 24 feet 6 inches, becoming the first African American to win an individual Olympic gold medal.
Three women in one-piece swimsuits with a shield and stars logo sit on the ground outdoors, smiling. The women, with short hairstyles, appear relaxed and are seated side by side. An unseen person is seated above them in the background.
American swimmers Ellen Wainwright, Ruth Thomas, and Martha Norelius.
A black and white photo depicts an athlete performing a pole vault. The athlete is mid-air, upside down, with the pole bent under his weight. Spectators, officials, and a large stadium structure are visible in the background. The image captures a moment of intense focus.
The pole-vault final.
A black-and-white photo of a large group of photographers posing with their cameras on tripods at a sports stadium, with a grandstand filled with spectators in the background. The text "Colombes. Les photographes" is visible along with other script in the sky area.
The official photographers inside Colombes Olympic Stadium with a fascinating array of cameras.
A black-and-white image of a crowded outdoor diving arena. A diver is captured mid-air above the pool, having just jumped from a high diving platform. Spectators fill the stands surrounding the pool, and a large scoreboard and clock are visible in the background.
U.S. athletes Caroline Smith wins the 10-meter-high diving competition at the Tourelles water-sports stadium.
Four swimmers dive into a pool at the start of a race in front of a large crowd. The image is in black and white, giving it a historical feel. Spectators are dressed in early 20th-century clothing, suggesting the event took place many decades ago.
The 4×200 meter relay semifinals.
A group of runners, wearing numbered bibs and athletic attire, participating in a race on a paved road in an outdoor setting. Trees and foliage line the edges of the road, and a vehicle is visible in the background. The runners appear determined and focused.
Olympic marathon runners.
A black-and-white photo captures a large crowd of people in a stadium, enthusiastically waving and cheering. Men and women are dressed in 1930s-style clothing, with many wearing hats. Signs and flags add to the lively atmosphere.
The crowd at the Tourelles water-sports stadium.
A black-and-white photo showing a water polo match in progress. Players are in the water, reaching for the ball. In the background, a large crowd of spectators is seated, closely watching the game. The scene appears lively and competitive.
A water-polo qualifier between Greece and Czechoslovakia.
A tennis player in mid-air, wearing a white shirt, pants, and cap, swings his racket on a grass court. Spectators sit in the stands behind, and a scoreboard is visible in the background. Two linespeople are seen standing near the court.
The men’s tennis singles quarterfinal.
A black and white photo showing an eight-man rowing team on the water, all in light-colored shirts, synchronized as they row. A coxswain, seated at the stern in a dark jacket and cap, guides the team. The background features a calm waterway and a distant shoreline.
Team Great Britain during a men’s eights rowing event on the Seine in Paris.
A historical black and white photo showing a group of people aiming rifles inside a shooting range. The walls are labeled with signs for pistols and rifles in French ("PISTOLETS" and "CARABINES"). The range appears to be busy with civilians and military personnel.
The Olympic shooting event in Reims on June 23, 1924.
A group of cyclists stand with their bicycles, lined up at the starting line of a race track, ready to begin. Men are assisting the cyclists, who are wearing sports attire. A large crowd in the background watches under a canopy with numerous flags.
The start of the tandem-cycling final at La Cipale Municipal Velodrome on July 26, 1924.
A gymnast in mid-air showing a high jump over a vaulting horse during an outdoor competition. The background shows people watching, with some standing and others sitting, and vague, blurred landscape elements visible in the distance.
A French gymnast.
A black and white photo shows three men seated on the ground near a wooden table equipped with various early 20th-century radio broadcasting equipment. One man holds a microphone and wears headphones, while another adjusts his headphones. The third man is seated behind them.
Radio operators at the Colombes Stadium which allowed the spectators inside the stadium to follow the marathon race. Scouts along the route reported back.
A vintage black-and-white photograph showing four soccer players in action. Three players from the opposing teams approach the ball while a fourth player observes. The background includes trees, a fence, and spectators seated in the stands.
The Netherlands play Uruguay in the soccer tournament.
Aerial view of a large open-air stadium resembling a baseball field surrounded by a crowd. Numerous vehicles are parked along the outskirts, and surrounding areas include residential buildings, industrial factories emitting smoke, and expanses of greenery.
An aerial view of the Colombes Olympic Stadium.
A man stands on a platform draped with an Olympic flag, addressing a large crowd gathered on a grassy field with a stadium backdrop. People surround the platform, many wearing suits and hats. Banners displaying country names are visible in the background.
Count Justinien Clary, president of the French Olympic Committee, speaks during the Opening Ceremony.
A group of uniformed women stand in rows on a grass field, likely part of a formal event or ceremony. They wear hats, jackets, and skirts, with a grandstand full of spectators and flags in the background under a clear sky.
The women of the Great Britain team at the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games.
A black and white photo of a track and field race finish line. Several male runners are captured mid-stride as they cross the tape. The crowd in the background appears engaged, watching the thrilling conclusion of the race.
Britain’s Harold Abrahams wins the 100-meter-flat final, ahead of Jackson Scholz of the United States and Arthur Porritt of New Zealand, at the 1924 Olympic Games.
Black and white photo of two athletes running on a track during a race, with one runner slightly ahead of the other. A large crowd is visible in the background, watching from the stands. The number 59 is visible on the leading athlete's chest.
Ville Ritola of Finland wins the 10,000 meters. Finland finished second in the overall medal table.

Image credits: Public Domain.

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