High Jump, Men

Corny Johnson was favored but barely over teammate Dave Albritton. They had tied for first at the US Trials with world records 2.07 (6-9½). Johnson won the gold medal without a miss, clearing the winning 2.03 (6-7¾) on his first attempt. He failed three tries at a world record 2.08 (6-9¾). Albritton took silver over teammates Delos Thurber in a jump-off, clearing 1.97, as the US swept the medals, with Finland’s Kalevi Kotkas missing out and finishing fourth.

Johnson was snubbed by Adolf Hitler, who had congratulated all the other winners on that day, but refused to shake the hand of a black man. He was then told by the IOC to congratulate all the winners or none of them, and chose none. This led to the rumors that he refused to acknowledge the victories of Jesse Owens but in reality, Johnson was the black American he had insulted. Silver medalist Dave Albritton was the first prominent high jumper to use the straddle technique, which became the dominant high jump style in the 1950s-60s.