Olympic Games Gold Medalist Athlete. He never went to high school, but educated himself before entering Harvard College as a freshman in 1895, at the age of 27. When he heard about the inaugural modern Olympic Games in Athens, Greece, he asked for a leave of absence so he could compete. The college turned down his request but when he was accepted for the United States Olympic team he went anyway, paying his own passage. On April 6, 1896, he became the first athlete to win a gold medal in the modern Olympics, winning the triple jump event. He later won a silver medal in the high jump and a bronze in the long jump. He didn't return to Harvard until years later, when he was invited to lecture on literature. He was also a noted journalist, a war correspondent for Collier's Magazine, a novelist, and a short story writer.
Olympic Games Gold Medalist Athlete. He never went to high school, but educated himself before entering Harvard College as a freshman in 1895, at the age of 27. When he heard about the inaugural modern Olympic Games in Athens, Greece, he asked for a leave of absence so he could compete. The college turned down his request but when he was accepted for the United States Olympic team he went anyway, paying his own passage. On April 6, 1896, he became the first athlete to win a gold medal in the modern Olympics, winning the triple jump event. He later won a silver medal in the high jump and a bronze in the long jump. He didn't return to Harvard until years later, when he was invited to lecture on literature. He was also a noted journalist, a war correspondent for Collier's Magazine, a novelist, and a short story writer.
Bio by: John "J-Cat" Griffith
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