Discontinued Olympic Sports
Events > Olympics > Discontinued > Sports > Swimming > Obstacle Race
200m Obstacle Race - Swimming
This unusual swimming event seems very complex but a lot of fun. A combination of a swimming event and an obstacle race, the competitors had to climb over a pole, then
scramble over a row of boats, and then swim under another row
of boats. All this was done in the to swim in the River Seine, so they competitors also had to contend with the current. This event was only ever held in 1900, but it would be an crowd favorite if it was ever to return.
Results
- Frederick Lane (Australia) 2:38.4
- Otto Wahle (AUT) 2:40.0
- Peter Kemp (GBR) 2:47.4
The winner Frederick Lane of Australia also won the 200 meter freestyle event (his prize in the freestyle event, instead of a gold medal, was a 50-pound bronze horse). He had also been clever in winning the obstacle event, knowing that the stern was the best way to get into (and therefore over) a boat. His winning time in the Obstacle race was only 13 seconds slower than his time without things in the way.
Related Pages
- Other Discontinued Swimming Events
- List of all Discontinued Events
- all about Swimming at the Olympic Games
