Australia at the 1936 Winter Olympics

The Australian Olympic Committee was formed on 1 January 1895 with the nation making their debut at the first Olympics in Athens with Teddy Flack being the first representative of the nation.{{cite web|url=https://www.olympic.org/australia|title=Australia|publisher=International Olympic Committee|access-date=7 September 2020}}{{cite web|url=http://www.olympedia.org/countries/AUS/editions/1|title=Australia at the 1896 Summer Olympics|publisher=Olympedia|access-date=7 September 2020}} This was the nation's first appearance at a Winter Olympics and the ninth overall Olympics that Australia had sent a delegation in.{{cite web|url=http://www.olympedia.org/countries/AUS|title=Australia|publisher=Olympedia|access-date=7 September 2020}} The 1936 Winter Olympics was held at Garmisch-Partenkirchen in Germany and took place from the 6 to 16 February: a total of 646 athletes competed from 28 nations.{{cite web|url=https://www.olympic.org/garmisch-partenkirchen-1936|title=Garmisch-Partenkirchen 1936|publisher=International Olympic Committee|access-date=7 September 2020}} The Australian delegation consist of a speed skater, Ken Kennedy who before the games had won the 880 yards and a mile national titles in speed skating over in Britain before competing for Australia at the 1936 Games.{{cite web|url=http://www.olympedia.org/countries/AUS/editions/32|title=Australia at the 1936 Winter Olympics|publisher=Olympedia|access-date=7 September 2020}}{{cite web|url=https://www.olympics.com.au/games/garmisch-1936/|title=Garmsich 1936|publisher=Australian Olympic Committee|access-date=7 September 2020}}

{{Main|Speed skating at the 1936 Winter Olympics}}

In what was his only Olympics, 22 year old Ken Kennedy competed in four speed skating events throughout the 1936 Games.{{cite web|url=http://www.olympedia.org/athletes/87879|title=Ken Kennedy|publisher=Olympedia|access-date=7 September 2020}} His first event was in the men's 500 metres which took place on 11 February. He was a part of the 36 competitors that competed in the distance with Kennedy finishing 29th overall with a time of 47.4 seconds.{{cite web|url=http://www.olympedia.org/results/989|title=500 metres, Men|publisher=Olympedia|access-date=7 September 2020}} His next event was the men's 1500 metres which took place the following day. From the 37 skaters that he entered, he finished in 33rd with a time of two minutes and 31 seconds, a full twelve seconds behind the eventual champion in Charles Mathiesen.{{cite web|url=http://www.olympedia.org/results/990|title=1500 metres, Men|publisher=Olympedia|access-date=7 September 2020}} On 13 February, he competed in his last event of the Games as he didn't start the 10000 metres event.{{cite web|url=http://www.olympedia.org/results/992|title=10000 metres, Men|publisher=Olympedia|access-date=7 September 2020}} From 39 entrants, Kennedy finished in 33rd place overall with a time of nine minutes and 48 seconds. He was almost one and a half minutes behind gold medallist, Ivar Ballangrud from Norway.{{cite web|url=http://www.olympedia.org/results/991|title=50000 metres, Men|publisher=Olympedia|access-date=7 September 2020}}

{{reflist}}

• [http://www.olympics.com.au/ Australia NOC]
• [http://www.owia.org/ Olympic Winter Institute of Australia]

{{country at games navbox|Australia|Olympics}}

{{Nations at the 1936 Winter Olympics}}

Category:Nations at the 1936 Winter Olympics

1936

Olympics, Winter

Category:Winter sports in Australia