Dick Landon

Biographical information

RolesCompeted in Olympic Games
SexMale
Full nameRichmond Wilcox "Dick"•Landon
Used nameDick•Landon
Born20 November 1898 in Salisbury, Connecticut (USA)
Died13 June 1971 in Lynbrook, New York (USA)
Measurements188 cm / 73 kg
AffiliationsNYAC, New York (USA)
NOC United States
Medals OG
Gold 1
Silver 0
Bronze 0
Total 1

Biography

After attending Hotchkiss, Dick Landon enrolled at Yale and won the IC4A high jump in 1919 and 1920. At the 1920 AAU championships, which doubled as the Final Trials, Landon placed second to John Murphy of Notre Dame, but at Antwerp, Landon took the title, with Murphy fifth. Landon achieved the best mark of his career in 1921 when he cleared 6-6 (1.98) to win the Harvard/Yale vs. Oxford/Cambridge dual meet. He was also an excellent indoor jumper and at the 1923 Millrose Games he tied with Leroy Brown of Dartmouth as both set a new world indoor record of 6-5¼ (1.96). Landon’s only AAU title came at the 1921 indoor meet.

The gold medal was not the only piece of good fortune that came Dick Landon’s way at the Olympics – on the boat going to Antwerp he met Alice Lord, a member of the diving team, and they were married in 1922.

Personal Best: HJ – 1.98 [6-6] (1921).

Results

Games Discipline (Sport) / Event NOC / Team Pos Medal As
1920 Summer Olympics Athletics USA Dick Landon
High Jump, Men (Olympic) 1 Gold

Olympic family relations