| | Event type

1,500 metres Freestyle, Men

Date	21 – 25 July 1908
Status	Olympic
Location	White City Stadium, London
Participants	19 from 8 countries

The favorites were again Henry Taylor and Frank Beaurepaire. Taylor had won the ASA title over one mile in 1906-1907 but Beaurepaire claimed the 1908 championship. However, in the final, the second Briton, Sydney Battersby, led the race almost throughout. He went to the front immediately and led each lap through 1,300 metres. Taylor passed him shortly before the end of the 14th lap, and Beaurepaire was only a few yards behind, still in the race. But Taylor hung on, and held off Battersby to win by 2 yards over his countryman. Taylor then stopped, but Battersby continued to swim, as planned, and set a new world’s record for one mile of 24:33.0, beating David Billington’s (GBR) 1905 mark of 24:42.6.

Pos	Swimmer	NOC	R1	SF	Final
1	Henry Taylor	GBR	23:24.4 (1 h6)	22:54.0 (1 h1)	22:48.4 (1)	Gold
2	Sydney Battersby	GBR	23:42.8 (1 h4)	23:23.0 (1 h2)	22:51.2 (2)	Silver
3	Frank Beaurepaire	ANZ	23:45.8 (1 h2)	23:25.4 (2 h1)	22:56.2 (3)	Bronze
AC r3/3	Otto Scheff	AUT	24:15.8 (2 h6)	24:25.4 (2 h2)	– (DNF)		DNF
3 h1 r2/3	Willie Foster	GBR	24:33.4 (1 h7)	– (3 h1)	–
4 h1 r2/3	Lewis Moist	GBR	26:52.0 (1 h3)	– (4 h1)	–
AC h2 r2/3	John Jarvis	GBR	25:51.6 (1 h5)	– (DNF h2)	–		DNF
1 h1 r1/3	Paul Radmilovic	GBR	25:02.4 (1 h1)	– (DNS h2)	–
2 h1 r1/3	Gunnar Wennerström	SWE	27:15.4 (2 h1)	–	–
2 h2 r1/3	Sam Blatherwick	GBR	25:15.4 (2 h2)	–	–
2 h4 r1/3	Frank Springfield	ANZ	24:52.4 (2 h4)	–	–
2 h5 r1/3	James Greene	USA	28:09.0 (2 h5)	–	–
3 h1 r1/3	Oreste Muzzi	ITA	28:52.8 (3 h1)	–	–
3 h2 r1/3	Piet Ooms	NED	27:24.4 (3 h2)	–	–
3 h4 r1/3	André Theuriet	FRA	32:37.0 (3 h4)	–	–
3 h5 r1/3	Robert Hassell	GBR	28:14.8 (3 h5)	–	–
3 h6 r1/3	Gustaf Wretman	SWE	28:40.8 (3 h6)	–	–
4 h2 r1/3	Wille Andersson	SWE	27:34.4 (4 h2)	–	–
AC h6 r1/3	Eduard Meijer	NED	– (DNF h6)	–	–		DNF
DNS	Snowy Baker	ANZ	– (DNS h7)	–	–
DNS	Theo Tartakover	ANZ	– (DNS h1)	–	–
DNS	Fernand Feyaerts	BEL	– (DNS h1)	–	–
DNS	Auguste Maas	BEL	– (DNS h5)	–	–
DNS	Herman Cederberg	FIN	– (DNS h3)	–	–
DNS	Émile-Georges Drigny	FRA	– (DNS h2)	–	–
DNS	Paul Vasseur	FRA	– (DNS h1)	–	–
DNS	Baubiat	FRA	– (DNS h7)	–	–
DNS	H. Jenault	FRA	– (DNS h5)	–	–
DNS	E. Renou	FRA	– (DNS h3)	–	–
DNS	Taube	FRA	– (DNS h6)	–	–
DNS	Henrik Hajós	HUN	– (DNS h3)	–	–
DNS	Béla Las-Torres	HUN	– (DNS h7)	–	–
DNS	Mario Massa	ITA	– (DNS h3)	–	–
DNS	Vincenzo Bronner	ITA	– (DNS h2)	–	–
DNS	Francesco De Pasquale	ITA	– (DNS h7)	–	–
DNS	Francesco Negri	ITA	– (DNS h4)	–	–
DNS	Friedrich Meuring	NED	– (DNS h4)	–	–

Round One (21 July 1908 — 14:30)

Winners of heats and fastest loser advanced to the semi-finals.

Heat One

Pos	Lane	Swimmer	NOC	100 m	200 m	300 m	400 m	500 m	600 m	700 m	800 m	900 m	1,000 m	1,100 m	1,200 m	1,300 m	1400 m	Time
1	–	Paul Radmilovic	GBR	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	25:02.4	QOR
2	–	Gunnar Wennerström	SWE	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	27:15.4
3	–	Oreste Muzzi	ITA	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	28:52.8
DNS	–	Theo Tartakover	ANZ	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	–
DNS	–	Fernand Feyaerts	BEL	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	–
DNS	–	Paul Vasseur	FRA	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	–

Heat Two

Pos	Lane	Swimmer	NOC	100 m	200 m	300 m	400 m	500 m	600 m	700 m	800 m	900 m	1,000 m	1,100 m	1,200 m	1,300 m	1400 m	Time
1	–	Frank Beaurepaire	ANZ	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	23:45.8	QOR
2	–	Sam Blatherwick	GBR	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	25:15.4
3	–	Piet Ooms	NED	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	27:24.4
4	–	Wille Andersson	SWE	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	27:34.4
DNS	–	Émile-Georges Drigny	FRA	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	–
DNS	–	Vincenzo Bronner	ITA	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	–

Heat Three

Pos	Lane	Swimmer	NOC	100 m	200 m	300 m	400 m	500 m	600 m	700 m	800 m	900 m	1,000 m	1,100 m	1,200 m	1,300 m	1400 m	Time
1	–	Lewis Moist	GBR	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	26:52.0	Q
DNS	–	Herman Cederberg	FIN	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	–
DNS	–	E. Renou	FRA	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	–
DNS	–	Henrik Hajós	HUN	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	–
DNS	–	Mario Massa	ITA	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	–

Heat Four

Pos	Lane	Swimmer	NOC	100 m	200 m	300 m	400 m	500 m	600 m	700 m	800 m	900 m	1,000 m	1,100 m	1,200 m	1,300 m	1400 m	Time
1	–	Sydney Battersby	GBR	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	23:42.8	QOR
2	–	Frank Springfield	ANZ	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	24:52.4
3	–	André Theuriet	FRA	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	32:37.0
DNS	–	Francesco Negri	ITA	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	–
DNS	–	Friedrich Meuring	NED	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	–

Heat Five

Pos	Lane	Swimmer	NOC	100 m	200 m	300 m	400 m	500 m	600 m	700 m	800 m	900 m	1,000 m	1,100 m	1,200 m	1,300 m	1400 m	Time
1	–	John Jarvis	GBR	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	25:51.6	Q
2	–	James Greene	USA	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	28:09.0
3	–	Robert Hassell	GBR	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	28:14.8
DNS	–	Auguste Maas	BEL	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	–
DNS	–	H. Jenault	FRA	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	–

Heat Six

Pos	Lane	Swimmer	NOC	100 m	200 m	300 m	400 m	500 m	600 m	700 m	800 m	900 m	1,000 m	1,100 m	1,200 m	1,300 m	1400 m	Time
1	–	Henry Taylor	GBR	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	23:24.4	QOR
2	–	Otto Scheff	AUT	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	24:15.8	q
3	–	Gustaf Wretman	SWE	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	28:40.8
DNF	–	Eduard Meijer	NED	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	–
DNS	–	Taube	FRA	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	–

Heat Seven

Pos	Lane	Swimmer	NOC	100 m	200 m	300 m	400 m	500 m	600 m	700 m	800 m	900 m	1,000 m	1,100 m	1,200 m	1,300 m	1400 m	Time
1	–	Willie Foster	GBR	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	24:33.4	Q
DNS	–	Snowy Baker	ANZ	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	–
DNS	–	Baubiat	FRA	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	–
DNS	–	Béla Las-Torres	HUN	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	–
DNS	–	Francesco De Pasquale	ITA	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	–

Semi-Finals (23 July 1908 — 15:45)

Top two in each heat advanced to the final.

Heat One

Pos	Lane	Swimmer	NOC	100 m	200 m	300 m	400 m	500 m	600 m	700 m	800 m	900 m	1,000 m	1,100 m	1,200 m	1,300 m	1400 m	Time
1	–	Henry Taylor	GBR	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	22:54.0	Q
2	–	Frank Beaurepaire	ANZ	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	23:25.4	Q
3	–	Willie Foster	GBR	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	–
4	–	Lewis Moist	GBR	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	–

Heat Two

Pos	Lane	Swimmer	NOC	100 m	200 m	300 m	400 m	500 m	600 m	700 m	800 m	900 m	1,000 m	1,100 m	1,200 m	1,300 m	1400 m	Time
1	–	Sydney Battersby	GBR	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	23:23.0	Q
2	–	Otto Scheff	AUT	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	24:25.4	Q
DNF	–	John Jarvis	GBR	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	–
DNS	–	Paul Radmilovic	GBR	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	–

Final (25 July 1908 — 15:30)

Pos	Lane	Swimmer	NOC	100 m	200 m	300 m	400 m	500 m	600 m	700 m	800 m	900 m	1,000 m	1,100 m	1,200 m	1,300 m	1400 m	Time
1	–	Henry Taylor	GBR	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	22:48.4	WR
2	–	Sydney Battersby	GBR	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	22:51.2
3	–	Frank Beaurepaire	ANZ	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	22:56.2
DNF	–	Otto Scheff	AUT	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	– –	–