MADISON, Wis. (WMTV) – On this day, January 25, 1924, the first Winter Olympics were held in Chamonix, France.
The games were held on a smaller scale than they are today, with just over a dozen events and six sports in the games.
The event was originally called “Winter Sports Week of the 8th Olympiad,” and featured sports that had previously been in the Summer Olympics, including figure skating and hockey.
Only 16 countries competed in the first Games, with Norway taking home the most medals at 17.
Because the Norwegians dominated in skiing, the sport took off in popularity after the games.
The United States took home three medals, though only one of them gold. That medal was won by Charles Jewtraw for the 500-meter speedskating event.
The Games were so popular that just a year later, the International Olympic Committee would officially create the Winter Olympics, thus making Chamonix’s event, the first Winter Games.
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