A look back at local, national and world events through Deseret News archives.
On Jan. 30, 1924, Gillis Grafström of Sweden won the men’s figure skating gold medal at the Chamonix Winter Olympics.
The Chamonix Olympics is considered I Winter Olympics, but was originally organized as the International Winter Sports Week.
Per historians, there were only a few events at this initial Winter Olympics; including bobsleigh, curling, ice hockey and various versions of Nordic skiing. But it was considered a big success by the International Olympic Committee.
The practice of holding the Winter Olympics in the same year as the Summer Olympics would continue until 1992, when they were moved to alternating even-numbered years.
The Deseret News provided coverage of many of the events, and it appears Utahns already had the Olympic spirit. More on that later ...
The first Games
The Games opened on Jan. 25, with a parade of competing nations. The next day, U.S. skater Charles Jewtraw claimed the first ever Winter Olympic gold medal, winning the 500-meter speed skating event.
Finland’s Clas Thunberg won five speed skating medals, including three on Jan. 27.
On Jan. 30, Grafstrom won his gold medal, repeating a gold he’d won at the 1920 Summer Games. The next day, Herma Sazbo of Austria won the ladies figure skating event. Even though she finished eighth, 11-year-old Sonja Henie became the world’s darling, winning the next three Olympic golds and moving to Hollywood.
On Feb. 3, Canada beat the United States, 6-1, to retain the Olympic ice hockey gold medal it won in 1920. France, the host country, did not win a medal. The Games came to a close on Feb. 5.
Meanwhile in Utah ...
While it would be many years before Utah would entertain notions of hosting a Winter Olympic Games, Utahns already had the Olympic spirit.
The Deseret News published stories most days about the competition in France, but on Feb. 28, a meeting was held by the Utah Olympic Committee encouraging Utah athletes to prepare to compete in the upcoming U.S. Olympic Trials in New York.
Speaking at the meeting at the Hotel Utah were Jack Dempsey, Alma Richards and Cree Haymond as well as other dignitaries, including U.S. Olympic Committee member W.E. Day of Salt Lake City.
Better late than never
Interestingly, the final medal of the 1924 Chamonix Olympics was awarded to American ski jumper Anders Haugen ... in 1974.
Fifty years after the competition, a scoring error was caught, which elevated Haugen from fourth place to third. At age 83, Haugen was invited to Norway to receive his belated medal.
Here are some stories from Deseret News archives about the Winter Olympics through the years and other Olympic memories:
"Photos: A chronological look at Olympic Winter Games opening ceremonies from 1924 to 2010"
"Media often unkind to Winter Olympics"
"It’s been 20 years since Utah hosted the Olympics. Here’s why the state wants to do it again"