John Thomas (athlete)

John Curtis Thomas ( born March 3, 1941 in Boston, Massachusetts, † 15 January 2013) was an American track and field athlete. At a height of 196 cm be competition weight was 88 kg.

The world record in the high jump at 2.16 meters stood, bounded by the Russians Yuri Stepanov since 1957.

John Thomas had already jumped 1.86 meters high with 16, 1958, he jumped 2.10 meters in Japan. On 21 February 1959 he presented in New York City with an unofficial 2,165 indoor world record. Due to an injury he could not compete in the outdoor season in 1959. In the indoor season, 1960, he increased the Hallenbestleistung four times up to 2,195 on March 11 in Chicago.

On April 30, 1960, he presented with 2.17 meters on his first outdoor world record. He put this performance on May 21 in Cambridge. On June 24, in the championship of the Amateur Athletic Union, Thomas rose to 2.18 meters. And a week later, on July 1, at the U.S. Trials in Palo Alto, he crossed first 2,195 meters, then to increase to 2.22 meters. Actually the amount was as much as 2,232 meters, but from regular technical reasons, only 2.22 meters has been recognized as a world record because according to American competition provision only to 2,229 meters should have been increased ( increase in only quarter of an inch ). Nevertheless, John Thomas was the clear favorite for the Olympic Games in Rome.

In Rome, he experienced a great disappointment when he failed at 2.16 meters and won only bronze. Won gold for the Soviet Union of Georgians Robert Schawlakadse with 2.16 meters before the 18 -year-old Russians Valeri Brumel.

This Valeri Brumel took John Thomas in 1961 the world record from and increased the world record until 1964 to 2.28 meters. In the world record of 2.26 meters in 1962 was John Thomas with the competition, but skipped fourth only 2.08 meters.

At the Olympic Games in Tokyo in 1964 was Brumel now a firm favorite. In the final, was the resurgent John Thomas his main opponents. Both jumped over 2.18 meters. Because of two more failed attempts, John Thomas was awarded the silver medal behind Brumel.