High School Athletes to Olympian Hopefuls
Our ancestors who trained or were able to compete in the Olympics must be able celebrated. We must be able to trace them. In 1900 and 1904 we know the Modern Games were up and running. It is in the 1900 Paris games that the first modern female athletes were featured. We know a lot about the Olympics, but I'm always shocked at what we don't know. In 2022, I followed a young man, Arthur Strom, my client's father. Arthur was a dowhill skier, and well known in Washington, for his skills. He had his goal set on the Olympic tryouts in 1939. Keep in mind though that the Olympics Games were cancelled in Summer Games of 1916 (WWI); Summer and Winter Games of 1940 and Summer Games of 1944 due to WWII (1939 - 1945).
Even though our Arthur was unable to compete in the Olympics, I learned a lot about the sport, the person, and the perserverance and challenges that comes with that winter Olympics. Plus, the a3Genealogy team was able to create a scrapbook for Arthur and his athleticism.
I say start with the genealogical impact of Olympic athletes. These athletes were someone's ancestors or DNA cousins. So, let's put this all into a historical-genealogical context. How can you learn more? Was your ancestor exposed to competition in their upbringing? What and who inspired them. These are just some of my questionsWe know the ancient Olympic games were part of a religious festival to honor the Greek god Zeus, and originally competitors were limited to freeborn Greek men and boys. That is not the Modern Olympics of today.
The Folklore
The family stories always begin the same. Grandpa bragged and repeated the stories told from his grandma, but someone in the early 1900's was in the Olympics. Or, they would have made the Olympics, but WWII clouded their future, like that of Art Strom (above). The story may differ, but there was always a stumbling block. There's still proof that they did train or tryout for the team.
Cultural. Was there a cultural emphasis on sports in the community; or maybe a beloved community pasttime of a particual sport encouraged players to be inspired to reach Olympic level? Were there cultural restraints?
They didn't allow women to compete in the women until 1900. But it wasn't quite that simple: Hélène de Pourtalès of Switzerland who was the first woman to compete at the Olympic Game was a member of the 1 to 2 ton winning sailing team. Oh, and Briton Charlotte Cooper is known for being the first winning women's singles tennis competition. Twenty-two women competed at the 1900 Games - sailing, golf, tennis, and croquet.
But, in as late as 1950's Carol Durand was not able to participate with the Olympic USA Equestrian Team. Did you know equestrian sports has been part of the Summer Olympics since 1900? This year, 2024, 200 riders, and their partnering four-legger, competed in Paris. In case you missed the USA jumping team got a silver in Paris. Durand, from my hometown of Kanas City, Kansas, made the Olympic team, but it was determined shortly after that it was a men's only team.
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1951, Missouri
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Black men could not compete until 1904 St Louis Summer Olympics. That year George Coleman Poage, born 1884 in Missouri, but raised in Wisconsin, and trained an graduated from the University of WI. in 1903.
Economics. Did economics play a part historically in who could participate? I don't know if Equestrian ttraining and competitions is the most expensive Olympic sport, but the cost of just the care and movability of a one-ton live competition-partner takes me to want to analyze the financial burden. Sure, I know I'm a bit too familiar with equestrian competition, but I did go to a Missouri women's college, Stephens College, that had the unique major of Equestrian Science. My classmates were forever going to England, or abroad, for competitions. When mentioning this over the Thanksgiving table my Freshman year, my father just looked at me side-eyed, and blurted an emphatic "don't even think about it!." That ended the discussion.
But for athletes like George Poage, whose father died when he was a young boy, and money was rather strapped, how did they train for the Olympics? Were they sponsored? Poage was indeed sponsored by the Milwaukee Athletic Club. Ath this segregated Olympics event, Poage won bronze in the 200yard and 400 yard hurdles. Although Poage died in 1962, never married, no children, but he did have a sister, and an extended family. So we would do genealogy on the family, as always.
Genetics. Was their athleticism passed down, maybe, genetically as is tossed around with Danny Bukantz, the fencer.
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| 1938, Knoxville TN |
It is said that Danny passed his powerful, precise fencing skills to son. This story is captured in the book written by his son,
Closing the Distance, Chasing a Father's Olympic Fencing Legacy. A
Speaking of genetics, I recently learned that studies have been conducted on just this topic.Yes, there is actually such thing as
Sports Genomics. One such study supported that
high-altitude adaptations is appers to help distance runners. Although simplistic, another study suggests that certain genetic traits, such as
fast-twitch muscle fibers, which are advantageous for explosive sports like sprinting and jumping, are
more prevalent in people of West African descent. Hmmm...
Where to Start Research on Your Athlete?
Now we know Art Strom, Carol Durand, George Poage, and Danny Bukantz did not just wake up one morning and announce they were on the Olympic team. We want to know more- their childhood, their ancestors, their training, their influences, etc..
- Newspapers. These newspaper articles tell the contemporary news. Great place to get face images, and team pics. Also they post scores and placement in races and competitions. Was your ancestor always on the best team, or placing in most races?
- State's Athletic Hall of Fame. Lot's was written up on Poage in 1998 when he was elected to the Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame.This is the best place to get team pics.
- School/University Year Books
- Sports Periodicals and Sports Journals.
- Sports Museums
- State Historical Societies
Research Obstacles
The 1916 World War I Summer Olympic Games were cancelled, as was the 1940 Summer and Winter Games and the 1944 Summer Games. As an Olympian hopeful, Arthur Strom who was training in 1943. was unable to tryout in 1944. But he proudly served his country as a Marine.
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