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Lake Placid Hosts First Winter Olympics
Jack Shea becomes first American to win multiple golds at a Winter Games
Published on Feb. 4, 2026
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On this day in 1932, Lake Placid, New York hosted the first Winter Olympics. American speed skater Jack Shea made history by winning gold medals in both the 500-meter and 1500-meter events, becoming the first U.S. athlete to win multiple gold medals at a Winter Olympics. Shea's son and grandson would later go on to become Olympians as well, making their family the first with three generations to compete in the games.
Why it matters
The 1932 Lake Placid Olympics marked a major milestone for the Winter Games, establishing the event as a prestigious international competition. Shea's historic performance helped cement the United States' place as a winter sports powerhouse, paving the way for future American success at the Olympics.
The details
At the 1932 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, New York, American speed skater Jack Shea won gold medals in both the 500-meter and 1500-meter events. This made Shea the first U.S. athlete to win multiple gold medals at a single Winter Olympics. Shea's son Jim and grandson James Jr. would later go on to become Olympians themselves, making theirs the first family with three generations to compete in the games.
- The 1932 Winter Olympics took place in Lake Placid, New York.
- Jack Shea won gold in the 500-meter speed skating event on February 4, 1932.
- Shea followed that up by winning gold in the 1500-meter event the next day, February 5, 1932.
The players
Jack Shea
An American speed skater who won gold medals in the 500-meter and 1500-meter events at the 1932 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, becoming the first U.S. athlete to win multiple golds at a single Winter Games.
Jim Shea
The son of Jack Shea, who later became an Olympian himself, making the Shea family the first with three generations to compete in the Olympic Games.
James Shea Jr.
The grandson of Jack Shea, who also went on to become an Olympian, continuing the family's legacy of winter sports excellence.
What they’re saying
“Jack Shea's historic performance at the 1932 Olympics put American winter sports on the map and inspired future generations of my family to compete at the highest level.”
— James Shea Jr.
The takeaway
The 1932 Lake Placid Olympics marked a significant milestone in the history of the Winter Games, with American speed skater Jack Shea's multiple gold medal wins establishing the United States as a winter sports powerhouse. Shea's success paved the way for his son and grandson to also become Olympians, creating the first family with three generations of athletes to compete at the highest level of international winter sports.
