The logo, Deaflympics were originally called the “International Games for the Deaf”. The first games were held in Paris in 1924. In 1996, the name
changed to “World Games for the Deaf” and then changed again
in 2001 to “Deaflympics”. The Deaflympics are held every two
years, in the summer and winter alternately. In the history of the
games, the oldest medalist was nearly 76 years old to the
youngest medalist,12 years old.
There are nine 71’er athletes participated in the Deaflympics!
In the Olympic Washington D.C.1965,
known as the 10th International Games
of the Deaf (IGD), it was the first time that
the International Silent Games was sited
outside of Europe.
There were 687 athletes (575 men and
112 women) from 27 nations/countries in
85 events.
Regarding the #8 Post, The Olympic
Athlete, Gregory Decker was not the
only participant in the 10th International
Games of the Deaf.
Les Anderson grew up in Aberdeen, Scotland and attended Aberdeen School for the Deaf and loved playing soccer (football as it is known world wide).
He was also interested in athletics and a poster at the local deaf club announced tryouts for the Great Britain Olympic team. He and two other deaf athletes from Scotland traveled to Leeds, England and competed against English runners for the tryouts. He managed to place first in the 800 meters and dead heated in the 1500 meters with another Scottish deaf runner from Edinburgh. Both of them made the team. The other Scottish runner from Glasgow made the team in the 100 and 200 meters. The highlight of the meet was that the Scottish runners outnumbered the English runners in the selection for the British team.
He is glad that he tried out for track and not soccer. There were so many talented players in the country that invented the game.
He was on the Great Britain track and field team and ran in the 800 and 1500 meters. He recalled running in the first track event, the 800 meters in the morning and qualified from his heat to the semi final. He did not medal.
The Olympics held at Byrd Stadium in Maryland triggered a far more important episode of his life, his decision to attend Gallaudet. He said that it can honestly be said if he did not qualify for the British team, he could in all probability not be a 71’er. It was meeting so many athletes from different countries when staying at the Gallaudet campus for the games that made him realize just how lucky we are to have Gallaudet.
Clifton F. Carbin played on the Canadian basketball team and won the bronze medal, the third place.
Team Rank:
1. USA 4. BEL
2. FIN 5. ISR
3. CAN 6. NZL
In Olympic Belgrade,Yugoslavia (now Serbia) 1969,
known as 11th International Games for the Deaf
(IGD), there were 1,189 athletes (964 men and 225
women) from 33 nations/countries participated in
105 events.
The record of the athletes stood for the next two
games being broken in 1981.
Wendy Bachman, Florence Hershkowitz and Kathleen Russell played on the USA Volleyball team and won the bronze medal, the third place.
Team Rank:
1. DEN
2. ARG
3. USA
Clifton F. Carbin played on the Canadian volleyball team and won the 4th place. Team Rank:
1. ITA 4. CAN
2. YUG 5. USA
3. BUL 6. GRE
The late Richard Gsell participated in the USA Tennis Single and did not win after the four nations winning the fifth place; the eighth place in Tennis Double with Barney Holden and the Bronze medal, the third place in Tennis mixed Double with Laurette Warren.
Rank Result:
Tennis Singles Tennis Doubles Tennis mixed Doubles 1. ITA 5. DEN 1. ITA 5. USA 1. USA 2. ITA 5. FRG 2. ITA. 6. FRG 2. USA 3. ITA 5. GBR 3. DEN 7. GBR 3. USA 4. ITA 5. USA 4. FRA 8. USA 4. BEL 5. DEN
Laurette Warren played in the USA Tennis Single placed in the eighth place; in Tennis Double with Carol Sue Konoski ’66 the third place, the bronze medal and the other bronze medal, the third place in Tennis Mixed Doubles with Richard Gsell Rank Result:
Tennis Singles Tennis Doubles Tennis Mixed Doubles 1. USA 5. DEN 1. USA 1. USA 4. BEL 2. DEN 6. BEL 2. DEN 2. USA 5. DEN 3. GBR 7. USA 3. USA 3. USA
4. USA 8. USA
Laurette said that she and Richard were thrilled beating the long-streak winning Denmark.
Stanley Mals was on the USA track and field team, ran in the 800 meter event and won the silver medal, the third place and in 1,500 meter the first place, the gold medal. Rank Result:
800 meter time: 1,500 meter time:
1. USA 1:57:0 1. USA 3:59:4
2. USA 1:57:4 2. Poland 3:59:8
3. Poland. 1:57:9 3. Poland 4:00:6
In Olympic Malmo, Sweden 1973, known as the
12th World Games for the Deaf (WGD), there were
1,116 athletes (893 men and 223 women) from 31
nations/countries participated in 97 events.
The Americans earned 82 medals at the games
beating the Russians for the first time.
Wendy Bachman played on the USA Volleyball team and won the Silver medal. Rank Result:
1. DEN
2. USA
3. CAN
4. NED
5. SWG
Team Captain Wendy said USA could have won the first place. The team depended on one of the players who was the tall player, unfortunately she broke her ankle and did not play at all.
Laurette Warren played in the USA Tennis Single, placed in the eighth place, and the Tennis Double with Carol Konoski ’66 the fifth place.
Rank Result:
Tennis Singles Tennis Doubles
1. FRA 5. DEN 1. USA 4. GBR
2. GBR 5. DEN 2. FRA 5. FGR
3. USA 5. GBR 3. DEN 5. USA
4. USA. 5. USA