Robert Leavitt
Encyclopedia
Robert Grandison "Bob" Leavitt (September 20, 1883 – February 2, 1954) was an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
athlete
Athletics (track and field)
Athletics is an exclusive collection of sporting events that involve competitive running, jumping, throwing, and walking. The most common types of athletics competitions are track and field, road running, cross country running, and race walking...
, winner of 110 m hurdles at 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...
.
Robert Leavitt was a native of Boston, Massachusetts, and attended Mercersburg Academy
Mercersburg Academy
Mercersburg Academy is an independent, coeducational boarding school for grades 9-12 located in Mercersburg, Pennsylvania, United States. The school's mission is:...
in Mercersburg, Pennsylvania
Mercersburg, Pennsylvania
Mercersburg is a borough in Franklin County, Pennsylvania, southwest of Harrisburg. Originally called Black Town, it was incorporated in 1831. In 1900, 956 people lived here, and in 1910, 1,410 people lived here...
, and graduated from Williams College
Williams College
Williams College is a private liberal arts college located in Williamstown, Massachusetts, United States. It was established in 1793 with funds from the estate of Ephraim Williams. Originally a men's college, Williams became co-educational in 1970. Fraternities were also phased out during this...
in 1907. He never won any major tournament except the Olympic Games.
At Athens
Athens
Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...
, American Hugo Friend
Hugo Friend
Hugo Morris Friend was an American jurist who, in his youth, competed as an athlete in the long jump and hurdles...
was favored to win the gold medal in high hurdles. But Friend stumbled against the first hurdle and was out. Leavitt and Alfred Healey
Alfred Healey
Alfred Hearn Healey was a British athlete in the 1906 and 1908 Summer Olympics.He competed for Great Britain in the 1906 Summer Olympics held in Athens, Greece in the 110 metre hurdles where he won the silver medal...
from Great Britain
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
leaped over the hurdles in one rhythm and finished in the same time. After protracted discussion, Olympic officials decided that Leavitt had won by one foot.