The men's high jump was one of four jumping events on the

Athletics at the 1896 Summer Olympics At the 1896 Summer Olympics, the first modern Olympiad, twelve athletics events were contested. A total of 25 medals (12 silver for winners, 13 bronze for runner-up, none for third) were awarded. The medals were later denoted as 37 modern medal ...

programme. The

high jump The high jump is a track and field event in which competitors must jump unaided over a horizontal bar placed at measured heights without dislodging it. In its modern, most-practiced format, a bar is placed between two standards with a crash mat f ...

was held on 10 April. Five competitors took part in the event, three of them Americans.

Ellery Clark Ellery Harding Clark (March 13, 1874 – July 27, 1949) was an American track and field athlete and a writer. He was the first modern Olympic champion in high jump and long jump.Clark, Former Olympic Champion, Dies at 75, ''Daily Southern Indepe ...

, who had previously won the long jump, also won this event. Garrett and Connolly tied for second place.

Background

This was the first appearance of the event, which is one of 12 athletics events to have been held at every Summer Olympics. Fourteen athletes entered, but only five started. This was the only one of the 12 athletics events in 1896 in which there were no Greek competitors. The world record holder was Michael Sweeney, but he had "turned professional in early 1896 and was not eligible."Official Report, p. 84.

Competition format

There was a single round of jumping. The bar started at 1.50 metres, increasing 5 centimetres at a time until 1.60 metres and then by 2.5 centimetres at a time. When the victor was the only man left, he was able to choose the height.

Records

There were no standing world records (the IAAF began ratifying records in 1912) or Olympic records (as this was the first Games) before the event. The unofficial world record holder was Michael Sweeney.

set the initial Olympic record at 1.81 metres.

Schedule

The exact time of the contest is not known; it was the second event of the afternoon session, following only the 100 metres final.

Results

All five cleared the bar at 1.50 and 1.55 metres. Hofmann was unable to clear 1.60 metres. Sjöberg made that jump, but could not clear 1.625 metres. All three Americans made that mark and the next, at 1.65 metres, but only Clark was able to clear 1.675 metres. He then cleared 1.70, 1.75, and 1.81 metres successively. Jump sequences are not known

References

Sources

* (Digitally available a
la84foundation.org
* (Excerpt available a
la84foundation.org
* {{DEFAULTSORT:Athletics at the 1896 Summer Olympics - Men's high jump Men's jump high High jump at the Olympics