Jack Metcalfe

John ("Jack") Patrick Metcalfe (February 3 1912 – January 16, 1994) was an Australian athlete who competed in High Jump, Long Jump and Javelin events, though he is best remembered as a triple jumper.

He was educated at Sydney Boys High School [ [http://www.sydneyboyshigh.com/documents/SHSSportRep0710.pdf Sydney Boys High - List of Olympic representatives] ] and competed for Sydney University Athletics Club [ [http://www.suac.org/history.html Sydney University Athletics Club History] ]

At the 1934 Empire Games, Metcalfe won the triple jump and took a bronze medal in the long jump.

Competing in Sydney on 14 December, 1935, Metcalfe set a new world record in the triple jump, leaping 15.78 metres [ [http://www.athletix.org/Statistics/wrTJmen.html The Athletics Site - Triple Jump world records] ] .

In 1936, Metcalfe won the bronze medal in the men's triple jump at the Olympic Games held in Berlin, Germany. The winner Naoto Tajima of Japan broke the Australian's world record during the competition. It was later reported that Metcalfe, who was self-coached, assisted the Japanese athletes during the competition and that German officials had complained about this [ [http://www.sahof.org.au/hallOfFame/memberProfile/index.php?memberID=358&memberType=legends Sports Australia Hall of Fame biography] ] .

Metcalfe's bronze was the only medal won by the entire Australian team at this Olympic Games [ [http://corporate.olympics.com.au/games/334/Berlin+1936 Australian Olympic Committee - Berlin 1936] ] .

At his final international competition - the 1938 British Empire Games in his home-town of Sydney - Metcalfe defended his triple jump gold medal and also took bronze in the Javelin. [ [http://www.athletics.com.au/history/athletes/athlete435.htm Athletics Australia profile] ]

References