Alvin Kraenzlein
American hurdler and Olympic champion

Born
December 12th, 1876
148 years ago
Died
January 6th, 1928
97 years ago — 51 years old
Category
Athletes & Sports Figures
Country
United States
Links & References
A prominent American athlete in the early 20th century, competed in track and field events specializing in hurdles and long jump. Achieved significant success at the 1900 Paris Olympics, where victories were secured in the 110-meter hurdles, 400-meter hurdles, long jump, and 200-meter dash. These accomplishments marked a pivotal point in Olympic history, as becoming the first athlete to win four gold medals in a single Olympics. After work in coaching and education, contributions to the field of athletics continued.
Won four gold medals at the 1900 Paris Olympics
Became the first athlete to win four events in one Olympics
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