Thomas Curtis

Thomas Curtis ( Thomas Pelham Curtis, born September 7, 1870 in Boston, Massachusetts, † May 23 1944 in Nahant, Massachusetts ) was an American track and field athlete and the first Olympic champion in the 110- meter hurdles.

At the Olympic Games in Athens in 1896 Curtis qualified in the elimination race for the 110- meter hurdles final with a first place. In the finale, in which only two participants competed, he won with a time of 17.6 seconds before the British Grantley Goulding.

In the 100 - meter race, he won the lead in 12.2 seconds before the Greek Alexandros Chalkokondylis in 12.8 seconds, but was only sixth in the final. The timekeeper for the 100 - meter race stopped only the time for the two winners. The remaining times are estimated.

Curtis was also a talented photographer and took advantage of his stay in Athens for many recordings. Later he studied at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. After graduation he was employed by the Lord Electric Company. He contributed to the development of the toaster.