The men's 1500 metres event was part of the track and field athletics programme at the 1920 Summer Olympics. The competition was held on Wednesday, August 18, 1920, and on Thursday, August 19, 1920. Twenty-nine runners from 12 nations competed. No nation had more than 4 runners, suggesting the limit had been reduced from the 12 maximum in force in 1908 and 1912. The event was won by Albert Hill of Great Britain, completing his middle-distance double (gold in the 800 metres and 1500 metres). It was the nation's second consecutive and third overall championship in the men's 1500 metres.

Background

This was the sixth appearance of the event, which is one of 12 athletics events to have been held at every Summer Olympics. Two finalists from the pre-war 1912 Games returned: sixth-place finisher Philip Noel-Baker of Great Britain and seventh-place finisher John Zander of Sweden. Zander was the world record holder.

Czechoslovakia, Estonia, Japan, and Spain each made their first appearance in the event. The United States made its sixth appearance, the only nation to have competed in the men's 1500 metres at each Games to that point.

Competition format

The competition consisted of two rounds, the format used since 1908. With a smaller field, the focus shifted to fewer semifinals with more qualifiers from each. Only four semifinals were held, with anywhere between 5 and 8 runners in each. The top three runners in each heat advanced to the final, for a 12-man final race (increased to 13 when one semifinalist was advanced after being obstructed).

Records

These were the standing world and Olympic records prior to the 1920 Summer Olympics.

No world or Olympic records were set during the competition.

Schedule

Date Time Round Wednesday, 18 August 1920 15:15 Round 1 Thursday, 19 August 1920 17:15 Final

Results Times were generally only published for the winners of each heat. Some of the times listed below are estimates based on contemporary reports of the races.

Round 1

Heat 1

Rank Athlete Nation Time Notes 1 Václav Vohralík 4:02.2 2 Albert Hill 4:03.2 3 André Audinet 4:03.7 4 Edvin Wide 4:03.8 5 Edward Lawrence 4:04.4 — Edward Curtis — Lucien Bangels — Carlo Martinenghi — Tomeichi Ohura

Heat 2

Rank Athlete Nation Time Notes 1 Sven Lundgren 4:07.0 2 Duncan McPhee 4:07.2 3 Lawrence Shields 4:07.4 4 Armand Burtin 4:07.7 5 Tommy Town 6 Giuseppe Bonini 7 Theofiel Roekaert — Eivind Rasmussen — Paavo Nurmi — Bevil Rudd — José Luis Grasset

Heat 3

Rank Athlete Nation Time Notes 1 John Zander 4:08.1 2 Arturo Porro 4:09.0 3 James Connolly 4:10.0 4 Maurice de Conninck 4:11.0 5 Jean Delarge 4:11.5 — Panagiotis Retelas — Søren Nielsen — Jaroslav Procházka — Arnold Jackson

Heat 4

René Leray was advanced to the final after being interfered with by Villemson on the final lap.

Rank Athlete Nation Time Notes 1 Joie Ray 4:13.4 2 Philip Noel-Baker 4:14.0 3 Léon Fourneau 4:15.0 4 Fritz Kiölling 4:15.0 5 René Leray 4:16.5 6 Saburo Hasumi — Juan Muguerza — Johannes Villemson — Alfred Gaschen — Ernesto Ambrosini

Final

Rank Athlete Nation Time Albert Hill 4:01.8 Philip Noel-Baker 4:02.4 Lawrence Shields 4:04.3 4 Václav Vohralík 4:08.0 5 Sven Lundgren 4:12.0 6 André Audinet 4:12.2 7 Arturo Porro 4:12.4 8 Joie Ray 4:13.0 9 Léon Fourneau 4:16.0 10 René Leray 4:25.0 — Duncan McPhee — James Connolly — John Zander

References

Further reading