The Daring Tale of Hal Prieste: How He Stole the Olympic Flag and Kept It for a Century

Hal Prieste Made Olympic History by Stealing the Iconic Flag in Antwerp and Hiding It in California for 77 Years

From Olympic bronze medalist to showman, Prieste lived a life full of adventure and legend.

October 21, 2026

This article was last updated by Alisha Shrestha on October 7, 2026

When the Olympic flag featuring five interlocked rings representing Africa, Asia, Australia, the Americas, and Europe rose for the first time at the 1920 Summer Olympics in Antwerp, Belgium, it symbolized peace and hope after the devastation of World War I.

Athletes and spectators celebrated the beginning of a new chapter in sportsmanship and global unity.

However, the inaugural Olympic flag mysteriously disappeared by the conclusion of the Games.

Its absence remained unresolved until Hal Prieste, an American diver, uncovered the truth many years later.

Originally named Haig Keshishian, he was born on November 23, 1896, in Fresno, California, to Armenian parents escaping the Ottoman Empire.

His naval service during World War I showcased his exceptional swimming and diving abilities.

Post-war, he qualified for the Olympics through California trials, securing first place and earning a spot on the U.S. team at New York Athletic Club before competing in Antwerp.

At those Games, Prieste earned bronze in platform diving, finishing behind teammates Clarence Pinkston and Sweden’s Erik Adlerz.

"It was a very cold, damp day," he recounted in 1999, describing how he donned a bathrobe between dives and overcame an initial disadvantage to execute complex maneuvers from a 32-foot platform.

While celebrating, friend Duke Kahanamoku—renowned for surfing—challenged him to retrieve the Olympic flag. Prieste scaled a 15-foot pole to seize the Irish linen banner, transporting it alongside his medal to Los Angeles.

Post-Olympics, Prieste embraced diverse entertainment careers: starring in 25 films with Charlie Chaplin, performing vaudeville comedy, circus acts, and even ice skating past age 40 for Ice Follies performances.

For seven decades, Prieste stored the flag discreetly in a suitcase, viewing it as a personal keepsake rather than a historical artifact.

Only in 1997 did he recognize its symbolic weight during a U.S. Olympic Committee event, replying to reporters: "I can help you with that—it's in my suitcase."

At 103 years old, he returned the flag to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) before Sydney 2000 Games ceremonies. Though lightly damaged, its preservation impressed IOC president Juan Antonio Samaranch, who awarded Prieste a commemorative medal.

Even in his final years, Prieste embodied athletic vigor—participating in Atlanta's torch relay at 100 and continuing ice skating into his centenarian years. He died April 19, 2001, at 104, recognized as the oldest former Olympian and first whose lifespan crossed three centuries.

Today, the flag resides at Lausanne's Olympic Museum, honored with a plaque acknowledging Prieste's legacy. His journey from athletic hero to cinematic icon to centenarian exemplifies Olympic spirit's timeless allure.