A Year of Record-Breaking Triumphs and Tragic Lows Across the Sporting World
About This Footage
This Universal Newsreel compilation revisits the defining moments of 1956 in the world of sports—from the icy brilliance of the Winter Olympics at Cortina d’Ampezzo to the heat of the diamond at Yankee Stadium. Featuring Olympic champions, daring racers, and legendary athletes, it offers a vivid chronicle of human endurance, grace, and glory in motion.
a) Winter Olympics at Cortina d’Ampezzo
The year opens in Italy, where figure skaters Hayes Allen Jenkins and Tenley Albright deliver dazzling gold-medal performances. Albright’s triumph, achieved despite a serious leg injury, becomes a story of courage and artistry. Meanwhile, Austrian skier Tony Sailer claims a rare triple victory—slalom, giant slalom, and downhill—cementing his Olympic legend.
b) Track and Field Milestones
In Los Angeles, Australian runner Jim Bailey defeats world record-holder John Landy in America’s first sub-four-minute mile. At the same meet, 19-year-old Charles Dumas clears the seven-foot mark in the high jump—an unprecedented feat that redefines the boundaries of human athleticism.
c) Olympic Diving and Swimming Trials
Pat McCormick dominates the diving tryouts before winning gold in Melbourne. In Tyler, Texas, Shelly Mann sets a new butterfly record, later adding Olympic gold to her list of triumphs. Grace and power combine in a year of aquatic excellence.
d) New Inventions and Unusual Sports
Inventor Igor Bensen’s experimental gyrocopter—a helicopter hybrid towed by a motorboat—takes flight as a curious novelty. Across Europe, kayak racers brave freezing waters and relentless currents, showcasing endurance and humor in equal measure.
e) Auto and Motorcycle Racing
The Indianapolis 500 delivers high drama as multiple crashes mar the race, though all drivers survive. Pat Flaherty claims victory. In Europe, motorcycle racers court danger on treacherous tracks; tragedy strikes in Vienna, yet the thrill of the sport endures amid mud and mayhem.
f) Horse Racing Highlights
At Churchill Downs, “Needles” charges from 16th place to win the Kentucky Derby, upholding a family dynasty of champions. In England’s Grand National Steeplechase, Queen Elizabeth and the Queen Mother witness a shocking finish as the favored Devon Loch collapses mere yards from victory, handing the win to ESB. Meanwhile, Olympic steeplechase trials in Stockholm prove perilous—injuring riders and horses in a punishing endurance contest.
g) Golf and Farewells
At the Masters, Jack Burke stages a stunning comeback over amateur leader Ken Venturi to claim the green jacket. Harvey Ward secures his second straight national amateur title. The sports world mourns golf and track legend Babe Didrikson Zaharias, whose courage in illness matched her brilliance on the field, and baseball’s venerable Connie Mack, symbol of integrity across seven decades of America’s pastime.
h) World Series Glory
The Yankees and Dodgers clash in a seven-game classic. Mickey Mantle shines with his triple-crown season, while pitcher Don Larsen etches his name into history with the first perfect game ever thrown in a World Series. A fitting finale to a remarkable sporting year.
“Sports Highlights of 1956” preserves an extraordinary year when athletic grace met human grit, innovation met tragedy, and champions became legends. This Universal Newsreel stands as a dynamic time capsule for historians, filmmakers, and fans seeking authentic mid-century sports footage in pristine archival quality.