David Jacobs (Welsh athlete)
British athlete (1888–1976)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
David Henry Jacobs (30 April 1888 – 6 June 1976) was a Welsh-born track and field sprinter.[3] He was the first British Jew to win an Olympic gold medal.[4]
David Jacobs in 1913 | ||||||||||||
| Personal information | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Born | 30 April 1888 | |||||||||||
| Died | 6 June 1976 (aged 88) Llandudno, Conwy, Wales | |||||||||||
| Height | 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in) | |||||||||||
| Weight | 70 kg (154 lb) | |||||||||||
| Sport | ||||||||||||
| Sport | Athletics | |||||||||||
Event | 100–400 m | |||||||||||
| Club | Herne Hill Harriers, Mitcham | |||||||||||
| Achievements and titles | ||||||||||||
| Personal best(s) | 100 m – 10.8 (1912) 200 m – 21.9e (1912) 440 yd – 49.9e (1913)[1][2] | |||||||||||
Medal record
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Biography
Jacobs was born in Cardiff to John Jacobs (previously Yaakov), who was a general dealer from London. His athletics career started in London with Herne Hill Harriers in 1908.[4] His interest in athletics was aroused by watching the 1908 Olympic Games.
At the 1912 Summer Olympics in Stockholm, Jacobs won a gold medal as the first leg in the British 4 × 100 m relay team, despite finishing second behind the United States in the semifinals. The United States was later disqualified for a fault in passing the baton, the same mistake made in the finals by the world record holder and main favourite German team.
Jacobs competed in the 100 m and 200 m individual events but was eliminated in the semifinals.[1]
Although many times a Welsh champion, Jacobs never succeeded in winning an AAA title.[5] He finished third in the 440 yards event at the 1910 AAA Championships,[6][7] second behind Willie Applegarth at the 1912 AAA Championships[8][9] and second again behind George Nicol at the 1913 AAA Championships.[10][11]
Jacobs retired from active sport after World War I.[1] He died suddenly in Aberconwy, aged 88, while on holiday from his London home. His body was returned to London, where he was buried in a Jewish cemetery,[4] at East Ham. At the time of his death, he was Britain's oldest Olympic gold medalist.[1][12]
See also
- List of British Jewish sportspeople
- Harold Abrahams, British Jewish sprint champion in the 1924 Olympics
- Chariots of Fire, award-winning 1981 film depicting Abrahams' story
