Francis Olympic Field
A site of the 1904 Summer Olympics, Francis Olympic Field is the oldest modern Olympic stadium still in use! Whether you're cheering the Bears on to victory, attending an event like Relay for Life, or doing solo workouts on the turf, you're sure to feel our amazing WashU history.
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🥇 1904 Summer Olympics
The first Olympic Games held in the Western Hemisphere took place in St. Louis in 1904, and Francis Field was the venue for several events like archery, gymnastics, and tug-of-war. It was the first Olympics to use the gold, silver, and bronze medal system. On campus, you'll find a sculpture of the Olympic Rings as a nod to our history! Although a synthetic playing surface has been added to Francis Field since the Olympic Games, the original stadium seating has been preserved for over a century.