Michigan in the Olympics
1924 - Paris
William DeHart Hubbard, Michigan's three time Big 10 champion in the long jump and two time 100 yard dash champ, became the first Black athlete to win an individual gold medal. His winning long jump of 24 ft.- 5 inches was somewhat overshadowed by the performance of U.S. teammate John Legendre the day before. Legendre, who had failed to make the squad as a long jumper, set a world record with a 25 ft.- 5.75 inch leap while competing in the pentathlon. Hubbard closed out his U of M career in 1925 with a series of spectacular performances. He tied the world records in the 60 and 100 yard dashes. In his final appearance as a Wolverine, Hubbard broke Legendre's long jump world record with a leap of 25 ft.-10.85 inches.
James Brooker, 1924 Big Ten pole vault champion, brought home a bronze medal in the pole vault. Brooker finished in a tie for third place with a Dane, but won a jump off to give the U.S. a sweep in the pole vault competition At the U.S. trials Brooker finished in a four-way tie for first at 13 feet. None of the Americans could match that at Paris. George "Buck" Hester, a sprinter on U- M's 1924 freshman team, competed for Canada in the 100 and 200 meter races, and the 4x100 meter relay, advancing to the semi-finals in each event.
William DeHart Hubbard, James Brooker, George "Buck" Hester
Eighteen Michigan track men took part in the Midwest Olympic tryouts held at Ferry Field. Freshman Victor B. Leschinsky won the 200 meter race in what was claimed to be a world record 21.4 seconds. He failed to make the U.S. team at the New Haven trials however. U-M track coach Steve Farrell served as an assistant coach for the U.S. team in Paris.
Victor Leschinsky, center, wins 200 m. at Midwest Trials at Ferry Field
Henry Jamison "Jam" Handy won a bronze medal with the U.S. water polo team which was made up of the Illinois Athletic Club, including Johnny Weissmuller. Handy's first Olympic appearance was in 1904 in St. Louis where he won a bronze medal in the 400 yard breaststroke.
Brooker and Hubbard competing in Paris, Coach Steve Farrell
The U-M Results-1924
| William DeHart Hubbard | ||
| long jump | 1st, 24 ft. 6 in. | |
| hop, skip and jump | eliminated in trials | |
| James Brooker | ||
| pole vault | 3rd | |
| George "Buck" Hester (Canada) | ||
| 100 meters | did not place | |
| 200 meters | did not place | |
| 4x100m relay | did not place | |
| Henry Jamison"Jam" Handy | ||
| water polo | 3rd | |
Photo Credits:
- William DeHart Hubbard, long jump, copy print from 1925 Michiganensian, in Ath. Dept., Box 41, 1920-1926, neg. #6773, BHL.
- William DeHart Hubbard, posed in studio, copy print in Ath. Dept., Box 41, 1920-1926 from Rentschler neg., neg. #9664, BHL.
- James Brooker, Ath. Dept., Box 41, 1920-1926, BHL.
- George "Buck" Hester, Ath. Dept., Box 41, 1926-1927, BHL
- Victor Leschinsky at Ferry Field, copy print from 1925 Michiganensian, in Ath. Dept., Box 41, 1920-1926, BHL.
- Brooker competing at Paris from "Official Reports of the 9th Olympiade."
- Hubbard competing in Paris, postcard courtesy of Musée Municipal d'Art et d'Histoire de Colombes
- Steve Farrell from 1925 U-M track meet program
- Olympic Trials Ticket courtesy of Ken Kozloff.
Table of Contents | 1920-Antwerp | 1928-Amsterdam | Name Index