Buffalo Soldiers and the Olympics

Buffalo Soldier Ralph Metcalfe in between fellow Olympians Jesse Owens and Frank Wykoff as they practice sprints on the SS Manhattan, ca. 1936

Public Domain

Buffalo Soldier regiments participated and hosted various athletic competitions. These competitions varied from foot races, shooting, wrestling, boxing, swimming, and horseback riding. They also played organized sports such as baseball, basketball, and football against local teams. Spectators enjoyed attending these events and cheered all the competitors. These events proved to build positive connections between the local communities and the Buffalo Soldiers.

By 1890, the popularity of sporting events continued to grow across the United States and the world. Professional sporting events were well attended, and several small-scale sports festivals were being held in various countries. Some of the sport festivals across Europe were named after the Ancient Olympic Games once held in Greece.

The Olympic Games originated in Olympia, Greece, almost 3,000 years ago. Sometimes referred to as the “classical games,” these games were a collection of organized athletic contests. They were held during a festival in the summer every four years. Though similar festivals were held in over 150 cities, the games in Olympia became the most famous. The first Olympic Games consisted of a footrace and later grew to include other events, such as the long jump, javelin throw, discus throw, and wrestling.

On April 6, 1896, the first modern day International Olympic Games were held in Athens, Greece. The event hosted competitors from Australia, Austria, Bulgaria, Chile, Denmark, France, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United States. The United States won 11 gold medals, the most in that year’s competition. The Olympic Games proved a great success, and it was decided to host the games every four years as they were done in ancient Greece. However, the Games would be hosted in different countries.

In 1904, the third Olympic Games were hosted in St. Louis, Missouri. George Coleman Poage became the first African American to compete and win an Olympic medal, winning two bronze medals in the 200 and 400-meter hurdles.

As the Olympic Games continued to grow in popularity, many countries organized national teams. This was a change from when countries sponsored various athletic clubs to represent them during the first three Olympic Games. In 1908, hundreds of American athletes competed to make the U.S. Olympic Team. John Baxter Taylor Jr. became the first African American to win an Olympic gold medal as a member of the 4x400-meter relay team.

Some African American Olympians went on to serve in the Army. Ralph Metcalf and John Woodruff later competed and won medals as members of the U.S. Olympic Team. They then enlisted in the Army during World War II and were assigned to Buffalo Soldier regiments.

To learn more about the Buffalo Soldiers who competed in the Olympics see the profiles below.