Olympic Champion. An American speed skater, he became the first gold medalist ever at the Olympic Winter Games. Jewtraw was born into a poor family and was initially sponsored in skating by a Lake Placid businessman. He excelled as an ice sprinter and won US outdoor championships in 1921 and 1923, holding the national record for 100 yards (9.4 seconds). At the first Winter Olympics, held in Chamonix, France in 1924, Jewtraw scored gold in the first event, winning the 500-meter race with a time of 44 seconds. He also competed in the 1500-meter and 5000-meter races, placing 8th and 13th, respectively. He retired from skating after the Olympics and later went to work for the Spalding Sporting Goods Company. His gold medal is now at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C.
Olympic Champion. An American speed skater, he became the first gold medalist ever at the Olympic Winter Games. Jewtraw was born into a poor family and was initially sponsored in skating by a Lake Placid businessman. He excelled as an ice sprinter and won US outdoor championships in 1921 and 1923, holding the national record for 100 yards (9.4 seconds). At the first Winter Olympics, held in Chamonix, France in 1924, Jewtraw scored gold in the first event, winning the 500-meter race with a time of 44 seconds. He also competed in the 1500-meter and 5000-meter races, placing 8th and 13th, respectively. He retired from skating after the Olympics and later went to work for the Spalding Sporting Goods Company. His gold medal is now at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C.
Bio by: Iowa Owl
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