Kraenzlein, Alvin

Kraenzlein, Alvin

▪ American athlete
born December 12, 1876, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S.
died January 6, 1928, Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania

      American athlete, the first competitor to win four gold medals at a single Olympics. He is credited with having originated the modern technique of hurdling, and his world record in the 220-yard hurdles was unbroken for more than a quarter-century.

      During the mid-1890s Kraenzlein competed for the University of Wisconsin and the University of Pennsylvania, excelling in sprints and long jumps, and he developed an innovative technique of leading with a straight leg over hurdles. In 1898 he set a record of 15.2 sec in the 120-yard hurdles. Also in 1898 Kraenzlein ran the 220-yard hurdles (forerunner of the 200-metre hurdles) in 23.6 sec, a world record that lasted for 26 years.

      At the 1900 Olympic Games in Paris, Kraenzlein placed first in the 60- and 200-metre hurdles (both of which were later discontinued from the Olympic program), as well as in the 110-metre hurdles. In the long jump, world-record-holder Meyer Prinstein (Prinstein, Meyer) won the qualifying round with a leap of 7.17 metres (23.52 feet). However, Prinstein and the rest of the athletes from Syracuse University were not allowed to compete on Sundays and thus missed the finals of the event. Prinstein hoped that his qualifying mark would stand up to the jumps in the final round. It did not. Kraenzlein, competing for the University of Pennsylvania, which allowed its athletes to compete on Sundays, beat Prinstein's mark by l cm, winning the gold medal.

      After the Paris Games Kraenzlein retired from athletic competition. He later coached track and field at the University of Michigan.

* * *


Universalium. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужна курсовая?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Alvin Kraenzlein — Alvin Christian Kraenzlein, né le 12 décembre 1876 à Milwaukee et décédé le 6 janvier 1928, est un athlète américain qui a remporté quatre médailles d or lors des Jeux olympiques d été de 1900 à Paris. Il s impose sur le 60 m, le 110 et le 200 m… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Kraenzlein — Alwin Kraenzlein im Trikot der Penn University …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Alvin Kraenzlein — Medaillenspiegel Alwin Kraenzlein 1899 im Trikot der Penn University Leichtathletik Vereinigte Staaten …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Alvin Kraenzlein — Saltar a navegación, búsqueda Alvin Kraenzlein Atletismo masculino Juegos Olímpicos Oro París 1900 6 …   Wikipedia Español

  • Alvin Kraenzlein — Alvin Christian Kraenzlein (December 12, 1876 ndash; January 6, 1928) was an American athlete. He was the first sportsman to win four Olympic titles in a single Olympic Games. As of 2004, he is still the only track and field athlete to have done… …   Wikipedia

  • Olympische Sommerspiele 1900/Leichtathletik — Die in der französischen Hauptstadt Paris im Rahmen der Weltausstellung (Exposition Universelle et Internationale de Paris) ausgetragenen Internationalen Wettbewerbe für Leibesübungen und Sport (Concours Internationaux d’Exercices Physiques et de …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Liste der Olympiasieger in der Leichtathletik/Medaillengewinner — Olympiasieger Leichtathletik Übersicht Alle Medaillengewinner Alle Medaillengewinnerinnen …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Norman Trevor — Leichtathletik Silber …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • John Tewksbury — im Trikot der Penn University …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • John Walter Beardsley Tewksbury — John Tewksbury im Trikot der Penn University …   Deutsch Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”