THE HOST CITY
At its meeting in Mexico City before the 1955 games, PASO selected Cleveland to host the 3rd Pan American Games.
1957 -- Congress fails to appropriate $5,000,000 for the Cleveland games.
March 16, 1957 -- PASO, in special session, gives Cleveland until April 15 to secure funding. Guatemala City and Rio de Janeiro named as alternate hosts.
April 15 -- Cleveland withdraws as host.
May 1 -- Guatemala City withdraws due to national election. Rio de Janeiro soon withdraws as well.
July 29 -- Chicago named as candidate by USOC.
August 3 -- PASO, in special session, voted on the 1959 host city: Chicago 13 Sao Paulo 6 Members Not Present 6
THE OPENING CEREMONIES
The 3rd Pan American Games opened on 27 August in sunny 90 degree heat before 40,000 people at Soldier Field. The ceremony began with a concert by the Women's Air Force Band. A 24 gun salute to the nations sounded as the Marine Band played the Star Spangled Banner. Archbishop Albert G. Meyer delivered an invocation.
Then, 2263 athletes from 25 nations marched in review. The United States flag was carried by Ray Norton, a sprinter. Marching with the U.S. Team were several famous Olympians, including Ralph Metcalfe (1932) and Jesse Owens (1936).
Dr. Milton Eisenhower representing his brother, President Dwight D. Eisenhower, addressed the athletes: "This dramatic and significant event is a stirring manifestation of the warm friendship and solidarity of the Western Hemisphere.....I now declare open the third Pan American Games." This last part was an error as Chicago's Mayor, Richard J. Daley, was assigned the honor of opening the games. Mayor Daley repeated the opening declaration in his remarks. The Pan American Games Flag was raised.
A relay of Mexican and American Boy Scouts carried the Pan American Torch from Mexico City to Chicago. 15 year old Eagle Scout Ronald Rodriguez carried the torch into Soldier Field. Touching the torch to a button, he lit the flame atop the south scoreboard. 5000 doves were then released. The flag bearers formed a semi-circle around George V. Worth, an American fencer, who took the Pan American Games Oath on behalf of the athletes.
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Above: 1959 Opening Ceremony
Right: George Worth takes the Athletes' Oath
THE COMPETITION
Men's Athletics - The U.S. continued its domination, winning 18 out of a possible 22 gold medals at Soldier Field. Controversy occurred in the Hammer Throw. Harold Connolly was declared the winner, but a re-measurement put him in a tie instead. Using the second best throw, Connolly was placed second behind his teammate, Al Hall. Both were credited with a new Pan-Am record. Ray Norton (USA) won double gold in the 100m and 200m, tying the 200m world record, and adding a third in the 4x100m Relay. Argentina's Oswaldo Suarez repeated his 1955 gold in the 10,000m. Other outstanding feats included: Don Bragg overcoming an infected heel to set a Pan-Am record in the Pole Vault; Dave Edstrom, with Rafer Johnson injured, dominating the Decathlon; and Adhemar da Silva (BRA) on his third consecutive gold medal in the Triple Jump. 17 Pan-Am records were set or equaled.
Women's Athletics - The U.S. won 8 of 10 gold medals as well as 7 silvers and 3 bronze. Isabelle Williams won 2 golds and Lucinda Williams 3, both were members of the 4x100m Relay team. The only non-american to win gold was Cuba's Bertha Diaz in the 80m Hurdles. 5 Pan-Am records were set or equaled.
Baseball - Two hallowed fields, Comiskey Park and Wrigley Field, played host to nine nations for the Pan-Am baseball tournament. Venezuela won the gold, followed by Puerto Rico and the U.S. The U.S. only qualified for the championship round by defeating Mexico in a special playoff game.
Men's Basketball - The U.S. (6-0) won followed by Puerto Rico and Brazil. They posted all of their wins by 10 or more points.
Women's Basketball - The U.S. finished ahead of Brazil and Chile, outscoring their opponents 482-305.
Boxing - The Boxing tournament was wide open with gold medals going to athletes from 4 nations. The most controversial bout was the Featherweight final. Charley Brown (USA) pounded Carlos Aro (ARG) in rounds 1 and 2, but lost a split decision amid a chorus of boos from the partisan crowd.
Cycling - Argentina won 3 of 5 events. Allen C. Bell (USA) won gold in the 1000m Time Trial, but was disqualified after Brazil filed a protest alleging that Bell received a push from the starter. The 4000m Team Pursuit was the USA's first Pan-Am gold in cycling.
Men's Diving - With 4 time gold medalist Joaquin Capilla having retired, new faces reached the top of the victory podium. Gary Tobian (USA) edged out his teammate, Sam Hall, to win the 3m Springboard. Meanwhile, Mexico's Alvaro Gaxiola won the 10m Platform event.
Women's Diving - Paula Jean Pope (USA) won both events, leading U.S. sweeps in each.
Equestrian - Trish Galvin (USA) won the Dressage, the first woman to win a Pan-Am Equestrian gold. Chile won the Team Dressage. The U.S. also won gold in the Team Jumping, while Michael Page (USA) won the Three-Day Event. Canada, however, finished first in the team Three-Day Event.
Fencing - The U.S. won all 6 men's events, while Mexico's Maria Del Pilar Roldan won the woman's Foil.
Men's Gymnastics - The U.S. dominated, winning the team gold and 11 of 12 individual gold medals. The outstanding performers were Abe Grossfeld and John Beckner with 7 and 6 golds repectively. The U.S. also won 7 silvers and 8 bronze, sweeping the medals in 6 of the events.
Women's Gymnastics - The Organizing Committee sanctioned the first women's meet in Pan-Am history, even though only 2 teams (USA and Canada) were entered. Canada's Ernestine Russell won 4 of 5 individual events. Theresa Montefusco (USA) won the Floor Exercise, and the U.S. snagged the team gold. Judy Klausner (USA) injured her foot in the team event and withdrew afterwards.
Modern Pentathlon - Brazil's Wenceslau Malta won the individual gold, while the U.S. took team honors.
Rowing - The U.S. won 6 of 7 events. The lone exception came when Uruguay won a photo finish over Argentina in the pairs with coxswain, with the U.S. a distant third.
Shooting - The outstanding marksman was Daniel Puckel (USA) who collected an astounding 12 medals. (9 gold and 3 silver) It was a feat that may never be equaled in international competition. Puckel also set 3 world records as well.
Soccer - Argentina (5-0-1) won its 3rd consecutive gold medal ahead of Brazil (4-1-1) and the U.S. (4-2-0). The U.S. stunned the South Americans with a 5-3 victory over Brazil. The Cuban team finished 7th and last with an 0-6-0 record. They were outscored by their opponents 32-4.
Men's Swimming - The U.S. won all 8 events, setting 8 Pan-Am and 2 world records.
Women's Swimming - The U.S. won all 8 events, led by Chris Von Salza's 3 individual freestyle and 2 relay gold medals, breaking all 8 Pan-Am records.
Tennis - Mexico was the dominant team on the composition courts at Lincoln Park, winning 3 gold, 3 silver, and 1 bronze. Mexico's Yolanda Ramirez won the women's doubles (with Rosa Reyes), the mixed doubles (with Gustavo Palafox), and finished second in the women's singles behind future legend Althea Gibson (USA). Gustavo Palafox also won the men's doubles (with his brother Antonio Palafox). Luis Ayala of Chile won the the men's singles.
Men's Volleyball - The U.S. finished ahead of Brazil and Mexico.
Women's Volleyball - Brazil (6-0) won, followed by the U.S. (4-2), Peru (2-4), and Puerto Rico (0-6). Puerto Rico only won once game (set) during the entire tournament.
Water Polo - The U.S. (6-0) won over Argentina (3-3) and Brazil (3-3). Argentina defeated Brazil 6-5 in a playoff for the silver medal. William Kooistra (USA) and his brother Sam wre the tournament's leading scorers with 14 and 12 goals respectively.
Weightlifting - The U.S. was the dominant power winning 6 of 7 classes. 18 Pan-Am records were set. David Ashman (USA) tied with Argentina's Humberto Selvetti in the Heavyweight class, but was awarded the gold due to his lighter body weight.
Wrestling - The U.S., with 8 gold medals, became the first nation to sweep the wrestling events. Canada and Mexico placed strongly in many classes.
Yachting - For the first time, a full scale regatta was held. The U.S., the only nation represented in every class, won 2 gold, 1 silver, and 4 bronze medals. Non-U.S. sailors borrowed boats from U.S. owners for the competitions, which were held on Lake Michigan.
Click Here for a complete list of 1959 Gold Medalists.
THE CLOSING CEREMONIES
The Closing Ceremonies were held on 7 September. The New York Times, in an AP wire report, described the Closing Ceremonies: "A crowd of 50,000 fans saw the ... Games-ending ceremonies in 96-degree heat at Soldier Field.
After the parade of the flags of the twenty-four competing nations, sounding of Taps and lowering of the Pan-American and the American flags, the Pan-American torch atop the scoreboard was extinguished."