Alvin Kraenzlein
Encyclopedia
Alvin Christian Kraenzlein (December 12, 1876 – January 6, 1928) was an American
athlete. He was the first sportsman to win four Olympic titles in a single Olympic Games
. , he is still the only track and field athlete to have done so in individual events only.
Kraenzlein was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin
, son of John Kraenzlein and Augusta, and attended the University of Wisconsin–Madison
and later the University of Pennsylvania
, studying to become a dentist
. He won his first athletics title in 1897, when he won the 220 yards hurdles race at the Amateur Athletic Union
championships. The next few years he gained many more titles, winning 5 AAU titles in both hurdling
and long jump
events, and 8 Intercollegiate Association of Amateur Athletes of America titles in sprinting, hurdling and the long jump. Kraenzlein was especially noted for his hurdling technique, as he was the first to practice the now common method of straight-lead-leg (the first leg over the hurdle remains straight and parallel with the ground). This technique is significant in that it enables the athlete to over-come the hurdle without reducing speed.
In 1900, Kraenzlein prepared for the Olympics in England
, winning the British title in the 120 yards hurdles and the long jump before entering the 1900 Summer Olympics
in Paris
. There, he won four titles: the 60 metres, the 110 metres hurdles, the 200 metres hurdles and the long jump. In the 60 metres, he ran both the preliminary and final in 7.0 seconds, defeating Walter Tewksbury by bare inches in the final. He became the most successful athlete at the 1900 Olympics.
His victory in the long jump was remarkable, as he beat silver medallist Meyer Prinstein only by a single centimeter. Prinstein's mark had been set in the qualification, and he did not attend the final, because it was held on a Sunday. The two had had an informal agreement not to compete on Sunday, and when Prinstein learned that Kraenzlein had competed he became violent, punching Kraenzlein according to some accounts (others claim that Prinstein was restrained before he could land the punch).
Kraenzlein retired from athletic competition in late 1900, as the owner of 6 world record
s. He had completed a degree in dentistry from the University of Pennsylvania. In 1902, having returned to Philadelphia, he went on to be a dentist and manager of the Milwaukee Athletic Association. He also married Claudine Gilman. In 1906 he became the track-and-field coach at Mercersburg Academy, and in 1910 he also became the professor of physical training. Amongst his students was Ralph Craig
who would become a future Olympian title holder. In 1913 he signed a $50,000 deal to prepare the 1916 German Olympic team (this, however, was canceled due to the outbreak of World War I). With World War I coming, Kraenzlein served the U.S. army as a physical training specialist. When the war ended, he became coach of the University of Pennsylvania team until late 1927 when he was afflicted with pleurisy and died early 1928 in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
athlete. He was the first sportsman to win four Olympic titles in a single Olympic Games
Olympic Games
The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
. , he is still the only track and field athlete to have done so in individual events only.
Kraenzlein was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
, son of John Kraenzlein and Augusta, and attended the University of Wisconsin–Madison
University of Wisconsin–Madison
The University of Wisconsin–Madison is a public research university located in Madison, Wisconsin, United States. Founded in 1848, UW–Madison is the flagship campus of the University of Wisconsin System. It became a land-grant institution in 1866...
and later the University of Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...
, studying to become a dentist
Dentist
A dentist, also known as a 'dental surgeon', is a doctor that specializes in the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of diseases and conditions of the oral cavity. The dentist's supporting team aides in providing oral health services...
. He won his first athletics title in 1897, when he won the 220 yards hurdles race at the Amateur Athletic Union
Amateur Athletic Union
The Amateur Athletic Union is one of the largest non-profit volunteer sports organizations in the United States. A multi-sport organization, the AAU is dedicated exclusively to the promotion and development of amateur sports and physical fitness programs.-History:The AAU was founded in 1888 to...
championships. The next few years he gained many more titles, winning 5 AAU titles in both hurdling
Hurdling
Hurdling is a type of track and field race.- Distances :There are sprint hurdle races and long hurdle races. The standard sprint hurdle race is 110 meters for men and 100 meters for women. The standard long hurdle race is 400 meters for both men and women...
and long jump
Long jump
The long jump is a track and field event in which athletes combine speed, strength, and agility in an attempt to leap as far as possible from a take off point...
events, and 8 Intercollegiate Association of Amateur Athletes of America titles in sprinting, hurdling and the long jump. Kraenzlein was especially noted for his hurdling technique, as he was the first to practice the now common method of straight-lead-leg (the first leg over the hurdle remains straight and parallel with the ground). This technique is significant in that it enables the athlete to over-come the hurdle without reducing speed.
In 1900, Kraenzlein prepared for the Olympics in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, winning the British title in the 120 yards hurdles and the long jump before entering the 1900 Summer Olympics
1900 Summer Olympics
The 1900 Summer Olympics, today officially known as the Games of the II Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event which was celebrated in 1900 in Paris, France. No opening or closing ceremonies were held; competitions began on May 14 and ended on October 28. The Games were held as part of...
in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
. There, he won four titles: the 60 metres, the 110 metres hurdles, the 200 metres hurdles and the long jump. In the 60 metres, he ran both the preliminary and final in 7.0 seconds, defeating Walter Tewksbury by bare inches in the final. He became the most successful athlete at the 1900 Olympics.
His victory in the long jump was remarkable, as he beat silver medallist Meyer Prinstein only by a single centimeter. Prinstein's mark had been set in the qualification, and he did not attend the final, because it was held on a Sunday. The two had had an informal agreement not to compete on Sunday, and when Prinstein learned that Kraenzlein had competed he became violent, punching Kraenzlein according to some accounts (others claim that Prinstein was restrained before he could land the punch).
Kraenzlein retired from athletic competition in late 1900, as the owner of 6 world record
World record
A world record is usually the best global performance ever recorded and verified in a specific skill or sport. The book Guinness World Records collates and publishes notable records of all types, from first and best to worst human achievements, to extremes in the natural world and beyond...
s. He had completed a degree in dentistry from the University of Pennsylvania. In 1902, having returned to Philadelphia, he went on to be a dentist and manager of the Milwaukee Athletic Association. He also married Claudine Gilman. In 1906 he became the track-and-field coach at Mercersburg Academy, and in 1910 he also became the professor of physical training. Amongst his students was Ralph Craig
Ralph Craig
Ralph Cook Craig was an American athlete, winner of the sprint double at the 1912 Summer Olympics.Craig was born in Detroit, Michigan. Initially a hurdler, he developed into a sprinter at the University of Michigan...
who would become a future Olympian title holder. In 1913 he signed a $50,000 deal to prepare the 1916 German Olympic team (this, however, was canceled due to the outbreak of World War I). With World War I coming, Kraenzlein served the U.S. army as a physical training specialist. When the war ended, he became coach of the University of Pennsylvania team until late 1927 when he was afflicted with pleurisy and died early 1928 in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania
Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania
Wilkes-Barre is a city in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania, the county seat of Luzerne County. It is at the center of the Wyoming Valley area and is one of the principal cities in the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre metropolitan area, which had a population of 563,631 as of the 2010 Census...
.
See also
- List of multiple Olympic gold medalists at a single Games
- List of Michigan Wolverines football trainers