Tug of war was contested in two weight classes for men at the 1981 World Games. These were the first World Games, an international quadrennial multi-sport event, and were held in Santa Clara, California in the United States. The 640 kg tug of war competition was the first event of the games, as it was held immediately following the opening ceremony at the same location, Buck Shaw Stadium.[1] The Swiss athletes were associated with a club from Engelberg, while the United States was represented by a club from Orfordville, Wisconsin.[2] In an interview during the Games, Albert Sabin, the chief judge of the event, revealed that he was from Birmingham, then hastened to add, "England, not (Birmingham) Alabama."[3]
The outdoor 640 kg tug of war event was conducted on 24 July 1981. It was the first event of the first World Games.[7] [8]
| Gold | Silver | Bronze | |
Brian Jones Eric Sutton Joe Critchlow John Reilly Luan Torr Mark Upton Ron Critchlow Rowland Peirson | Andreas Arnold Paul Hurschler Peter Odermatt Peter Schleiss Ruedi Arnold Sepp Buenter Walter Bernhard other? | Andre Diekman Bennie Smeiting Gerrit Bruil Harry Ravensloot Herman Geesink Johan de Jong Nico Venne Toon te Boome |
Netherlands def. Wales, 3-0
England def. Ireland, 3-0
Switzerland def. Sweden, 3-0
Netherlands def. U.S., 3-0
Ireland def. Wales, 3-0
England def. Sweden, 3-0
Switzerland def. U.S., 3-0
Netherlands def. England, 2-1
Wales def. Sweden, 3-0
Switzerland def. Ireland, 2-1
England def. U.S., 2-1
Sweden def. Netherlands, 3-0
Switzerland def. Wales, 3-0
Ireland def. U.S., 3-0
England def. Wales, 3-0
Switzerland def. Netherlands, 3-0
Ireland def. Sweden, 3-0
Wales def. U.S., 3-0
England def. Switzerland, 3-0
Netherlands def. Ireland, 3-0
Sweden def. U.S., 3-0
Final standing:
The outdoor 720 kg tug of war event was conducted on 25 July 1981.
| Gold | Silver | Bronze | |
Albert Feirerabend Andreas Arnold Hans Rychen Karl Langenstein Peter Odermatt Peter Schleiss Ruedi Arnold Walter Bernhard | Albert Weenk Henk Hemming Jan Beusink Johan de Jong Nico Venne Nico Versteeg Toon te Boome Toon van Culemborg | unknown . . . . . . . |
Results
Netherlands def. Wales, 3-0
England def. Ireland, 3-0
Switzerland def. Sweden, 3-0
Netherlands def. U.S., 3-0
Ireland def. Wales, 3-0
England def. Sweden, 3-0
Switzerland def. U.S., 3-0
Netherlands def. England, 3-0
Sweden def. Wales, 3-0
Switzerland def. Ireland, 3-0
England def. U.S., 3-0
Netherlands def. Sweden 3-0
Switzerland def. Wales, 3-0
Ireland def. U.S., 3-0
England def. Wales, 3-0
Switzerland def. Netherlands, 3-0
Sweden def. Ireland, 3-0
Wales def. U.S., 2-1
Switzerland def. England, 3-0
Netherlands def. Ireland, 3-0
Sweden def. U.S., 3-0
Final standings:
Other known individual participants: SWE – Erik Johansson; USA – Tom Naatz