Harold Osborn facts for kids
Osborn at the 1924 Olympics
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Quick facts for kids Personal information |
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| Born | April 13, 1899 Butler, Illinois, U.S. |
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| Died | April 5, 1975 (aged 75) Champaign, Illinois, U.S. |
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| Alma mater | University of Illinois | |||||||||||||
| Height | 5 ft 11 in (1.81 m) | |||||||||||||
| Weight | 161 lb (73 kg) | |||||||||||||
| Sport | ||||||||||||||
| Sport | Athletics | |||||||||||||
| Event(s) | High jump, triple jump, decathlon | |||||||||||||
| Club | Illinois Athletic Club, Chicago | |||||||||||||
| Achievements and titles | ||||||||||||||
| Personal best(s) | HJ – 2.038 m (1924) TJ – 14.27 m (1921) Decathlon – 6476 (1924) |
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Medal record
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Harold Marion Osborn (born April 13, 1899 – died April 5, 1975) was an amazing American track and field athlete. He made history at the 1924 Olympic Games in Paris. Osborn won two gold medals there. He won one in the decathlon and another in the high jump. He was the first athlete ever to win a gold medal in both the decathlon and a single event.
Harold Osborn's Early Life and Olympic Wins
Harold Osborn went to the University of Illinois. He studied agriculture there from 1919 to 1922. He was a very talented athlete.
At the 1924 Olympics, Osborn achieved incredible success. He won gold medals in both the high jump and the decathlon. He also set new Olympic records in both events. His high jump of 6 feet 6 inches (about 1.98 meters) was an Olympic record for 12 years.
His decathlon score was 7,710.775 points. This score set a new world record. Because of his amazing performance, newspapers around the world called him the "world's greatest athlete."
On May 27, 1924, Osborn set another world record. He jumped 6 feet 8¼ inches (about 2.03 meters) in the high jump. This happened at a competition in Urbana, Illinois. He competed in the Olympics again in 1928.
Harold Osborn's Amazing Records and Achievements
During his sports career, Harold Osborn won many awards. He earned 17 national titles. He also set six world records.
He held world indoor records in several events. These included the standing hop, step, and jump. He also held records in the 60-yard high hurdles and the running high jump.
Osborn still holds the world record for the standing high jump. He jumped 5 feet 5¾ inches (about 1.67 meters). He achieved this record when he was 37 years old!
In 1974, Osborn was honored for his achievements. He became a founding member of the National Track and Field Hall of Fame. This shows how important he was to the sport.
Osborn's High Jumping Style
Harold Osborn was not just a great jumper; he was also an innovator. He used a technique called the "Western roll." This was a popular way to high jump at the time.
Osborn improved this technique. He changed it to clear the bar more efficiently. His new style helped him jump higher and more consistently. This shows he was smart about his sport.
