Jerome Biffle
Encyclopedia
Jerome Cousins Biffle (March 20, 1928, Denver - September 4, 2002, Denver) was an American
athlete who competed mainly in the long jump
.
Biffle attended Denver East High School, where he won all-state honors in the 100 and 220-yard sprints, high jump
and broad jump before landing at the University of Denver
. Biffle was known as "the one-man track team" while attending DU. He led the Pioneers to the Skyline Conference title in 1949. In 1950, Biffle captured first place finishes at the Kansas
, Drake
, and West Coast Relays, which were known as the "big three" of college track events during that period, as well as winning the NCAA long jump title. In that same year, Biffle was named Track and Field News top collegiate track star. After DU, he earned a spot on the 1952 U.S. Olympic team. He competed for the United States in the 1952 Summer Olympics
held in Helsinki, Finland in the long jump where he won the gold medal
on his final attempt.
He later became a track coach and youth counselor at Denver East. He died in 2002 from pulmonary fibrosis
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
athlete who competed mainly in the 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...
.
Biffle attended Denver East High School, where he won all-state honors in the 100 and 220-yard sprints, 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 broad jump before landing at the University of Denver
University of Denver
The University of Denver is currently ranked 82nd among all public and private "National Universities" by U.S. News & World Report in the 2012 rankings....
. Biffle was known as "the one-man track team" while attending DU. He led the Pioneers to the Skyline Conference title in 1949. In 1950, Biffle captured first place finishes at the Kansas
Kansas Relays
The Kansas Relays are a three day track meet every April held at the University of Kansas in Lawrence, Kansas. Since 1923 the Kansas relays has attracted runners, throwers, and jumpers from all over the United States of America; with athletes ranging from Olympians to high school runners...
, Drake
Drake Relays
The Drake Relays is an annual outdoor track and field event held in Des Moines, Iowa, United States, in Drake Stadium on the campus of Drake University...
, and West Coast Relays, which were known as the "big three" of college track events during that period, as well as winning the NCAA long jump title. In that same year, Biffle was named Track and Field News top collegiate track star. After DU, he earned a spot on the 1952 U.S. Olympic team. He competed for the United States in the 1952 Summer Olympics
1952 Summer Olympics
The 1952 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XV Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event held in Helsinki, Finland in 1952. Helsinki had been earlier given the 1940 Summer Olympics, which were cancelled due to World War II...
held in Helsinki, Finland in the long jump where he won the gold medal
Gold medal
A gold medal is typically the medal awarded for highest achievement in a non-military field. Its name derives from the use of at least a fraction of gold in form of plating or alloying in its manufacture...
on his final attempt.
He later became a track coach and youth counselor at Denver East. He died in 2002 from pulmonary fibrosis
Pulmonary fibrosis
Pulmonary fibrosis is the formation or development of excess fibrous connective tissue in the lungs. It is also described as "scarring of the lung".-Symptoms:Symptoms of pulmonary fibrosis are mainly:...
.