Athletics at the 1912 Stockholm Summer Games:

As in the 100 meters, there was no clear favorite. Again, four different Americans had won the AAU championship since the 1908 Olympics - none of them were at Stockholm. The pre-Olympic favorite was likely Britain’s William Applegarth, who had won the AAA earlier in 1912. But the world record for 220 yards on a straight had been set at 21 1/5 by Ralph Craig at the 1910 IC4A Championships, and he won the eastern U.S. Olympic trials. After winning the 100 metres three days earlier at Stockholm, Craig was favored.

The six semi-finals advanced the winner of each heat to the final, with Applegarth and Germany’s Richard Rau joining four Americans, including Craig, to compete for the gold medal. In the final, Applegarth led coming off the turn but was soon passed by Craig and Donald Lippincott. The finish was close but Craig held off a fast-finishing Lippincott to win the sprint double. Lippincott added the 200 silver medal to the bronze medal he had won in the 100.