Harry Hillman
Encyclopedia
Harry Livingston Hillman Jr. (September 8, 1881 – August 9, 1945) was an American
athlete and winner of three gold medal
s at the 1904 Summer Olympics
.
Born in Brooklyn, New York, Hillman was a member of three Olympic
teams at the turn of the century. He also was a coach at Dartmouth College
.
Hillman won three gold medals at the 1904 Olympics in St. Louis, Missouri
, taking the flat 400 metres, the 200 metres hurdles and the 400 metres hurdles. He had Olympic record
times in all three events, but Hillman tripped one hurdle in the 400 metres, which meant that his time of 53.0 seconds could not be counted as a world record
(the record had stood at 57.2 seconds since 1891). In addition, the race was run over hurdles that were too low at 76 centimetres instead of the normal 91,4.
En route to Greece
for the 1906 Summer Olympics
, Hillman was one of a half-dozen athletes who were injured by an enormous wave that washed over the deck of the ship. He finished fifth in the 400 metres, his only event that year.
Hillman won a silver medal
in the 400 metres hurdles at the 1908 Summer Olympics
, setting a short-lived record in the second round. He and Charles Bacon
of the USA went over the last hurdle simultaneously, but Bacon won the run to the tape to win in a world record 55.0 seconds. Hillman's time in the race was 55.3 seconds.
On April 24, 1909, Hillman and Lawson Robertson
set a record that has never been equalled, running the 100 yards (91.4 m) three-legged race
in 11.0 seconds. He won four Amateur Athletic Union
titles, two each in the 200 metres and 400 metres hurdles.
The track coach at Dartmouth College from 1910 until his death, Hillman advised hurdlers
to swallow raw eggs, which he believed to be "excellent for the wind and stomach." He was on the Olympic track and field coaching staff in 1924
, 1928
, and 1932 Summer Olympics
. One of his most famous athletes was Canadian hurdler Earl Thomson
, the winner of the gold medal in the 110 metres hurdles at the 1920 Summer Olympics
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
athlete and winner of three gold medal
Gold medal
A gold medal is typically the medal awarded for highest achievement in a non-military field. Its name derives from the use of at least a fraction of gold in form of plating or alloying in its manufacture...
s at the 1904 Summer Olympics
1904 Summer Olympics
The 1904 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the III Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event which was celebrated in St. Louis, Missouri, in the United States from 1 July 1904, to November 23, 1904, at what is now known as Francis Field on the campus of Washington University...
.
Born in Brooklyn, New York, Hillman was a member of three Olympic
Olympic Games
The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
teams at the turn of the century. He also was a coach at Dartmouth College
Dartmouth College
Dartmouth College is a private, Ivy League university in Hanover, New Hampshire, United States. The institution comprises a liberal arts college, Dartmouth Medical School, Thayer School of Engineering, and the Tuck School of Business, as well as 19 graduate programs in the arts and sciences...
.
Hillman won three gold medals at the 1904 Olympics in St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
, taking the flat 400 metres, the 200 metres hurdles and the 400 metres hurdles. He had Olympic record
Olympic record
Olympic records are the best performances in a specific event in that event's history in either the Summer Olympic Games or the Winter Olympic Games...
times in all three events, but Hillman tripped one hurdle in the 400 metres, which meant that his time of 53.0 seconds could not be counted as a world record
World record
A world record is usually the best global performance ever recorded and verified in a specific skill or sport. The book Guinness World Records collates and publishes notable records of all types, from first and best to worst human achievements, to extremes in the natural world and beyond...
(the record had stood at 57.2 seconds since 1891). In addition, the race was run over hurdles that were too low at 76 centimetres instead of the normal 91,4.
En route to Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
for the 1906 Summer Olympics
1906 Summer Olympics
The 1906 Intercalated Games or 1906 Olympic Games were an international multi-sport event which was celebrated in Athens, Greece. They were at the time considered to be Olympic Games and were referred to as the "Second International Olympic Games in Athens" by the International Olympic Committee...
, Hillman was one of a half-dozen athletes who were injured by an enormous wave that washed over the deck of the ship. He finished fifth in the 400 metres, his only event that year.
Hillman won a silver medal
Silver medal
A silver medal is a medal awarded to the second place finisher of contests such as the Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games, and contests with similar formats....
in the 400 metres hurdles at the 1908 Summer Olympics
1908 Summer Olympics
The 1908 Summer Olympics, officially the Games of the IV Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was held in 1908 in London, England, United Kingdom. These games were originally scheduled to be held in Rome. At the time they were the fifth modern Olympic games...
, setting a short-lived record in the second round. He and Charles Bacon
Charles Bacon
Charles Joseph Bacon, Jr. was an American athlete and a member of the Irish American Athletic Club and the New York City Police Department...
of the USA went over the last hurdle simultaneously, but Bacon won the run to the tape to win in a world record 55.0 seconds. Hillman's time in the race was 55.3 seconds.
On April 24, 1909, Hillman and Lawson Robertson
Lawson Robertson
Lawson N. Robertson was born in Aberdeen, Scotland, and died in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania....
set a record that has never been equalled, running the 100 yards (91.4 m) three-legged race
Three-legged race
A favorite at community picnics and school carnivals, a three-legged race is a game of cooperation between partners as much as it is one of speed. It involves two participants attempting to complete a short sprint with the left leg of one runner strapped to the right leg of another runner...
in 11.0 seconds. He won four Amateur Athletic Union
Amateur Athletic Union
The Amateur Athletic Union is one of the largest non-profit volunteer sports organizations in the United States. A multi-sport organization, the AAU is dedicated exclusively to the promotion and development of amateur sports and physical fitness programs.-History:The AAU was founded in 1888 to...
titles, two each in the 200 metres and 400 metres hurdles.
The track coach at Dartmouth College from 1910 until his death, Hillman advised hurdlers
Hurdling
Hurdling is a type of track and field race.- Distances :There are sprint hurdle races and long hurdle races. The standard sprint hurdle race is 110 meters for men and 100 meters for women. The standard long hurdle race is 400 meters for both men and women...
to swallow raw eggs, which he believed to be "excellent for the wind and stomach." He was on the Olympic track and field coaching staff in 1924
1924 Summer Olympics
The 1924 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the VIII Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was celebrated in 1924 in Paris, France...
, 1928
1928 Summer Olympics
The 1928 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the IX Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event which was celebrated in 1928 in Amsterdam, Netherlands. Amsterdam had bid for the 1920 and 1924 Olympic Games, but had to give way to war-victim Antwerp, Belgium, and Pierre de...
, and 1932 Summer Olympics
1932 Summer Olympics
The 1932 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the X Olympiad, was a major world wide multi-athletic event which was celebrated in 1932 in Los Angeles, California, United States. No other cities made a bid to host these Olympics. Held during the worldwide Great Depression, many nations...
. One of his most famous athletes was Canadian hurdler Earl Thomson
Earl Thomson
Earl John "Tommy" Thompson was Canadian athlete, a specialist in the high hurdles....
, the winner of the gold medal in the 110 metres hurdles at the 1920 Summer Olympics
1920 Summer Olympics
The 1920 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the VII Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event in 1920 in Antwerp, Belgium....
.