Jan Grijseels

From 1910 to 1916 Jan Grijseels dominated track sprinting in the Netherlands, winning 17 national titles. Originally a footballer, Grijseels switched to track and field athletics and soon became one of the best athletes of his day. He won his first national title in 1910 with victory in the 200 metres, followed by winning the 100, 200, and 400 metres titles the following year. He continued to amass an impressive number of victories, winning further Dutch titles in the 100 metres (1912, 1914–15), 200 metres (1913–16), and the 400 metres (1913, 1915–16). He even ventured up to the 800 metres, winning three consecutive national titles from 1914 to 1916. Grijseels ran in the 100 and 200 metres at the 1912 Stockholm Olympics, reaching the semi-finals in the latter. After retiring from athletics in 1917 he went on to become a successful advertising consultant.

Personal Bests: 100 – 10.7 (1912); 200 – 21.8 (1914).