Known as the \u201cSwedish Masterpiece,\u201d the 1912 Olympics were the best organized and most efficiently run Games<\/a> to that date. Electronic timing devices and a public address system were used for the first time. The Games drew approximately 2,400 athletes<\/a> representing 28 countries. New competitions included the modern pentathlon<\/a> and swimming and diving events for women. The boxing competition was canceled by the Swedish organizers, who found the sport disagreeable; this cancellation, along with controversial officiating at earlier Olympics, prompted the International Olympic Committee<\/a> (IOC) to greatly curtail<\/a> the role of local organizing groups after 1912.<\/p>\n \n\t\t\t\tQuick Facts<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tDate: \t\t\t\t\t\t\t(Show\u00a0more)<\/p>\n Sweden: 65<\/p>\n United States: 64<\/p>\n United Kingdom: 41<\/p>\n Finland: 26<\/p>\n Germany: 26<\/p>\n Note: Medal count per the IOC website<\/a>.<\/p>\n The star of the 1912 Olympics was American Jim Thorpe<\/a>. Entered in four events, he began slowly with a fourth-place finish in the high jump<\/a> and a seventh-place finish in the long jump<\/a>. In the pentathlon and decathlon<\/a>, however, Thorpe dominated the events to win two gold medals. The track-and-field competition also featured the long-distance running<\/a> of Hannes Kolehmainen<\/a> of Finland, who won gold medals in the 5,000- and 10,000-meter runs and the 12,000-meter cross-country race. The 1912 Games marked the Olympic debuts<\/a> of legendary fencer Nedo Nadi<\/a> of Italy and American swimmer Duke Kahanamoku<\/a> of Hawaii<\/a>.<\/p>\n
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMay 5, 1912 – July 27, 1912 <\/p>\n
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