Jakab Kauser

Jakab Kauser competed for MAC Budapest. Pole vault was his main discipline, in which he finished fourth at the 1900 Paris Olympics, clearing 3.10 m. This Olympics was known as the most chaotic modern Olympics ever, and Kauser’s pole got lost during the competition, forcing him to compete with a borrowed pole. In 1902 Kauser broke the national record with 3.36 m and became the first Hungarian athlete to win at the AAA Meet in London. He retired in 1905, and then served MAC as a manager. He later turned to rowing with Nemzeti Hajós Egylet and took part in several national races between 1909-12.

Kauser was a trained mechanical engineer, working as a technical director of the Budapest Electric Works. He died at the relatively young age of 48. After his death, at his widow’s request, MAC arranged an annual memorial tournament in pole vault, with his widow donating a beautiful winner’s trophy from Jakab’s collections to pay tribute to his memory.

Personal Best: PV – 3.36 (1902).