Ellery Clark
Encyclopedia
Ellery Harding Clark (March 13, 1874 – February 17, 1949) was an American
athlete. He was the first modern Olympic
champion in high jump
and long jump
.
, Clark is the only person to have won both the Olympic high jump and long jump. Clark achieved it in 1896, at the first modern Olympics
in Athens
. A Harvard
student, he was given a leave of absence to compete because of his high grades - in contrast to another gold medal winner from Harvard, James Connolly. Clark was one of the top all-around athletes from 1893 to 1912.
In the long jump, Clark had used his hat to mark his runway. Twice the judge (in fact King Constantine of Greece
) had removed the hat, saying this was a practice of professionals. Only at the third attempt (and without the hat), did Clark achieve a valid jump, good enough for gold. His final jump was of 6.35 metres. Clark later won the high jump as well, clearing 1.81 metres. The closest competitors were fellow Americans Connolly and Robert Garrett
at 1.65 metres. In the shot put
, Clark was among the bottom three of the seven man field.
He never won a national championship in either jump, but he was the 1897 and 1903 AAU champion in the all-around, an event similar to the decathlon
. He won the 1897 American all-around championship with performances that would have won him the 1896 Olympic
high jump
, long jump
, and shot put
, and probably the 100 m sprint and the 110 m hurdles
as well.
Ellery also competed in the 1904 Olympics
in St. Louis
, in the all-around competition
. Although he had to abandon the contest after five events due to bronchitis
, he was still classed sixth. At age 32, he was still winning major meets. He competed as a walker until the age of 56.
Clark's professional life was equally varied. He excelled as an author, lawyer, track coach, teacher and Boston
city alderman. He wrote 19 books including one which was made into a 1952 film, Caribbean.
He was inducted into the USATF Hall of Fame in 1991.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
athlete. He was the first modern Olympic
Olympic Games
The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
champion in high jump
High jump
The high jump is a track and field athletics event in which competitors must jump over a horizontal bar placed at measured heights without the aid of certain devices in its modern most practiced format; auxiliary weights and mounds have been used for assistance; rules have changed over the years....
and long jump
Long jump
The long jump is a track and field event in which athletes combine speed, strength, and agility in an attempt to leap as far as possible from a take off point...
.
Biography
Born in West Roxbury, MassachusettsMassachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
, Clark is the only person to have won both the Olympic high jump and long jump. Clark achieved it in 1896, at the first modern Olympics
1896 Summer Olympics
The 1896 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the I Olympiad, was a multi-sport event celebrated in Athens, Greece, from April 6 to April 15, 1896. It was the first international Olympic Games held in the Modern era...
in Athens
Athens
Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...
. A Harvard
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
student, he was given a leave of absence to compete because of his high grades - in contrast to another gold medal winner from Harvard, James Connolly. Clark was one of the top all-around athletes from 1893 to 1912.
In the long jump, Clark had used his hat to mark his runway. Twice the judge (in fact King Constantine of Greece
Constantine I of Greece
Constantine I was King of Greece from 1913 to 1917 and from 1920 to 1922. He was commander-in-chief of the Hellenic Army during the unsuccessful Greco-Turkish War of 1897 and led the Greek forces during the successful Balkan Wars of 1912–1913, in which Greece won Thessaloniki and doubled in...
) had removed the hat, saying this was a practice of professionals. Only at the third attempt (and without the hat), did Clark achieve a valid jump, good enough for gold. His final jump was of 6.35 metres. Clark later won the high jump as well, clearing 1.81 metres. The closest competitors were fellow Americans Connolly and Robert Garrett
Robert Garrett
Robert Garrett was an American athlete. He was the first modern Olympic champion in discus throw and shot put.-Biography:...
at 1.65 metres. In the shot put
Shot put
The shot put is a track and field event involving "putting" a heavy metal ball—the shot—as far as possible. It is common to use the term "shot put" to refer to both the shot itself and to the putting action....
, Clark was among the bottom three of the seven man field.
He never won a national championship in either jump, but he was the 1897 and 1903 AAU champion in the all-around, an event similar to the decathlon
Decathlon
The decathlon is a combined event in athletics consisting of ten track and field events. The word decathlon is of Greek origin . Events are held over two consecutive days and the winners are determined by the combined performance in all. Performance is judged on a points system in each event, not...
. He won the 1897 American all-around championship with performances that would have won him the 1896 Olympic
1896 Summer Olympics
The 1896 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the I Olympiad, was a multi-sport event celebrated in Athens, Greece, from April 6 to April 15, 1896. It was the first international Olympic Games held in the Modern era...
high jump
High jump
The high jump is a track and field athletics event in which competitors must jump over a horizontal bar placed at measured heights without the aid of certain devices in its modern most practiced format; auxiliary weights and mounds have been used for assistance; rules have changed over the years....
, long jump
Long jump
The long jump is a track and field event in which athletes combine speed, strength, and agility in an attempt to leap as far as possible from a take off point...
, and shot put
Shot put
The shot put is a track and field event involving "putting" a heavy metal ball—the shot—as far as possible. It is common to use the term "shot put" to refer to both the shot itself and to the putting action....
, and probably the 100 m sprint and the 110 m hurdles
Hurdling
Hurdling is a type of track and field race.- Distances :There are sprint hurdle races and long hurdle races. The standard sprint hurdle race is 110 meters for men and 100 meters for women. The standard long hurdle race is 400 meters for both men and women...
as well.
Ellery also competed in the 1904 Olympics
1904 Summer Olympics
The 1904 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the III Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event which was celebrated in St. Louis, Missouri, in the United States from 1 July 1904, to November 23, 1904, at what is now known as Francis Field on the campus of Washington University...
in St. Louis
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
, in the all-around competition
Athletics at the 1904 Summer Olympics - Men's decathlon
The men's decathlon was a track and field athletics event held as part of the Athletics at the 1904 Summer Olympics programme. It was the first time the event, intended to be an all-around championship in athletics, was held...
. Although he had to abandon the contest after five events due to bronchitis
Bronchitis
Acute bronchitis is an inflammation of the large bronchi in the lungs that is usually caused by viruses or bacteria and may last several days or weeks. Characteristic symptoms include cough, sputum production, and shortness of breath and wheezing related to the obstruction of the inflamed airways...
, he was still classed sixth. At age 32, he was still winning major meets. He competed as a walker until the age of 56.
Clark's professional life was equally varied. He excelled as an author, lawyer, track coach, teacher and Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
city alderman. He wrote 19 books including one which was made into a 1952 film, Caribbean.
He was inducted into the USATF Hall of Fame in 1991.