Smoky (Olympic mascot)

Smoky (occasionally spelled Smokey, 1931 or 1932-April 1934) was a dog who became the mascot of the 1932 Summer Olympic Village and later the event as a whole.[2] He is often considered the first Olympic mascot.[3]

Frank Wykoff and Agnes Weber holding "Smoky"[1]

Smoky appeared early on in the construction of the Olympic Village, with some sources claiming he was born on the same day that work on the Village began on 2 January 1932.[4][5][6] He was a small black dog of uncertain ancestry, believed to be a combination of Scottish terrier, bulldog, Australian sheep dog along with other breeds. He became extremely popular with all visiting Olympic delegations.[7] He survived a couple of broken legs. He posed with athletes from all nations and was given a blanket on which were pinned meddles, pins and badges of many nations.[6] Smoky briefly went missing on 14 July, with it claimed that "noted athletes from all over the world mourn his absence".[7] However, he returned the next day.[5]

After the games Smoky was adopted by Cynthia and Clark Smith and became a family pet.[8][6] In April 1934 he was he was run over by an unknown speeding motorist.[6][9]

See also

References
  1. "As East and West Prepare for Olympic Classic at Los Angeles Next Summer". The Pittsburgh Press. 1 May 1932. p. 25. Retrieved 17 August 2023.
  2. "Those Loony Olympic Mascots: Smoky, Los Angeles 1932". Time. 13 March 2012.
  3. "Three Critters Join Salt Lake Effort". The Leaf-Chronicle. 16 May 1999. p. 25. Retrieved 17 August 2023.
  4. Downing, Sam. "Why the first Olympic mascot was greater than any modern mascot". www.nine.com.au. Retrieved 17 August 2023.
  5. "'Smokey', Mascot of Games City, Returns". The San Francisco Examiner. 16 July 1932. p. 14. Retrieved 17 August 2023.
  6. "Smoky, Olympic Mascot, Dead". The Los Angeles Times. 12 April 1934. p. 29. Retrieved 17 August 2023.
  7. "Athletes Mourn Loss of 'Smokey' Mascot". The San Bernardino County Sun. 15 July 1932. p. 18. Retrieved 17 August 2023.
  8. "Smoky Quits Olympic Village: Mascot Settles Down in New Home". The Los Angeles Times. 23 September 1932. p. 36. Retrieved 17 August 2023.
  9. "Smoky the Olympic village mascot in 1932, is dead". The Des Moines Register. 20 April 1934. p. 17. Retrieved 17 August 2023.
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