Jackson Scholz facts for kids
Scholz at the 1928 Olympics
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| Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||
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| Nationality | American | |||||||||||||||||||
| Born | March 15, 1897 Buchanan, Michigan, U.S. |
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| Died | October 26, 1986 (aged 89) Delray Beach, Florida, U.S. |
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| Height | 5 ft 7+3/4 in | |||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 134 lb | |||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | Sprinting | |||||||||||||||||||
| Event(s) | 100m, 200m | |||||||||||||||||||
| Club | NYAC, New York | |||||||||||||||||||
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Medal record
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Jackson Volney Scholz (born March 15, 1897 – died October 26, 1986) was a famous American sprint runner. He made history in the 1920s. He was the first person to reach an Olympic sprint final in three different Olympic Games. After his amazing sports career, he also became well-known as a writer.
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Who Was Jackson Scholz?
Jackson Scholz was born in Buchanan, Michigan. His parents were Susan and Zachary Scholz. People often called him "The New York Thunderbolt."
He competed for the University of Missouri in Columbia, Missouri. Later, he joined the New York Athletic Club. Even though he had great success at the Olympics, he only won one national title. This was the 220 yards AAU title in 1925.
Olympic Adventures Begin: 1920 Antwerp
Scholz first appeared at the Olympics in Antwerp in 1920. There, he won a gold medal. This was with the American 4 × 100 meter relay team.
In his individual race, he finished fourth in the 100 meter dash. Later that same year, Scholz matched the World Record for the 100 meter race. He ran it in just 10.6 seconds in Stockholm.
Paris 1924: Gold and Silver
Four years later, Scholz was a top favorite. He was expected to win the 100 and 200 meter sprint titles. He met these expectations in the 200 meter race, winning the gold medal.
However, he was beaten for the gold in the 100 meter race. Britain's Harold Abrahams won that one. The 100 meter race and the 400 meter race (won by Eric Liddell) are shown in the movie Chariots of Fire. This film came out in 1981. Jackson Scholz was played by actor Brad Davis in the movie.
Final Olympic Race: 1928
Scholz competed in his third Olympics in 1928. He was the defending champion in the 200 meter race. He finished fourth in that event.
A TV Star: The American Express Commercial
During the 1984 Summer Olympic Games, Scholz appeared in a TV commercial. It was for American Express credit cards. The ad featured Ben Cross, who played Harold Abrahams in Chariots of Fire.
In the commercial, Cross said something about beating Scholz. The 87-year-old Scholz playfully replied, "You didn't beat me!" He then proved he was "still pretty fast." Scholz quickly picked up the tab with his credit card before Cross could.
