Ray Ewry
(IOC)
Updated: 2007-07-27 10:51
Paris 1900, Games of the II Olympiad. Ray EWRY of the United States, 1st in the high jump, long jump and the standing triple jump events. Credit: IOC Olympic Museum Collections
Other names: EWRY, Ray Clarence
Born: 14 October 1873
Deceased: 29 September 1937
Birthplace: Lafayette (United States)
Nationality: United States
Sport: Athletics
ATTENDANCE AT THE OLYMPIC GAMES
Paris 1900
St Louis 1904
London 1908
AWARDS
Olympic medals:
Gold: 8
Other results:
Intercalated Games of 1906
Gold: 2
The Standing Jumper
Ray Ewry won eight Olympic gold medals in 1900, 1904 and 1908, yet he is almost unknown today because his unprecedented feats were performed in events that are no longer held: the standing high jump, the standing long jump and the standing triple jump. Born 14 October 1873, Ewry contracted polio as a young boy. Confined to a wheelchair, it was thought that he might be paralysed for life. However, he began exercising on his own and grew up to be a superb athlete. Ewry won all three standing jump events at the 1900 Olympics in Paris. He defended all three titles in 1904. The standing triple jump was dropped from the Olympic program in 1908, but Ewry won both the standing high jump and the standing long jump for a third time. All standing jumps were dropped from the Olympics after 1912.
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