Jack Metcalfe

For persons of a similar name, see Jack Metcalf (disambiguation).

John Patrick Metcalfe (3 February 1912 – 16 January 1994) was an Australian athlete who competed in high jump, long jump and javelin events, though he is best remembered as a triple jumper.^[1]

Jack Metcalfe

Metcalfe in the 1930s
Personal information
Birth name	John Patrick Metcalfe
Born	3 February 1912 Bellingen, New South Wales, Australia
Died	16 January 1994 (aged 81) Tura Beach, New South Wales, Australia
Height	183 cm (6 ft 0 in)[1]
Weight	80 kg (176 lb)
Sport
Sport	Athletics
Event(s)	High jump, triple jump, long jump, javelin, decathlon.
Achievements and titles
Personal best(s)	HJ – 1.99 m (1934) TJ – 15.78 m (1935) LJ – 7.42 m (1938)[1][2]
Medal record Representing  Australia Olympic Games 1936 Berlin Triple jump British Empire Games 1934 London Triple jump 1934 London Long jump 1938 Sydney Triple jump 1938 Sydney Javelin

Biography

Metcalfe was educated at Sydney Boys High School^[3] and competed for Sydney University Athletics Club.^[4]

At the 1934 Empire Games, Metcalfe won the triple jump and took a bronze medal in the long jump. In the high jump event he finished fourth. Competing in Sydney on 14 December 1935, Metcalfe set a new world record in the triple jump, leaping 15.78 metres.^[5]

Metcalfe won two British AAA Championships titles in the high jump and triple jump events at the 1936 AAA Championships.^[6][7][8] One month later he was selected to represent Australia at the 1936 Olympic Games held in Berlin.^[9]

At the Games he won the bronze medal in the men's triple jump event. 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.^[10] Metcalfe also participated in the high jump competition and finished twelfth.

Metcalfe's bronze was the only medal won by the entire Australian team at this Olympic Games.^[11] 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.^[12] In the long jump event he finished fifth and in the high jump competition he finished seventh.