Uriah Jones

Biographical information

RolesCompeted in Olympic Games
SexMale
Full nameUriah D.•Jones II
Used nameUriah•Jones
Born15 December 1924 in New York, New York (USA)
Died14 June 2000 in West Haven, Connecticut (USA)
Measurements183 cm / 91 kg
AffiliationsSalle Santelli, New York (USA)
NOC United States

Biography

In 1968 Uriah Jones made history by making the US Olympic team in the team foil fencing event, which made him the first African-American fencer for the United States at the Olympics. Jones competed for Salle Santelli, after several other clubs refused to allow him to fence for them. He was Amateur Fencers League of American (AFLA) champion in foil in 1971, the first US title ever won by a black man or woman, and also won team titles in foil with Salle Santelli in 1964, 1968, and 1972. Jones served in the Merchant Marines and then attended college at Cooper Union and Columbia, but got married and dropped out to support his family, working as a draftsman. Jones was inducted into the US Fencing Hall of Fame in 1999.

Results

Games Discipline (Sport) / Event NOC / Team Pos Medal As
1968 Summer Olympics Fencing USA Uriah Jones
Foil, Team, Men (Olympic) United States =11

Special Notes