India at the 1900 Summer Olympics

India competed at the 1900 Summer Olympics in Paris, France. It was the nation's first appearance at the modern Olympic Games. This marked the first participation of an Asian country in the Olympic Games.

India at the 1900 Summer Olympics
Flag of India
IOC code	IND
NOC	Indian Olympic Association
Website	olympic.ind.in
in Paris
Competitors	1 in 1 sport
Medals Ranked 19th	Gold 0 Silver 2 Bronze 0 Total 2
Summer Olympics appearances (overview)
1900 1904–1912 1920 1924 1928 1932 1936 1948 1952 1956 1960 1964 1968 1972 1976 1980 1984 1988 1992 1996 2000 2004 2008 2012 2016 2020 2024

One athlete, Norman Pritchard, participated in athletics.^[a] He competed in five events and won two silver medals. Until 2020, these were the only medals won by India in athletics. India was classified 19th in the overall medal table, which represents its best ever placement till date.

Background

The Indian Olympic Association was recognized by the International Olympic Committee in 1927.^[5] However, by this time, the nation had already competed in four Olympic Games.^[6] This edition at Paris marked the nation's first appearance at the Summer Olympics.^[7] This marked the first participation of an Asian country in the Olympic Games.^[8] India was classified 19th in the overall medal table, which represents its best ever placement till date.^[9]

Medalists

One athlete, Norman Pritchard, participated in athletics.^[a] He competed in five events and won two silver medals.^[3][10] Until 2020, these were the only medals won by India in athletics.^[11]

Medal	Name	Sport	Event	Date
Silver	Norman Pritchard	Athletics	Men's 200 metres hurdles	July 16
Silver	Norman Pritchard	Athletics	Men's 200 m	July 22

Competitors

The following is the list of number of competitors per sport/discipline.^[4]

Sport	Athletes
Athletics	1
Total	1

Athletics

Main article: Athletics at the 1900 Summer Olympics

Norman Pritchard competed in five events at the Games.^[3] In the 200 m hurdles, he set a then Olympic record 26.8 seconds in the semifinals. In the final, he won the silver with a timing of 26 seconds after USA’s Alvin Kraenzlein registered a new Olympic record of 25.4 seconds to win the gold.^[12][13] In the 200 m, he finished second in the semifinals to qualify for the final. In the final, he registered another second place with a time of 22.8 seconds after Walter Tewksbury of the USA won gold with a time of 22.2 seconds.^[12][14]

Athlete	Event	Heat		Semifinal		Repechage		Final
		Result	Rank	Result	Rank	Result	Rank	Result	Rank
Norman Pritchard	60 m	7.1	3	—				Did not advance
	100 m	11.4	1 Q	Unknown	3	11.0	2	Did not advance
	200 m	Unknown	2 Q	—				22.8
	110 m hurdles	16.6	1 Q	—				DNF
	200 m hurdles	26.8	1 Q	n/a				26.0

Legend: Q = Qualified for the next phase.

Notes

1. In the track and field statistics published by the World Athletics prior to the 2004 Summer Olympics, Pritchard was listed as having competed for Great Britain in 1900. Pritchard was chosen to represent Great Britain after competing in the British AAA championship in June 1900.^[1][2] But he was born in India and the International Olympic Committee regards him as having competed for India.^[3][4]