William De Hart HUBBARD

DeHart Hubbard was the first black athlete to win an Olympic gold medal in an individual event. Hubbard studied at the University of Michigan starting in 1921, and the following year he won the first of six straight AAU long jump titles. He also won the AAU triple jump in 1922 and 1923 and at the NCAA he won the 100 y in 1925 and the long jump in 1923. In 1925 he set a world record of 25-10⅞ (7.89) when he took the NCAA title for a second time, and then in 1926 he confirmed his ability as a sprinter when he equalled the world record of 9.6 for 100 y. Although injured, DeHart Hubbard won the 1924 Olympic long jump comfortably; he was again injured at the 1928 when he finished 11th. Between these two appearances he had the best mark of his career in 1927 when he jumped 26-2¼ (7.98), but the mark was not recognized as a world record, because the take-off board was one inch higher than the landing pit. In all, Hubbard bettered 25 feet on eleven occasions and was undoubtedly the greatest jumper of the pre-Owens era.

Personal Bests: LJ – 7.89 (1925); TJ – 14.90 (1923).