Tug-Of-War

Facts

Discipline of Tug-Of-War
Participants 129
NOCs 10
Competitions held 5 (Venues)
Distinct events 1
IF Tug of War International Federation, Internationaler Kraftsportverband

Description

In 1900, 1904, 1906, 1908, 1912, and 1920, tug-of-war was contested as a part of the track & field athletics program. However, the sport has not returned to the Olympics since. Great Britain topped the medal table, with five medals. Three British athletes – Frederick Humphreys, Edwin Mills, and James Shepherd – won three tug-of-war medals and two golds.

The sport is governed internationally by the Tug of War International Federation (TWIF), which was founded in September 1960, in London, with two members: England and Sweden. As of 2022, the TWIF has 74 member associations. Tug-of-war is recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), and is a member of the Association of the IOC-Recognized International Sports Federations (ARISF).

All-time medal table

Olympic Games

NOC Gold Silver Bronze Total
Great Britain GBR 2 2 1 5
United States USA 1 1 1 3
Mixed team MIX 1 0 0 1
Sweden SWE 1 0 0 1
France FRA 0 1 0 1
Netherlands NED 0 1 0 1
Belgium BEL 0 0 1 1

Intercalated Games

NOC Gold Silver Bronze Total
Germany GER 1 0 0 1
Greece GRE 0 1 0 1
Sweden SWE 0 0 1 1

Forerunners To The Olympic Games

Most successful competitors

Olympic Games

Athlete Nat Gold Silver Bronze Total
Frederick Humphreys GBR 2 1 0 3
Edwin Mills GBR 2 1 0 3
James Shepherd GBR 2 1 0 3
John Sewell GBR 1 1 0 2
Edgar Aabye DEN 1 0 0 1
George Canning GBR 1 0 0 1
Frederick Goodfellow GBR 1 0 0 1
William Hirons GBR 1 0 0 1
Fred Holmes GBR 1 0 0 1
Albert Ireton GBR 1 0 0 1
Frederick Merriman GBR 1 0 0 1
Harry Stiff GBR 1 0 0 1
Ernest Thorne GBR 1 0 0 1
Alfred Read GBR 1 0 0 1
Arvid Andersson SWE 1 0 0 1
Adolf Bergman SWE 1 0 0 1
Johan Edman SWE 1 0 0 1
Erik Fredriksson SWE 1 0 0 1
August Gustafsson SWE 1 0 0 1
Carl Jonsson SWE 1 0 0 1
Erik Larsson SWE 1 0 0 1
Herbert Lindström SWE 1 0 0 1
Sid Johnson USA 1 0 0 1
Conrad Magnusson USA 1 0 0 1
Oscar Olsen NOR
USA
1 0 0 1
Henry Seiling USA 1 0 0 1
Eugen Schmidt DEN 1 0 0 1
Charles Winckler DEN 1 0 0 1
Edmond Barrett GBR
IRL
1 0 0 1
August Nilsson SWE 1 0 0 1
Karl Gustaf Staaf SWE 1 0 0 1
Gustaf Söderström SWE 1 0 0 1
Pat Flanagan USA 1 0 0 1

Intercalated Games

Athlete Nat Gold Silver Bronze Total
Joseph Krämer GER 1 0 0 1
Julius Wagner GER
SUI
1 0 0 1
Willy Dörr GER 1 0 0 1
Karl Kaltenbach GER 1 0 0 1
Wilhelm Ritzenhoff GER 1 0 0 1
Wilhelm Born GER 1 0 0 1
Heinrich Rondi GER 1 0 0 1
Heinrich Schneidereit GER 1 0 0 1
Georgios Papachristou GRE 0 1 0 1
Spyros Vellas GRE 0 1 0 1
Konstantinos Lazaros GRE 0 1 0 1
Spyros Lazaros GRE 0 1 0 1
Georgios Psachos GRE 0 1 0 1
Vasilios Psachos GRE 0 1 0 1
Panagiotis Trivoulidis GRE 0 1 0 1
Antonios Tsitas GRE 0 1 0 1

Forerunners To The Olympic Games

Athlete Nat Gold Silver Bronze Total

Event types

Name Gender Still contested? Times held?
Tug-Of-War Men 8