Henk Visser

Born on Curaçao (Netherlands Antilles), Henk Visser was primarily a long jumper, but also a talented sprinter, hurdler and high jumper. Visser’s breakthrough year was 1952, when he claimed his first Dutch long jump title (he’d won the high jump a year earlier). He qualified for the Olympic final as 7th, but then produced three fault jumps. Due to lack of progress, he was not selected for the 1954 European Championships, but in 1956 he emerged as a medal contender for the Olympics: at the open Romanian Championships, he set a new European Record at 7.98. However, the Dutch National Olympic Committee decided to boycott the Melbourne Olympics over the Soviet response to the Hungarian Revolt, and Visser - who had already travelled to Melbourne - was not allowed to compete. After missing the 1958 Europeans due to injury, Visser earned a scholarship at Bakersfield College in the US. He won the AAU championships in 1960, and with 7.97 was considered for a medal at the Rome Olympics, where he placed 7th in the final. Visser effectively retired after the Games, having won six Dutch long jump titles (1952-56, 1958), three high jump titles (1951, 1953-54) and one in the 100 m (1958). He worked as a salesmen in sporting goods in the US for some time, but later settled in the Netherlands.

Personal Best: LJ – 7.98 (1956).