Jack Metcalfe

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Medal record
Men’s Athletics
Competitor for Flag of Australia Australia
Olympic Games
Bronze 1936 Berlin Triple Jump
Commonwealth Games
Gold 1934 London Triple Jump
Gold 1938 Sydney Triple jump
Bronze 1934 London Long Jump
Bronze 1938 Sydney Javelin

John ("Jack") Patrick Metcalfe (February 3, 1912January 16, 1994) was an Australian athlete who competed in High Jump, Long Jump and Javelin events, though he is best remembered as a triple jumper.

Olympian Jack Metcalfe competes in the High Jump at Sydney in 1938
Olympian Jack Metcalfe competes in the High Jump at Sydney in 1938

He was educated at Sydney Boys High School[1] and competed for Sydney University Athletics Club [2]

At the 1934 Empire Games, Metcalfe won the triple jump and took a bronze medal in the long jump.

Competing in Sydney on 14 December 1935, Metcalfe set a new world record in the triple jump, leaping 15.78 metres[3].

In 1936, Metcalfe won the bronze medal in the men's triple jump at the Olympic Games held in Berlin, Germany. The winner Naoto Tajima of Japan broke the Australian's world record during the competition. It was later reported that Metcalfe, who was self-coached, assisted the Japanese athletes during the competition and that German officials had complained about this [4].

Metcalfe's bronze was the only medal won by the entire Australian team at this Olympic Games[5].

At his final international competition - the 1938 British Empire Games in his home-town of Sydney - Metcalfe defended his triple jump gold medal and also took bronze in the Javelin.[6]

[edit] References


Records
Preceded by
Flag of Japan Chuhei Nambu
Men's Triple Jump World Record Holder
1935-12-141936-08-06
Succeeded by
Flag of Japan Naoto Tajima