About Otto Anderson
Lived 1900 – 1963 (aged 63). Otto Anderson was an American athletics competitor.
Otto Anderson (October 28, 1900 – November 15, 1963) was an American athlete. He competed at the 1920 Antwerp Olympics and the 1924 Paris Olympics.
Anderson was born in Guthrie, Oklahoma on October 28, 1900. He started his athletics career with the hurdles while still a student at Pomona High School. Still at school, he qualified for the 1920 Antwerp Olympics team in the hop, skip and jump (now called the triple jump). He competed at that event, but the results are proving difficult to find.
After leaving school, he attended the University of Southern California (U.S.C.) where he added more track events and football to his activities.
Anderson qualified for the fourth of four places to compete in the men's decathlon at the 1924 Olympics. Once in Paris, he was injured in a bad landing in the sawdust pit during pole vault practice. His Achilles tendon was torn loose among other injuries, and he was unable to complete the competition.
1925 was his final year at U.S.C. and he was captain of their track team, and captain of the Intercollegiate Association of Amateur Athletes of America (I.C.A.A.A.A.) champions. After graduating from U.S.C., he competed for Los Angeles AC and Hollywood AC. At the national AAU Championship he finished second in the decathlon.
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Important facts
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Otto Anderson's
Frequently asked questions
Who was Otto Anderson?
American athlete and Olympian
When was Otto Anderson born?
Otto Anderson was born on 28 October 1900 in Guthrie.
When did Otto Anderson die?
Otto Anderson died on 15 November 1963 in Pasadena.
What was Otto Anderson's occupation?
Otto Anderson was an athletics competitor.
What nationality was Otto Anderson?
Otto Anderson was American.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Otto Anderson. https://biography.guide/otto-anderson/
MLA: "Otto Anderson." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/otto-anderson/.
Chicago: "Otto Anderson." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/otto-anderson/.
Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.
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