The Pelham Olympics, a wide ranging high school competition between grades, is a one of a kind school event that does not occur at any other school in Westchester county. It is significant for the entire Pelham community, particularly in the case of an upset. The Town Of Pelham, mirroring the high school, has a strong olympic history, with several notable olympians.
Our most recent Olympian is well-known Kate Douglass who is the first Olympian to have graduated from Pelham Memorial High School and the first woman Olympic swimmer from Pelham. In her career, she has participated in the 2021 and 2024 Olympic Games. Kate Douglass has won two gold medals, two silver medals, and one bronze medal. Notably she was the Olympic 200m Breaststroke champion in 2024.
Before Kate Douglass, there was Mary “Meg” Ellen Gaillard who was an Olympian sailor on the 2004 Olympic Team. She participated in Pelham recreation soccer, and played varsity lacrosse at Sacred Heart High School in Greenwich for four years. Her inspiration for sailing came from her maternal grandmother who was a professional sailor.
The most successful Olympian to live in Pelham was Michael Page, a three-time Olympian. Page participated as an equestrian in the 1960 Olympic Games. In the 1964 Olympic Games, he won a silver medal as a member of the USA Equestrian team. In 1968, he won another silver team medal, and additionally won an individual bronze medal.
The 1912 Olympic Games in Stockholm, Sweden had the most current or future Pelham residents with five. These people were Henry Babcock, Tell Berna, William L. Bowman, Carroll Hafe, and Sam Schwartz. Notably, Henry Babcock and Tell Berna brought home a gold medal of their own. Babcock set the record for pole vaulting and won that event, while Tell Berna won the 3000m race.
Sam Schwartz and William Bowman lived at one point on the same block in Pelham. The Pelham Town Historian recounts,“In 1926, as a Clifford Avenue resident, Sam Schwartz invited over his new next door neighbor, William L. Bowman. The Pelham Sun reported that as Bowman looked over some of Sam’s athletic trophies, he suddenly remarked “I know that fellow. I was on the same Olympic Team with him.” Schwartz replied “Is that so? So was I.” Only at this point did the two 1912 Olympics had ended up living next door to each other.”
The first known Pelham Olympian was Warren Wood who won a gold medal as part of the 1904 USA Olympic Golf team. He was known as the first known Pelhamite to compete in the Olympic Games.
As a community, we hope that children get inspired by these past and present Pelham athletes to reach their dreams to one day compete in the Olympics. There is also a high probability that Pel Mel will write an article for you one day if you do make it to the Olympics.
