At the 1908 Summer Olympics, a tug of war tournament was contested. Each team consisted of 8 athletes. Nations could enter up to 3 teams.[1] The host Great Britain was the only one to enter more than one (entering the maximum of 3 teams). Germany, Greece, Sweden, and the United States each entered one team apiece, though Germany and Greece withdrew. This left 5 teams (40 athletes) from 3 nations to compete.

Quick Facts Men's tug of war at the Games of the IV Olympiad, Venue ...
Men's tug of war
at the Games of the IV Olympiad
VenueWhite City Stadium
DatesJuly 17–18, 1908
Competitors40 from 3 nations
Medalists
1st place, gold medalist(s) City of London Police
 Great Britain
2nd place, silver medalist(s) Liverpool City Police
 Great Britain
3rd place, bronze medalist(s) Metropolitan Police "K" Division
 Great Britain
 1904
1912 
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Medal table

More information Position, Country ...
PositionCountry Gold Silver Bronze Total
1 Great Britain1113
 Sweden0000
 United States0000
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Medal summary

Gold Silver Bronze
City of London Police
 Great Britain
Liverpool Police
 Great Britain
Metropolitan Police "K" Division
 Great Britain

Team rosters

Great Britain

City of London Police

Liverpool Police

Metropolitan Police "K" Division

Sweden

  • Albrekt Almqwist
  • Frans Fast
  • Carl-Emil Johansson
  • Emil Johansson
  • Knut Johansson
  • Karl Krook
  • Karl-Gustaf Nilsson
  • Anders Wollgarth

United States

Results

Quarterfinals

The German and Greek teams withdrew, narrowing the seven-team field to five. Thus, the Swedish team and two of the British squads had byes in the quarterfinals.

The only match held was between the Liverpool team and the Americans. Liverpool won the first pull easily, after which the United States delegation protested against the footwear worn by the Liverpool police, who competed in their service boots. The protest was dismissed, and the Americans withdrew in disgust.[2][3]

More information Winners, Score ...
WinnersScoreLosers
Liverpool Police Great Britain2-0 (forfeit)United States of America United States
Sweden SwedenBye
City of London Police Great BritainBye
Metropolitan Police "K" Division Great BritainBye
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Semifinals

Liverpool again faced a foreign opponent, and again prevailed. The two London services squared off in the other semifinal, with the City police beating the Metropolitan men in a lengthy first pull. The second pull was not as tight a contest.[2]

More information Winners, Score ...
WinnersScoreLosers
Liverpool Police Great Britain2-0Sweden Sweden
City of London Police Great Britain2-0Metropolitan Police "K" Division Great Britain
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Final

The Londoners defeated Liverpool in the final, winning the first two pulls.

More information Winners, Score ...
WinnersScoreLosers
City of London Police Great Britain2-0Liverpool Police Great Britain
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Bronze medal match

The Swedish team did not appear for the bronze medal match.

More information Winners, Score ...
WinnersScoreLosers
Metropolitan Police "K" (Stepney) Division Great BritainwalkoverSweden Sweden
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Notes

Sources

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