Olympic Games Gold Medalist Athlete. He never won a national championship, but was one of America's first great Winter Olympic Champions. In the 1928 Winter Olympics, his quest for an Olympic gold medal in the 10,000 meters resulted in one of the Winter Games' most lasting controversies. The competition had completed six of eight heats in the 10,000 meter race, with Jaffee in the lead when a Norwegian referee ruled the competition "no contest", stopping the event. At the 1932 Olympic Winter Games in Lake Placid, New York, Jaffee came back and won gold medals in both the 5,000 meter and 10,000 meter speed skating events. In 1934, although he had never skated more than 10,000 meters before, he set the world record in the 25-mile skating marathon. He was elected to the United States Skating Hall of Fame in 1940 and into the International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame in 1979.
Olympic Games Gold Medalist Athlete. He never won a national championship, but was one of America's first great Winter Olympic Champions. In the 1928 Winter Olympics, his quest for an Olympic gold medal in the 10,000 meters resulted in one of the Winter Games' most lasting controversies. The competition had completed six of eight heats in the 10,000 meter race, with Jaffee in the lead when a Norwegian referee ruled the competition "no contest", stopping the event. At the 1932 Olympic Winter Games in Lake Placid, New York, Jaffee came back and won gold medals in both the 5,000 meter and 10,000 meter speed skating events. In 1934, although he had never skated more than 10,000 meters before, he set the world record in the 25-mile skating marathon. He was elected to the United States Skating Hall of Fame in 1940 and into the International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame in 1979.
Bio by: John "J-Cat" Griffith
Advertisement
