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12 Photos of the Very First Winter Olympics in Chamonix, France

  • <p>Women only participated in figure skating events, and there were <a href="https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/first-winter-olympics" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:just 13 women;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link ">just 13 women</a> competing at the first Winter Olympics in total. </p> <p>Herma Planck-Szabo of Hungary (left) took home the gold, Ethel Muckelt of Britain (center) took home silver and Beatrix Loughran (right) of Team USA took home bronze.</p>
    1/12

    Skating Through the Competition

    Women only participated in figure skating events, and there were just 13 women competing at the first Winter Olympics in total.

    Herma Planck-Szabo of Hungary (left) took home the gold, Ethel Muckelt of Britain (center) took home silver and Beatrix Loughran (right) of Team USA took home bronze.

  • <p>Known then as "International Sports Week," the very first Winter Olympics were held in 1924 in Chamonix, France, which is situated in the French Alps. In 1925, the International Olympic Committee retroactively created the Winter Olympics, making the 1924 Games the first. </p> <p>Pictured: Crowds gather to watch the 10,000m speedskating event. </p>
    2/12

    The First Winter Olympics

    Known then as "International Sports Week," the very first Winter Olympics were held in 1924 in Chamonix, France, which is situated in the French Alps. In 1925, the International Olympic Committee retroactively created the Winter Olympics, making the 1924 Games the first.

    Pictured: Crowds gather to watch the 10,000m speedskating event.

  • <p>A total of 16 nations participated in 12 events, all held outside amidst the stunning background of the French Alps. </p> <p>Pictured: Team Italy marches in the inaugural parade at the 1924 Winter Olympics. </p>
    3/12

    The Inaugural Parade

    A total of 16 nations participated in 12 events, all held outside amidst the stunning background of the French Alps.

    Pictured: Team Italy marches in the inaugural parade at the 1924 Winter Olympics.

  • <p>American speedskater Charles Jewtraw (right) became the first American to win a gold medal in the Winter Olympics when he won the first event, 500m speedskating. </p>
    4/12

    The First Winter Olympic Champion

    American speedskater Charles Jewtraw (right) became the first American to win a gold medal in the Winter Olympics when he won the first event, 500m speedskating.

  • <p>Pictured: Jewtraw speeds past the finish line while competing in the event. </p>
    5/12

    Need for Speed

    Pictured: Jewtraw speeds past the finish line while competing in the event.

  • <p>Sonja Henie of Norway (right) was the youngest competitor at the first Winter Games — she was just 11 years old when she placed 8th in the figure-skating competition. </p> <p>She would go on to become a 10-time world champion, six-time European champion and three-time Olympic champion, and eventually start a successful acting career. </p>
    6/12

    The Youngest Competitor

    Sonja Henie of Norway (right) was the youngest competitor at the first Winter Games — she was just 11 years old when she placed 8th in the figure-skating competition.

    She would go on to become a 10-time world champion, six-time European champion and three-time Olympic champion, and eventually start a successful acting career.

  • <p>Pictured: French figure skater Andrée Joly and American figure skater Beatrix Loughran strike a pose during a practice session. </p>
    7/12

    Friendly Competition

    Pictured: French figure skater Andrée Joly and American figure skater Beatrix Loughran strike a pose during a practice session.

  • <p>Pictured: A group of American skaters spend some time practicing together. </p>
    8/12

    Getting in Some Practice

    Pictured: A group of American skaters spend some time practicing together.

  • <p>The Canadian team <a href="https://olympics.com/en/olympic-games/chamonix-1924" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:scored a whopping 122 goals;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link ">scored a whopping 122 goals</a> throughout the Winter Games, only allowing three to be scored against them. </p> <p>Pictured: Team USA faces off with Team Canada during an ice hockey match. </p>
    9/12

    Goal Time

    The Canadian team scored a whopping 122 goals throughout the Winter Games, only allowing three to be scored against them.

    Pictured: Team USA faces off with Team Canada during an ice hockey match.

  • <p>Those competing in the bobsleigh event were brought to the starting point by horse-drawn sleigh. </p>
    10/12

    Being Brought to the Top

    Those competing in the bobsleigh event were brought to the starting point by horse-drawn sleigh.

  • <p>Team Great Britain, comprised of Ralph Broome, Thomas Arnold, Alexander Richardson and Rodney Soher, took home silver in the four-man bobsleigh event. </p>
    11/12

    Sleigh Ride Together

    Team Great Britain, comprised of Ralph Broome, Thomas Arnold, Alexander Richardson and Rodney Soher, took home silver in the four-man bobsleigh event.

  • <p>The British curling team used actual household brooms during their event. </p>
    12/12

    Cleaning Up Nicely

    The British curling team used actual household brooms during their event.

<p>Women only participated in figure skating events, and there were <a href="https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/first-winter-olympics" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:just 13 women;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link ">just 13 women</a> competing at the first Winter Olympics in total. </p> <p>Herma Planck-Szabo of Hungary (left) took home the gold, Ethel Muckelt of Britain (center) took home silver and Beatrix Loughran (right) of Team USA took home bronze.</p>
<p>Known then as "International Sports Week," the very first Winter Olympics were held in 1924 in Chamonix, France, which is situated in the French Alps. In 1925, the International Olympic Committee retroactively created the Winter Olympics, making the 1924 Games the first. </p> <p>Pictured: Crowds gather to watch the 10,000m speedskating event. </p>
<p>A total of 16 nations participated in 12 events, all held outside amidst the stunning background of the French Alps. </p> <p>Pictured: Team Italy marches in the inaugural parade at the 1924 Winter Olympics. </p>
<p>American speedskater Charles Jewtraw (right) became the first American to win a gold medal in the Winter Olympics when he won the first event, 500m speedskating. </p>
<p>Pictured: Jewtraw speeds past the finish line while competing in the event. </p>
<p>Sonja Henie of Norway (right) was the youngest competitor at the first Winter Games — she was just 11 years old when she placed 8th in the figure-skating competition. </p> <p>She would go on to become a 10-time world champion, six-time European champion and three-time Olympic champion, and eventually start a successful acting career. </p>
<p>Pictured: French figure skater Andrée Joly and American figure skater Beatrix Loughran strike a pose during a practice session. </p>
<p>Pictured: A group of American skaters spend some time practicing together. </p>
<p>The Canadian team <a href="https://olympics.com/en/olympic-games/chamonix-1924" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:scored a whopping 122 goals;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link ">scored a whopping 122 goals</a> throughout the Winter Games, only allowing three to be scored against them. </p> <p>Pictured: Team USA faces off with Team Canada during an ice hockey match. </p>
<p>Those competing in the bobsleigh event were brought to the starting point by horse-drawn sleigh. </p>
<p>Team Great Britain, comprised of Ralph Broome, Thomas Arnold, Alexander Richardson and Rodney Soher, took home silver in the four-man bobsleigh event. </p>
<p>The British curling team used actual household brooms during their event. </p>
Andrea Wurzburger

The first Winter Olympics were held nearly one century ago in Chamonix, France, in the French Alps, in January 1924