Avery Brundage (/ˈeɪvri ˈbrʌndɨdʒ/; September 28, 1887 – May 8, 1975) was the fifth president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), serving from 1952 to 1972. The only American to attain that position, Brundage is remembered as a zealous advocate of amateurism, and for his involvement with the 1936 and 1972 Summer Olympics, both held in Germany.Brundage was born in Detroit in 1887 to a working-class family; when he was five years old, his father moved his family to Chicago and subsequently abandoned his wife and children. Raised mostly by relatives, he attended the University of Illinois to study engineering and became a track star. In 1912, he competed in the Summer Olympics, contesting the pentathlon and decathlon, but did not win any medals; both events were won by Jim Thorpe. He won national championships in track three times between 1914 and 1918, and founded his own construction business. He earned his wealth from this company and from investments, and never accepted pay for his sports involvement.Following his retirement from athletics, Brundage became a sports administrator, rising rapidly through the ranks in United States sports groups. As leader of America's Olympic organizations, he fought zealously against a boycott of the 1936 Summer Olympics, which had been awarded to Germany before the rise of its Nazi government and its subsequent, escalating persecution of Jews. Although Brundage was successful in getting a team to the Games in Berlin, its participation was controversial, and has remained so. Brundage was elected to the IOC that year, and quickly became a major figure in the Olympic movement. He was elected IOC president in 1952.As president, Brundage fought strongly for amateurism and against commercialization of the Olympic Games, even as these stands came to be seen as incongruous with the realities of modern sports. His final Olympics as president, at Munich in 1972, was marked by controversy: at the memorial service following the murder of 11 Israeli athletes by terrorists, Brundage decried the politicization of sports and, refusing to cancel the remainder of the Olympics, declared "the Games must go on". Although Brundage's statement was applauded by those in attendance, his decision to continue the Games has since been harshly criticized, and his actions in 1936 and 1972 seen as evidence of anti-Semitism. In retirement, Brundage married a German princess; he died in 1975.
September 28, 1887, Detroit, Michigan, United States
Died
May 8, 1975, Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany
Place Of Birth
Detroit, Michigan, USA
Spouse
Mariann Princess Reuss (m. 1973–1975), Elizabeth Dunlap (m. 1927–1971)
Children
Avery Gregory Dresden, Gary Toro Dresden
Parents
Minnie Brundage, Charles Brundage
Star Sign
Libra
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Quote
1
In an imperfect world, if participation in sport is to be stopped every time the politicians violate the laws of humanity, there will never be any international contests. Is it not better to try to expand the sportsmanship of the athletic field into other areas?
2
We live in a world that is sick socially, politically and economically. It is sick for only one reason -- lack of fair play and good sportsmanship in human relations. We must keep the Olympic movement on Olympic heights of idealism, for it will surely die if it is permitted to descend to more sordid levels.
3
The professional athlete must always win if he is to be successful and he must perform and win in the way that the public, who pays the bills, wants him to perform and win. He is a paid worker and not a free agent. It is the same with a commercial artist. To be successful he must make or paint things that can be sold. It is not his taste but the taste of the purchaser which governs. No true artist or true amateur will submit to such dictation. An amateur artist creates -- he does not accept the standards of the mass -- he refuses to follow the crowd. He is not primarily interested in dollars.
4
When I'm gone, there's nobody rich enough, thick-skinned enough and smart enough to take my place, and the Games will be in tremendous trouble.
5
The Olympic Games belong to all the world, not the part of it at sea level.
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Fact
1
A passionate collector of Asian art, he was the founding benefactor of the Asian Art Museum of San Francisco, and donated over 7,700 Asian art objects to the Museum.
2
Member of the U.S. team at the 1912 Olympic Games in Stockholm; finished 15th in the decathlon and 5th in the pentathlon.
3
Inducted into the National Track & Field Hall of Fame in 1974 (inaugural class).
4
Inducted into the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame, 1983 (charter member).
5
President of International Olympic Committee, 1952-1972.
6
Presdient of U.S. Olympic Committee, 1928-1952.
Self
Title
Year
Status
Character
Salute
2008
Documentary
Himself
Munich 1972: Games of the XX Olympiad
1972
TV Mini-Series
Himself
London 1948: Games of the XIV Olympiad
1948
TV Mini-Series
Himself - IOC Vice President
Archive Footage
Title
Year
Status
Character
Les grands reportages
2016
TV Series documentary
Himself
Have You Heard from Johannesburg: Fair Play
2010
Documentary
Himself, president of the International Olympic Committee
Hitler's Pawn: The Margaret Lambert Story
2004
TV Movie documentary
Himself
:03 from Gold
2002
TV Movie documentary
Himself
Fists of Freedom: The Story of the '68 Summer Games
1999
Documentary
Himself
100 Years of Olympic Glory
1996
TV Movie documentary
Himself - IOC President (uncredited)
Known for movies
Salute (2008) as Himself
Munich 1972: Games of the XX Olympiad (1972) as Himself
London 1948: Games of the XIV Olympiad (1948) as Himself - IOC Vice President
$300,000
