United States at the 1912 Summer Olympics the first Olympic pentathlon competition. George S. Patton, who would become a famous general during World War II, excelled in the military-influenced set of events. Patton finished in fifth place; he was the only non-Swede among the top seven finishers. Twenty six shooters represented the United States. It was the nation's third appearance in shooting. The Americans won a total of 14 medals, half of which were gold. Only the host nation, Sweden, did better (with two more silver medals and one more bronze). A single tennis player represented the United States at the 1912 Games. It was the nation's
Oscar Swahn the oldest gold medalist at that time. When the 1912 Summer Olympics came to his native country, Sweden, he was a member of the single shot running deer team which again won the gold medal. He also won bronze again at the individual double shot running deer event, but came joint fourth in the individual single shot event, which was won by his son Alfred Swahn. At 64 years and 258 days of age, he became the oldest gold medallist ever, a record he still holds. At the 1920 Summer Olympics, he became the oldest athlete ever to compete in