Adolphe Klingelhoefer

The son of a Brazilian parents who set up in France because of the coffee trade, Adolphe Klingelhoefer was born and raised in Paris. He won six French national hurdles titles between 1899 and 1904 (4 at 110 m hurdles and 2 at 400 m hurdles), set two French records in 110 m hurdles (1903 in 16.8 and 1904 in 16.6), and set some of the world’s fastest times for the 400 m hurdles during 1901 and 1902.

He competed in three events at the Paris Olympics but failed to reach a final, although he did finish third in the final of the (unofficial) 110 m hurdles handicap race. Klingelhoefer was also a fine rugby player and won a French championship title with Racing Club de France in 1902.

He made his career in the financial world and was at one time a high-ranking official of the Brazilian Chamber of Commerce. Klingelhoefer was later awarded the Legion d’Honneur by the French government. Although he was formerly often listed as French, research by the French athletics historian Alain Bouillé has revealed that he was a Brazilian national at the time of the 1900 Games and maintained this citizenship until at least the 1940s. Klingelhoefer competed for a French Club, however, Racing Club de Paris, at the 1900 Olympics.

Personal Bests: 60 – unknown; 200 – unknown; 110H – 16.6 (1904).