Franklin Jacobs (born December 31, 1957[1] ) is a former high jumper from the United States. His personal best of 2.32 meters (7 ft 7+1⁄4 in) was a world indoor record in 1978,[2] and at 59 centimeters (23 in) above Jacobs' own height of 1.73 meters (5 ft 8 in),[2] it remains the record for height differential, now held jointly with Stefan Holm.[3]
Personal information | |
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Nationality | American |
Born | December 31, 1957 |
Sport | |
Country | ![]() |
Sport | Athletics |
Event | High jump |
Achievements and titles | |
Personal best |
|
Biography
editJacobs was one of ten children of Jannie Jacobs, living in a shack in Mullins, South Carolina.[4] His parents separated when he was young.[5] The impoverished family moved to Paterson, New Jersey when he was three and lived with four cousins.[4] His first love was basketball, and he played for Paterson East-side High.[4] He only started high jumping in his senior year, after the end of the basketball season.[4] He cleared 6 feet 8 inches (2.03 m) that year.[4] His natural talent overcame his lack of technique: he called his style the "Jacobs Slop", as opposed to the Fosbury Flop;[6] but later renamed it the "Slope", from the trajectory of his launch.[7]
Jacobs barely graduated high school and got no athletic scholarship, but enrolled at Fairleigh Dickinson University in Teaneck, New Jersey with a federal grant.[4] He cleared 7 feet 1 inch (2.16 m) in his freshman year.[4] In March 1977 he tore cartilage in his right leg playing basketball, but competed for over a year without surgery.[5] He established a rivalry with Dwight Stones over the next two years,[4] with media emphasizing the contrast between Jacobs, a short inner-city African American, and Stones, a tall blond Californian.[8] Stones antagonized Jacobs by criticizing his unorthodox jumping style.[5] Jacobs beat Stones at the 1978 Millrose Games in Madison Square Garden, at which he set a world indoor record of 2.32 meters (7 ft 7+1⁄4 in).[6] He waived his right to try for an even higher record, saying he "didn't feel nervous enough".[6] Two months later, Vladimir Yashchenko broke the record in Milan.[9] In July, at a highly publicized international between the U.S. and the Soviet Union, Jacobs lost to Yashchenko on countback.[10] In August, Jacobs won the Tanqueray Award for outstanding amateur athlete; by then he had won 27 collegiate events.[11]
Jacobs anticipated gaining lucrative endorsements from the 1980 Olympics, but the U.S. boycott of the Games precluded this.[8] He was extremely disappointed and wanted to skip the U.S. "Olympic Trials"; he attended by request of his college, but failed his opening height.[2] He gave up the high jump and did not return to college.[8] A planned return to competition in 1982[12] did not happen.[2] In 1991, he commented, "I was upset and my dreams were shattered. I probably could have come back in 1984, but I was a naive kid. It was like the floor fell in."[13]
He subsequently had various jobs around Paterson,[2][8] working for a construction company 1986–91.[13] He married Naomi Livingston c.1990 and had a daughter Shannon in 1992.[2][8] Around 1995, they moved to Gilbert, Arizona.[2] In 1998 he was working for an electrical installation company.[2][8] That year, he attended a Millrose Games tribute to stars of memorable previous meets.[2]
Championship results
editYear | Tournament | Venue | Result | Height (m) |
---|---|---|---|---|
1977 | NCAA Outdoor | Champaign, Illinois | 2nd | 2.26[14] |
1977 | US Nationals | Los Angeles, California | 2nd | 2.27[1] |
1978 | NCAA Indoor | Detroit, Michigan | 1st | 2.25[fn 1][15] |
1978 | NCAA Outdoor | Eugene, Oregon | 1st | 2.26[16] |
1978 | US Nationals | Los Angeles, California | 2nd | 2.24[1] |
1979 | US Nationals | Walnut, California | 1st | 2.26[fn 2][1][17] |
1979 | Pan American Games | San Juan, Puerto Rico | 1st | 2.26[1] |
1979 | World Cup | Montreal, Canada | 1st | 2.27[1] |
1980 | NCAA Indoor | Detroit, Michigan | 1st | 2.24[15] |
1980 | US Indoor Nationals | New York City[18] | 1st | 2.24[fn 3][19] |
1980 | US Nationals | Walnut, California | 1st | 2.24[fn 3][1][17] |
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c d e f g Nonna, Michael. "Franklin Jacobs". Track and Field Statistics. brinkster.net. Retrieved April 30, 2009.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Litsky, Frank (February 13, 1998). "High Jumper Resurfaces For Honor at Millrose". The New York Times. p. C8. Retrieved April 30, 2009.
- ^ Sampaolo, Diego (January 14, 2009). "The super consistency of Stefan Holm". torino2009. European Indoor Athletics Championships. Archived from the original on December 10, 2019. Retrieved April 30, 2009.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Looney, Douglas S. (February 13, 1978). "A Mite Over The Bar". Sports Illustrated.
- ^ a b c Rhoden, Bill; photographer G. Marshall Wilson (May 1978). "A big victory for the 'Little People'". Ebony: 82–88.
- ^ a b c Putnam, Pat (February 6, 1978). "The Slop And Hustle Take Over". Sports Illustrated.
- ^ Company, Johnson Publishing (June 8, 1978). "Franklin Jacobs adds new technique to high jump". Jet: 52.
- ^ a b c d e f Madden, Bill (February 8, 1998). "Jumpin' outta sight". New York Daily News. Retrieved April 30, 2009.
- ^ Reid, Ron (March 20, 1978). "An Encore On A High Note". Sports Illustrated.
- ^ Marshall, Joe (July 17, 1978). "Not Quite As High, But A Bit Mightier". Sports Illustrated.
- ^ Company, Johnson Publishing (August 17, 1978). "Franklin Jacobs wins 1978 Tanqueray award". Jet: 46.
- ^ Litsky, Frank (February 9, 1982). "Jacobs starting high jump comeback". The New York Times. p. B19. Retrieved April 30, 2009.
- ^ a b Curry, Jack (February 4, 1991). "Sidelines: You can't hide: After 13 years, Jacobs speaks". The New York Times. p. C2. Retrieved April 30, 2009.
- ^ "High Jump – 1977-06-04". 1977 Men's Division I Outdoor Track And Field. NCAA. Retrieved April 30, 2009.
- ^ a b "Indoor Track and Field: Division I men's" (PDF). NCAA. 2008. pp. 2, 5. Retrieved April 30, 2009. [dead link]
- ^ "High Jump – 1978-06-03". 1978 Men's Division I Outdoor Track And Field. NCAA. Retrieved April 30, 2009.
- ^ a b "Men's High Jump". USA Outdoor Track & Field Champions. USATF. Archived from the original on June 11, 2011. Retrieved April 30, 2009.
- ^ "USA Indoor Track & Field Championships". USATF. Archived from the original on February 16, 2009. Retrieved April 30, 2009.
- ^ "Men's High Jump". USA Indoor Track & Field Champions. USATF. Archived from the original on February 16, 2009. Retrieved April 30, 2009.