In 1936, Bermuda made history by sending its first-ever delegation to the Summer Olympics held in Berlin, Germany. The island’s representation at the games marked a significant milestone in Bermuda’s participation in international sporting events and showcased its commitment to athletic excellence on the world stage.
Bermuda’s delegation to the 1936 Olympics consisted of six swimmers – Percy Belvin, John Young, Edmund Cooper, Forster Cooper, Leonard Spence and Dudley Spurling. – While Bermuda did not secure any medals at the games, the athletes’ participation highlighted the island’s dedication to sports and the Olympic ideals of unity, friendship, and fair competition.
Whitfield “Chummy” Hayward, a young sportsman in his 20s, was the driving force behind the new Olympic Association. With financial help from Sir Howard Trott, Hayward brought in American coach William Brooks and Spence, a breaststroke world record holder from British Guiana, to build and prepare a team. In the pool, only Spence enjoyed any measure of success, reaching the semi final in the 200-meter breaststroke. The island has sent athletes to compete in every Summer Olympic Games since then, except when they participated in the 1980 Summer Olympics boycott.
