Hannes de Boer

In 1924 Hannes de Boer became the first Dutch track and field athlete to go past the seven-metre mark in the long jump when he jumped 7.04 metres. Earlier that month de Boer competed in the long jump at the 1924 Paris Olympics but failed to record a valid mark in the qualification round. Despite his poor performance at the Games he went on to dominate the event in the Netherlands with him winning six consecutive national titles from 1925 to 1930. Just prior to the 1928 Amsterdam Olympics he jumped 7.37 metres at a meet in London, setting a Dutch record that stood until 1951. At the Games he reached the long jump final, but only recorded three valid jumps from his six attempts, finishing in sixth. De Boer was also a decent sprinter and was part of the Dutch quartet that set a national record in the 4 x 100 metres in 1926. Away from athletics he worked as an office clerk and later became a filmmaker at the Dutch newsreel company Polygoon-Profilti.

Personal Best: LJ – 7.37 (1928).