Many of us are familiar with ‘Old Blood and Guts’ from his World War II escapades.  However, there is a little known fact about Patton for which many of us are unaware and which speak volumes about him as a man. 

Patton was an Olympian.  That’s right.  ‘Old Blood and Guts’ participated in the 1912 Olympics in the first ever Olympic pentathlon.  The competition consisted of swimming, fencing, equestrian cross-country steeplechase, a four kilometer foot race, and pistol shooting

Swimming
Out of the 37 contestants in the event, Patton came in sixth.

Fencing
Out of 29 contestants, Patton came in third.  He beat a Frenchman who went on to win the gold.  It was the Frenchman’s only defeat of the Pentathlon.

Equestrian steeplechase
Patton finished third.  Along with two Swedes, Patton had a perfect performance.  However, the two Swede’s times were better.  

Four Kilometer foot race
Patton finished third out of 15 runners.  He ran out of gas about 50 yards from the finish line, walked across the line and fainted.

Pistol Shooting
Patton came in 21st out of 42 shooters.  He used a .38 caliber pistol.  Patton’s scores were as follows:  10, 10, 10, 9, 8; 10, 10, 10, 0, 0; 10, 10, 9, 9, 8; and 10, 10, 10, 9, 7.  Patton’s bullet holes were all clustered together in the center of the target, creating large holes.  However, the judges decided one bullet had missed the target altogether because they couldn’t find a separate hole.  Patton claimed that the bullet went through the existing holes.

Controversy
Patton ended the competition in fifth place.  Had Patton prevailed in convincing the judges that one of his bullets in the pistol competition did not miss the target, it’s likely he would have won the gold medal.  Today, similar competitions use a moving background behind the target in order to avoid such controversy. 

But Patton didn’t complain or make excuses.  His only comment on the matter was that "...the high spirit of sportsmanship and generosity manifested throughout speaks volumes for the character of the officers of the present day. There was not a single incident of a protest or any unsportsmanlike quibbling or fighting for points which I regret to say marred some of the other civilian competitions at the Olympic Games. Each man did his best and took what fortune sent like a true soldier, and at the end we all felt more like good friends and comrades than rivals in a severe competition, yet this spirit of friendship in no manner detracted from the zeal with which all strove for success."

Real Man Magazine salutes you General Patton!