Eight Olympic gold medals earned in individual events defined the career of Raymond Clarence Ewry, a specialist in the now-defunct standing jump disciplines. Born in Lafayette, Indiana, on October 14, 1873, he overcame a childhood bout with polio that once left him reliant on a wheelchair, eventually transitioning into a decorated collegiate athlete and professional hydraulics engineer.
Academic and Early Athletic Foundations
Between 1890 and 1897, Ewry attended Purdue University, where he earned a graduate degree in mechanical engineering. During his tenure at the institution, he was an active participant in campus life, serving as captain of the track and field team and playing American football. He was also affiliated with the Sigma Nu fraternity. Upon completing his studies, he relocated to New York to pursue a career as a hydraulics engineer, joining the New York Athletic Club to further his athletic training.
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Ewry specialized in three events that required athletes to jump without a run-up: the standing high jump, the standing long jump, and the standing triple jump. At the 1900 Paris Olympic Games, he secured gold in all three disciplines on July 16. He successfully defended these titles at the 1904 Summer Olympics. Although the standing triple jump was discontinued following the 1904 Games, he continued his streak in the remaining two events at the 1906 Intercalated Games in Athens and the 1908 Games.
Records and Olympic Legacy
Ewry finished his career with 10 total Olympic gold medals, including two from the 1906 Intercalated Games. His record of eight individual gold medals stood for over a century until surpassed by Michael Phelps in 2008. His world record of 3.47 meters, or 11 feet 5 inches, in the standing long jump remained unbroken until the event was removed from international competition in the 1930s. Following his death on September 29, 1937, he was buried at Spring Vale Cemetery. He was inducted into the National Track and Field Hall of Fame in 1974 and the United States Olympic Hall of Fame in 1983.
Fast facts
- Born: October 14, 1873, Lafayette, Indiana
- Died: September 29, 1937, New York City
- Education: Purdue University, Jefferson High School
- Total Olympic Gold Medals: 10
- Standing Long Jump Record: 3.47 meters
- Burial Site: Spring Vale Cemetery
- Career Profession: Hydraulics Engineer
- Major Awards: National Track and Field Hall of Fame (1974)
Questions readers ask
What were the standing jump events?
These were athletics competitions, including the standing high jump, standing long jump, and standing triple jump, performed without a run-up.
Did Ewry win medals at the 1906 Intercalated Games?
Yes, he won two gold medals at the 1906 Intercalated Games in Athens, which were organized as an Olympic event by the IOC.
