Harry Babcock

Biographical information

RolesCompeted in Olympic Games
SexMale
Full nameHenry Stoddard "Harry"•Babcock
Used nameHarry•Babcock
Born15 December 1890 in Pelham Manor, New York (USA)
Died5 June 1965 in Norwalk, Connecticut (USA)
Measurements188 cm / 75 kg
AffiliationsNYAC, New York (USA)
NOC United States
Medals OG
Gold 1
Silver 0
Bronze 0
Total 1

Biography

Harry Babcock began his career as a long jumper, placing third at the IC4As in 1909. He won the AAU pole vault in 1910 and 1912 and the IC4A title in 1911. Marc Wright set a new world record of 13-2¼ (4.02) at the 1912 Olympic Trials, but in Stockholm, Babcock was always in command. Frank Nelson, Wright, and Babcock were the only competitors to clear 12-7½ (3.85) and Babcock was the only one over when the bar was raised to 12-9¼ (3.89). He then went on to clear 12-11½ (3.95) before failing three times at a new world record height of 13-3¾ (4.06). Babcock graduated from Columbia in 1912 with an engineering degree, but spent most of his business life as a salesman with a lumber company in Irvington, New York.

Personal Best: 12-11½ (3.95) (1912).

Results

Games Discipline (Sport) / Event NOC / Team Pos Medal As
1912 Summer Olympics Athletics USA Harry Babcock
Pole Vault, Men (Olympic) 1 Gold
Triple Jump, Men (Olympic) DNS
Pentathlon, Men (Olympic) DNS
Decathlon, Men (Olympic) DNF