Vintage Athletic Performances

Historic black-and-white images of athletic performances showcasing diving, high jumping, and gymnastic feats.

Young woman in swimming costume on diving board

A weatherproof way to ride a bike (EV003107_H)

Anefo photo collection. Gymnastics champion in Krellage house in Haarlem. December 17, 1961. Haarlem

Fencing mode (EV007366_H)

Anefo photo collection. Circus from Beijing for the first weather in Amsterdam since 1967; The Chinese acrobats in action during cycling number. August 20, 1984. Amsterdam, Noord-Holland

Anefo photo collection. Spring for rowing sport. Roeists from Meraus. March 3, 1961

Anefo photo collection. Photography competition World Press Photo in the Gemeentemuseum in The Hague; Two of the photos submitted. December 6, 1965. The Hague, South Holland

American lightweight Joe Brown, to fight Australian Jack Hassen at Melbourne on September 15, goes through skipping exercises. August 26, 1950.

Anefo photo collection. New Dutch Record 200 m butterfly Mary Kok. January 8, 1955

Japan, tokyo, children in school sumo, 1973.

Fred Welsh

Being Readied For Battery-Coney Island Swim Shirley May France, 16, of Somerset, Mass., has a protective Grease covering applied by her high school coach, Harry Boudakian (left) and her father, J. Walter France, before starting out on an 8-mile swim from the Battery to Coney Island, New York, July 10. Shirley, holder of several women's professional swimming titles, is preparing for her attempt at swimming the English Channel this summer. The 177-***** high school sophomore comes from a swimming *****. Her father was a long distance *****. July 10, 1949. (Photo by Associated Press Photo).

Booted Lineman Climbing on Mountain c.1964

Anefo photo collection. Stein competitions Amsterdam. Champions @. 26 December 1948. Amsterdam, Noord-Holland

Alvin 'Shipwreck' Kelly sitting on a 39 foot flagpole atop the eight-story Hotel St. Francis in Newark. He planned to beat his 7 day record by sitting for eight days, and exceeded the goal by lasting for 12 days. He sat on a 20 inch wide perch with coffee, water, and cigarettes. Kelly is on the Loew Vaudeville circuit. July 5, 1927.

Nude Bodybuilders Arm Wrestling c.1951

Vladimir Kaplunov, weightlifting, tbilisi, 1962

Michael Carter squat lifts 135 pounds during the First Annual Weightlifting Contest held at the base gymnasium. Base: Brooks Air Force Base State: Texas (TX) Country: United States Of America (USA)

Anefo photo collection. Opening Bowling Hall by Prince Bernhard. Woman at the bowling bakhuis. June 27, 1961

Young Slim Muscular Male Poses in Sling Jock c.1959

Anefo photo collection. National swimming championships in the paper mill in Groningen. Klitie Bimolt in Aktie. August 5, 1967. Groningen (city)

Historic photograph, women doing gymnastics, around 1929

Historic photograph, two wrestlers, around 1910

1950S Portrait Of Woman Wearing Boxing Gloves In Winning Pose Raised Overhead

Anefo photo collection. New York City Ballet in Amsterdam, Rehearsal New York City Ballet. August 26, 1965. Amsterdam, Noord-Holland

Forbes Carlile & Ursula - Swimming Coach. May 07, 1955.

Bodybuilder Pretends to be a Robot c.1962

Vintage photograph of a French swimmer called Gondin, in the 1902 Prix Dupleix event.

Anefo photo collection. 24th Menswear Fair in Rai, Amsterdam. September 1, 1969. Amsterdam, Noord-Holland

Early footage of a men running. Dated 1880

Bill Mullahey, special PAA representative in the Pacific- ***** division of PAA, Sir Frank Beaurepaire and Dad center, well-known Hawaii swimming coach. March 13, 1952. (Photo by Pan American World Airways).

Young woman in an ice-skating outfit on sled (EV006210_H)

This Is A Hollywood Courtship!There are all sorts of ways to woo a girl, as everyone knows, but leave it to Hollywood to come up with a new one. Edmund O'Brien, starring in "An Act of Murder" at Universal-International Studio, was delighted when Olga San Juan, his betrothed, moved to the same studio to appear in "One Touch Of Venus" and "Countess of Monte Cristo". That meant that Edmund and Olga would be together a great deal - even in the studio gymnasium. This, then, is courtship using both charm and muscles:Who is supporting the bar bell Gymnasts will tell you have to be in love to want to make it a duet with one of these things. January 01, 1948.

Nude Males in Classic Wrestling Pose c.1956

Movement study Vierfußgang of the Max Thun-Hohenstein school, Unknown

corda e picozza, 1948

Anefo photo collection. Championships Art swimming DEVENTER, the artificial swimmer Hetty Balkenende (right) and Nienke Kroon-Te Riet Champion (van Zar). May 22, 1966. Deventer, Overijssel

Vintage photograph. High angle view of a man's hand hitting a pool ball with a cue stick

Divers ready to go down and adjust the telephone cable at the Kvicksund Bridge.

Vintage Photograph. Teenager on bicycle looking and smiling into the distance with excitement.

07/31/1912. Greco-Roman fights in Lineal city. A Vervet A hip slam from Riaz.

Anefo photo collection. Noordeuropese championships Waterski, (L) Nelleke Bouwman and Nelie De Geus (R). August 19, 1964

Anefo photo collection. Athletics competitions at Sportpark Also lake. Piet Olofsen (spears). August 6, 1967. Amsterdam

insert Date: 1935

One Idea For The Heat Wave - A visitor to the Lawn Tennis Championships at Wimbledon does her best to keep cool while watching play.A strapless summer frock and a handkerchief to keep off the blazing sunshine. June 30, 1952. (Photo by Sport & General Press Agency, Limited).

07/31/1923. Rhoen (Germany). Engineless Airplane Competition. Mrs. Karola Drehamn notable Aviator.

Champion Baton Twirler

Anefo photo collection. Opening Jaap Eden ice rink with J. Haanappel, Ada Kok Gerben Karsten, Henk van de Grift, Marika Kilius, H. Jurgen Baumler. October 28, 1964

Working out with rowing machine (EV008033_H)

Muscular Tension on Coastal Beach c.1951

Muscular Nude Bodybuilder with Chain c.1953

Anefo photo collection. Avros dance tournament in the Kurhaus in Scheveningen participating couple from Denmark. 13 February 1960. Denmark, Scheveningen

Anefo photo collection. International cycling race Grand prize from Amsterdam. June 23, 1960

Handsome Muscular Nude Male from Behind with Bat c.1962

Anefo photo collection. Kees Pellenaers has training camp for cyclists in youth hostel "De Putven" at Breda. March 3, 1960. Breda

Retains AAU High Diving Crown - Mrs. Vicki Manolo Draves (above) of the Los Angeles Athletic Club Smiles happily today after she Successfully defended her National AAU high diving title here. The event opened the Women's Senior National AAU swimming and diving meet at San Diego where remaining events are being held. July 7, 1948. (Photo by AP Wirephoto).

Woman jumping hurdles labeled with years (EV007227_H)

Sunny Outdoor Gymnastic Pose c.1957

"Steve's" Training.Getting ready for the Goodwood races, famous English jockey, Steve Donoghue, tried his hand at swimming with his sister-in-law, Marion Ford, an American actress. September 05, 1933. (Photo by London News Agency Photos Ltd.)

Anefo photo collection. Marianne Heemskerk Record attempt butterfly stroke. On the shoulder of clubmates. 12 February 1962

Anefo photo collection. National swimming championships in the paper mill in Groningen. Mirjam van Hemert. August 4, 1967. Groningen (city)

Prince Michael On ***** -- Prince Michael, the Duchess of ***** second son, spent a ***** schoolboy afternoon at Olympic yesterday. He had several rides in the dodgem cars, slid down ***** helter skelter and visited the circus where Borra 'stole' his ristwatch.Prince Michael ***** second son of the ***** of Kent, slides down the helter ***** at London's Olympic Park. The Prince was having a day out. January 11, 1953. (Photo by Sunday Pictorial).

man and woman fencing ()

Anefo photo collection. English swimmer Barbara Bishop at Zwemcoach Jan Stender. April 12, 1950

Anefo photo collection. Speedo swimming competition Amersfoort; Monique Bosga that established Nieu Dutch Record at 200 meters of backstroke. February 4, 1978

Boxers and basketball players from the Eastern Department elimination meet are seen in this photograph taken at the 69th Armory in New York City. Among the participants is Frank Yerchan, a heavyweight from Camp Eustis, Virginia, weighing 180 pounds. The photograph was taken on March 30, 1920.

Two Shirtless Young Males Wrestle on a Motorcycle c.1961

Anefo photo collection. Princess Margriet and Pieter van Vollenhoven and children's water sports on the edge lake; Princess Marguerite in the water standing at Surfboard. July 14, 1982

Flying Button:Dick Button who retained his World Ice Skating title in Paris last week, gave an Exhibition of his World Championship Programme at the Empire Pool, Wembley, London today (Mon.) Given extended leave by Harvard University for this, his only London appearance this year, he is flying back to America to be at his desk in the University on Wednesday morning.Picture Shows: Autograph Interlude. Dick Button Signing Autographs for Susan Harvey and Christopher Skey at Wembley today (Monday) before Flying off from London to America. February 21, 1949.

Jan Coghlan, only 14, but already holder of the NSW 440 yards and 880 yards titles. March 01, 1953.

Bruce Bennett. January 01, 1935.

12/31/1982. Contemporary dance dancers in the middle of a class.

Anefo photo collection. Swimmen in Copenhagen G. Andersen and Schuhmacher. November 2, 1951. Denmark, Copenhagen

Anefo photo collection. European swimming championships, Sikkens, Ludgrove and Caron. 26 August 1966

Anefo photo collection. Swimming Championships Emmen. Dick Langerhorst. August 1, 1965. Emmen

Vintage Photograph. Young woman playing ping pong.

One way of Getting Out of Shape -- The face of heavyweight challenger Don Cockell of England is smashed out of shape by a terrific right from Champion Rocky Marciano in the eighth round of their scheduled 15-rounder in San Francisco last night. Marciano won by a ***** in the ninth round when the referee stopped the fight. May 17, 1955. (Photo by AP Wirephoto).

Margaret, 20, Gets ***** For Channel *****.Margaret Feather, ***** 20, from Scarborough, ***** is pictured in training at the ***** swimming pool, Endell Street, ***** London, for an attempt to ***** the English Channel on August 4.Margaret, a ***** dress at Butlin's holiday camp, Calcton, got to within four miles of success when she attempted to swim the Channel three years ago, when she was 17.In her new attempt she will be one of five girls competing for ***** of £500 offered by Butilin's. July 29, 1953.

1940s woman on a bicycle. A smiling young woman on a womens bicycle on a sunny day. Swedish runner Anna Larsson. 1922-2003. Holder of four world records. Sweden 1940s

Anefo photo collection. Rolf Smitshuysen Hoela hoops in all positions. October 29, 1958

Nude Muscular Bodybuilder Side Tricep Pose c.1952

Anefo photo collection. Swimming championships in Emmen, four times 200 meters freestyle Dutch record v.l.n.r. B. Kammeijer, A. Oudt N. van de Foot, R. Verroen. August 8, 1965. Emmen

Portrait of young man with artificial limb playing ping pong

Womens championship bowls at city green. Mrs. A. Morrison (Brighten Peterham club) Playing in the finals of the state singles. August 07, 1939.

Anefo photo collection. Three-country match Swimming in Utrecht, 4 x 100 meter freestyle girls, dolly maaneman (left), Marie-José Janzen (below), Yvonne van Kuilenburg (right) and Mirjam van Hemert (behind) after victory. June 25, 1966. Utrecht (city)

Anefo photo collection. International swimming competitions in Utrecht. 200m breaststroke. Betty Heukels congratulates Klenie Bimolt (right). July 2, 1967. Utrecht, Utrecht

Harry Houdini (1874-1926), American stunt performer. Suspended from the cornice of a New York skyscraper, he must somehow free himself of his chains and make his way to safety ... will he do it Is this one trick too many Date: circa 1920s

tenuta subacquea, 1968

Italy. Rome. gym class at the university city. 1939

Bodybuilder Double Exposure c.1950

New York, New York: December 13, 1927. Two members of society practice for an ice skating pageant benefit to be held at Madison Square Garden.

Elsevier photo collection. Prince Bernhard Academy Physical Education Amsterdam, beating gong. September 8, 1968. Amsterdam, Noord-Holland

Young woman exercising with a medicine ball (EV006301_H)

Anefo photo collection. Mr. Holland elections in the Doelenzaal in Amsterdam. Winner of the LL. Holland elections, the Italian Guiseppe Deana residing in the Netherlands. November 7, 1965. Amsterdam, Noord-Holland

Barrel-like physique is Doug Nicholls' pride. Small he is only 5ft 2in - but chunky, he has a 5in chest expansion. November 8, 1950.

Woman with dog rides water ski, England, Great Britain

Portrait of female fencer

Anefo photo collection. Mr. Holland elections in the Doelenzaal in Amsterdam. Champion wide waist, Augus IJssel Julius. November 7, 1965. Amsterdam, Noord-Holland

Portrait of young men on the Oregon State University rowing team in Corvallis, OR.

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