Australia at the 1932 Summer Olympics

Australia competed at the 1932 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, United States. Due to the Great Depression, Australia could only afford to send 13 athletes to the Games.

Australia at the 1932 Summer Olympics
IOC code	AUS
NOC	Australian Olympic Committee
Website	www.olympics.com.au
in Los Angeles
Competitors	13 (9 men, 4 women) in six sports
Flag bearer	Andrew Charlton
Medals Ranked 10th	Gold 3 Silver 1 Bronze 1 Total 5
Summer Olympics appearances (overview)
1896 1900 1904 1908 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
Other related appearances
1906 Intercalated Games ––––  Australasia (1908–1912)

An innovation was the daily one-hour radio report on the Olympics for New Zealand and Australia by the film actress from New Zealand, Nola Luxford.

Medalists

The Australian Olympic team at the Olympic Stadium, Los Angeles

Gold

• Dunc Gray – cycling, men's 1000 m time trial
• Bobby Pearce – rowing, men's single sculls
• Clare Dennis – swimming, women's 200 m breaststroke

Silver

• Bonnie Mealing – swimming, women's 100 m backstroke

Bronze

• Eddie Scarf – wrestling, men's freestyle light heavyweight

Athletics

Main article: Athletics at the 1932 Summer Olympics

Key

• Note–Ranks given for track events are within the athlete's heat only
• Q = Qualified for the next round
• q = Qualified for the next round as a fastest loser or, in field events, by position without achieving the qualifying target
• NR = National record
• N/A = Round not applicable for the event
• Bye = Athlete not required to compete in round
• NP = Not placed

Men

Track & road events

Athlete	Event	Heat		Quarterfinal		Semifinal		Final
		Result	Rank	Result	Rank	Result	Rank	Result	Rank
George Golding	400 m	49.0	3 Q	48.6	3 Q	48.0	3 Q	48.8	6
	400 m hurdles	55.2	3 Q	—		53.1	4	Did not advance
Bill Barwick	1500 m	4:03.5	7	—				Did not advance
Alex Hillhouse	5000 m	15:14.0	6 Q	—				15:15.0	10

Women

Track & road events

Athlete	Event	Heat		Semifinal		Final
		Result	Rank	Result	Rank	Result	Rank
Eileen Wearne	100 m	12.5	4	Did not advance

Cycling

Main article: Cycling at the 1932 Summer Olympics

Track cycling

Ranks given are within the heat.

Cyclist	Event	First round		Quarterfinals		Semifinals		Final
		Result	Rank	Result	Rank	Result	Rank	Result	Rank
Dunc Gray	Sprint	13.2	1 Q	12.9	1 Q		2		4
	Time trial	N/A						1:13.0 OR

Rowing

Main article: Rowing at the 1932 Summer Olympics

Rower	Event	First round		Final
		Result	Rank	Result	Rank
Bobby Pearce	Single sculls	7:27.0	1 Q	7:44.4

Swimming

Main article: Swimming at the 1932 Summer Olympics

Members of the Australian & NZ team, 1932 Los Angeles Olympics. Mealing, Dennis, Bult, Mrs Chambers, Eileen Wearne and Thelma Kench (N.Z. sprinter).

Men

Ranks given are within the heat.

Swimmer	Event	Heats		Semifinals		Final
		Result	Rank	Result	Rank	Result	Rank
Noel Ryan	100 m freestyle	1:02.9	4	Did not advance
Boy Charlton	400 m freestyle	4:59.8	1 Q	5:02.1	3 Q	4:58.6	6
Noel Ryan		5:01.9	1 Q	4:59.7	5	Did not advance
Boy Charlton	1500 m freestyle	20:09.5	3 Q	19:53.1	4	Did not advance
Noel Ryan		20:12.6	2 Q	19:52.5	3 Q	19:45.1	4

Women

Ranks given are within the heat.

Swimmer	Event	Heats		Semifinals		Final
		Result	Rank	Result	Rank	Result	Rank
Frances Bult	100 m freestyle	1:11.4	3 q	1:10.2	2 Q	1:09.9	5
	400 m freestyle	6:03.0	3	Did not advance
Bonnie Mealing	100 m backstroke	1:21.6	2 Q	—		1:21.3
Clare Dennis	200 m breaststroke	3:08.2	1 Q OR	—		3:06.3	OR

Wrestling

Main article: Wrestling at the 1932 Summer Olympics

Freestyle wrestling

Men's

Athlete	Event	Round 1	Round 2	Final
		Opposition Result	Opposition Result	Opposition Result	Rank
Eddie Scarf	Light heavyweight	Madison (CAN) W	Sjöstedt (SWE) L	Mehringer (USA) L

Art competitions

Main article: Art competitions at the 1932 Summer Olympics

James Quinn competed in the mixed paintings category.