The Ancient Roots of a Modern Sport: Lacrosse’s Olympic Journey

Lacrosse, North America’s oldest team sport, has come a long way from its Indigenous roots to reach the global Olympic stage. Tracing its origins back centuries, lacrosse has endured conquests, bans, and commerce to emerge as one of the world’s most exciting sports. As lacrosse gains popularity internationally, its bid for Olympic status has faced both triumph and frustration. This article explores the winding path that lacrosse has taken on its Olympic quest.

Stickball – Lacrosse in Early Native American Culture

Lacrosse originated among Indigenous tribes in eastern North America hundreds of years before European contact. Originally called “stickball”, lacrosse was deeply rooted in Native American religion, medicine, and warfare culture. Tribes used lacrosse to resolve conflicts, heal the sick, and honor the Creator.

Early lacrosse matches featured hundreds of players and could last for days. Goals were miles apart and play ranged over expansive fields. The sport was extremely physical and involved little protective equipment. Games reflected the toughness valued in Indigenous warrior cultures. Through stickball, young Native men trained as warriors and proved themselves to their tribes.

As European colonists and missionaries arrived in North America in the 17th-18th centuries, they observed and documented the stickball matches of Indigenous peoples. Lacrosse was seen as a mysterious ritual by outsiders. The French Jesuit missionary Jean de Brébeuf wrote in 1636 that lacrosse was “the one they love the most”. For Native tribes, lacrosse held spiritual and cultural significance beyond mere sport.

Attempts to Ban and Tame Lacrosse in the 19th Century

As white settlers expanded westward, they tried to ban and tame lacrosse to control Indigenous peoples. In the 1860s, authorities in Canada instituted a ban on lacrosse and other Indigenous cultural practices. However, many Native Americans continued to play lacrosse in secret to preserve their heritage. Lacrosse also faced efforts to “civilize” it by limiting team sizes and confining play to enclosed fields.

Despite repression, lacrosse gained popularity among white Canadians and Americans in the mid-1800s. Universities and sporting clubs took up the sport and adapted its rules. White players exceptionalized Native origins of lacrosse as a “savage” game improved by European ingenuity. In reality, the foundations of modern lacrosse derive from Indigenous culture. White appropriation commercialized lacrosse but failed to erase its deep roots.

By the late 1800s, lacrosse had grown into a prominent sport in eastern North America. Amateur leagues were formed and intercollegiate rivalries emerged, especially in Canada. Lacrosse garnered the nickname “Canada’s National Game”. The sport’s rising popularity set the stage for its Olympic debut.

Lacrosse Debuts at the Olympics in 1904 and 1908

At the 1904 Summer Olympics in St. Louis, Missouri, lacrosse made its first appearance as an Olympic demonstration sport. Six teams competed, including three from Native American schools and clubs. The Mohawk Indians from Canada won the gold medal. Lacrosse was also featured at the 1908 London Olympics, with Canada taking the gold.

Although lacrosse was not yet an official Olympic medal event, its presence at the 1904 and 1908 Games marked a milestone for the sport’s global expansion. Olympic lacrosse coincided with the spread of the sport to England, Australia, and Japan. However, lacrosse’s Olympic status remained uncertain over the first half of the 20th century.

Challenges to Lacrosse as an Olympic Sport: The Mid-20th Century

From 1912 to 1948, lacrosse was left off the Olympic program. It briefly returned as a demonstration sport at the 1928, 1932, and 1948 Games but did not regain medal status. Professionalization, costs, cultural biases, and lack of global participation hampered lacrosse’s Olympic bid through the mid-1900s.

Many saw lacrosse as a regional sport limited by its North American roots. Internationally, lacrosse was perceived as unfamiliar, inaccessible, and highly specialized equipment-wise. Established Olympic team sports like field hockey and handball overshadowed lacrosse. Cold War politics also factored against Native American-influenced lacrosse gaining Olympic acceptance.

Not until the 1970s and 80s did lacrosse expansion in Europe, Australia, and Asia improve prospects for its Olympic comeback. Stronger international governing bodies further aided the cause. By the 1980s, lacrosse’s path back to the Olympics was building momentum.

Lacrosse Returns as a Medal Sport at the Olympics

After decades of tenacious advocacy, lacrosse finally regained its Olympic medal status in the 1990s. The International Olympic Committee approved men’s lacrosse as an official event for the 1998 Summer Games in Bangkok and the 2004 Summer Games in Athens. However, lacrosse ended up excluded on both occasions as the IOC scaled down the Olympics.

Finally, in 2009 the IOC confirmed men’s and women’s lacrosse for the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo. It marked a long-awaited Olympics return for one of the world’s fastest growing sports. However, the COVID-19 pandemic forced Tokyo 2020 to be postponed. After 116 years since its last medal events, lacrosse faced yet another delay.

Nonetheless, history was made when lacrosse tournament play kicked off at the rescheduled Tokyo Olympics in July 2021. Twelve men’s and six women’s teams from across the globe competed for the gold. The Canadian women and American men prevailed in tightly contested finals.

Milestones in the History of Lacrosse at the Olympics

Year	Milestone
1904	Lacrosse debuts as an Olympic demonstration sport in St. Louis
1908	Lacrosse featured again as a demonstration sport in London
1928-48	Brief Olympic demonstrations but no medal status
1998	Men’s lacrosse approved as an Olympic medal event but excluded from Games
2009	Men’s and women’s lacrosse confirmed for 2020 Tokyo Olympics
2021	Lacrosse returns as a medal event after over 100 years at Tokyo 2020

All in all, Lacrosse has overcome numerous obstacles across centuries to earn its place in the Olympics. From its Native American origins to global expansion, lacrosse has proven its staying power through persistence. As a sports world treasure that honors its Indigenous roots, lacrosse promises to be an exciting and culturally-rich addition to future Olympics. The Olympic motto “faster, higher, stronger” aptly captures the spirit of lacrosse as it dashes into its next chapter on the world’s biggest sporting stage.