Ray Ewry

Biographical information

RolesCompeted in Olympic Games • Competed in Intercalated Games
SexMale
Full nameRaymond Clarence "Ray"•Ewry
Used nameRay•Ewry
Nick/petnamesR. C.
Born14 October 1873 in Lafayette, Indiana (USA)
Died29 September 1937 in Douglaston, Long Island, New York (USA)
Measurements185 cm / 79 kg
AffiliationsPurdue Boilermakers, West Lafayette (USA) / NYAC, New York (USA)
NOC United States
Medals OG IG
Gold 8 2
Silver 0 0
Bronze 0 0
Total 8 2

Biography

Ray Ewry was paralyzed by polio as a child, but by dint of diligent exercising he developed immense strength in his legs and became the greatest exponent of the standing jumps that the sport has ever seen. He attended Purdue from 1890 to 1897, where he captained the track team and also played football. After gaining a graduate degree in mechanical engineering he competed briefly for the Chicago AA before moving to New York, where he worked for the city as a hydraulics engineer and joined the New York AC. He won the first of his 15 AAU titles in 1898 at the age of 25 and the last in 1910. He was undoubtedly deprived of many more titles when the standing jumps were dropped from the AAU program from 1899 to 1905. He attempted a comeback in 1912 but, not surprisingly some of the spring had gone from his legs as he approached his 40th birthday and he failed to make the Olympic team. Ewry’s 10 gold medals was an absolute Olympic record that stood until 2008.

Personal Bests: sHJ – 1.675 (1900); sLJ – 11-4¾ (3.47) (1904); sTJ – 35-7¼ (10.86) (1901).

Results

Games Discipline (Sport) / Event NOC / Team Pos Medal As
1900 Summer Olympics Athletics USA Ray Ewry
Standing High Jump, Men (Olympic) 1 Gold
Standing Long Jump, Men (Olympic) 1 Gold
Standing Triple Jump, Men (Olympic) 1 Gold
1904 Summer Olympics Athletics USA Ray Ewry
Standing High Jump, Men (Olympic) 1 Gold
Standing Long Jump, Men (Olympic) 1 Gold
Triple Jump, Men (Olympic) DNS
Standing Triple Jump, Men (Olympic) 1 Gold
1906 Intercalated Games Athletics USA Ray Ewry
High Jump, Men (Intercalated) DNS
Standing High Jump, Men (Intercalated) 1 Gold
Standing Long Jump, Men (Intercalated) 1 Gold
Triple Jump, Men (Intercalated) DNS
1908 Summer Olympics Athletics USA Ray Ewry
Standing High Jump, Men (Olympic) 1 Gold
Standing Long Jump, Men (Olympic) 1 Gold

Special Notes

Errata

Previously incorrectly listed as dying on 1 October 1937.