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The Olympic Games came to the United States for the first time in 1932. The Games at Lake Placid included the debut of the two-man bobsled event, and three demonstration sports: women's speedskating, dog-sled racing and curling (for the second time). Snow had to be trucked in so that the ski jump competition staging area could be covered.

Highlights

Americans John Shea and Irving Jaffee broke the Scandinavian grip on Olympic speedskating by sweeping all four gold
medals in the sport. Shea finished on top in the 500m and 1,500m, while Jaffee took the gold in the 5,000m and 10,000m. Before Shea's and Jaffee's success, only two other non-Scandinavians — both Americans — had been able to win medals in Olympic speedskating.

Birger Ruud led a Norwegian sweep of the gold, silver and bronze in the ski jump competition. Ruud later successfully defended his gold medal at the 1936 Olympic Winter Games.

Attendance Male Athletes Female Athletes Most-Medaled U.S. Rank
17 nations 274 32 U.S. (12) First

Source: Knight-Ridder/Tribune

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