Franklin Jacobs (born December 31, 1957[1] ) is a former high jumper from the United States. His personal best of 2.32 meters (7 ft 7+1⁄4 in) was a world indoor record in 1978,[2] and at 59 centimeters (23 in) above Jacobs' own height of 1.73 meters (5 ft 8 in),[2] it remains the record for height differential, now held jointly with Stefan Holm.[3]
Jacobs was one of ten children of Jannie Jacobs, living in a shack in Mullins, South Carolina.[4] His parents separated when he was young.[5] The impoverished family moved to Paterson, New Jersey when he was three and lived with four cousins.[4] His first love was basketball, and he played for Paterson East-side High.[4] He only started high jumping in his senior year, after the end of the basketball season.[4] He cleared 6 feet 8 inches (2.03 m) that year.[4] His natural talent overcame his lack of technique: he called his style the "Jacobs Slop", as opposed to the Fosbury Flop;[6] but later renamed it the "Slope", from the trajectory of his launch.[7]
Jacobs barely graduated high school and got no athletic scholarship, but enrolled at Fairleigh Dickinson University in Teaneck, New Jersey with a federal grant.[4] He cleared 7 feet 1 inch (2.16 m) in his freshman year.[4] In March 1977 he tore cartilage in his right leg playing basketball, but competed for over a year without surgery.[5] He established a rivalry with Dwight Stones over the next two years,[4] with media emphasizing the contrast between Jacobs, a short inner-city African American, and Stones, a tall blond Californian.[8] Stones antagonized Jacobs by criticizing his unorthodox jumping style.[5] Jacobs beat Stones at the 1978 Millrose Games in Madison Square Garden, at which he set a world indoor record of 2.32 meters (7 ft 7+1⁄4 in).[6] He waived his right to try for an even higher record, saying he "didn't feel nervous enough".[6] Two months later, Vladimir Yashchenko broke the record in Milan.[9] In July, at a highly publicized international between the U.S. and the Soviet Union, Jacobs lost to Yashchenko on countback.[10] In August, Jacobs won the Tanqueray Award for outstanding amateur athlete; by then he had won 27 collegiate events.[11]
Jacobs anticipated gaining lucrative endorsements from the 1980 Olympics, but the U.S. boycott of the Games precluded this.[8] He was extremely disappointed and wanted to skip the U.S. "Olympic Trials"; he attended by request of his college, but failed his opening height.[2] He gave up the high jump and did not return to college.[8] A planned return to competition in 1982[12] did not happen.[2] In 1991, he commented, "I was upset and my dreams were shattered. I probably could have come back in 1984, but I was a naive kid. It was like the floor fell in."[13]
He subsequently had various jobs around Paterson,[2][8] working for a construction company 1986–91.[13] He married Naomi Livingston c.1990 and had a daughter Shannon in 1992.[2][8] Around 1995, they moved to Gilbert, Arizona.[2] In 1998 he was working for an electrical installation company.[2][8] That year, he attended a Millrose Games tribute to stars of memorable previous meets.[2]
^ abcdefgNonna, Michael. "Franklin Jacobs". Track and Field Statistics. brinkster.net. Retrieved April 30, 2009.
^ abcdefghi Litsky, Frank (February 13, 1998). "High Jumper Resurfaces For Honor at Millrose". The New York Times. p. C8. Retrieved April 30, 2009.
^Sampaolo, Diego (January 14, 2009). . torino2009. European Indoor Athletics Championships. Archived from the original on December 10, 2019. Retrieved April 30, 2009.
franklin, jacobs, born, december, 1957, former, high, jumper, from, united, states, personal, best, meters, world, indoor, record, 1978, centimeters, above, jacobs, height, meters, remains, record, height, differential, held, jointly, with, stefan, holm, perso. Franklin Jacobs born December 31 1957 1 is a former high jumper from the United States His personal best of 2 32 meters 7 ft 7 1 4 in was a world indoor record in 1978 2 and at 59 centimeters 23 in above Jacobs own height of 1 73 meters 5 ft 8 in 2 it remains the record for height differential now held jointly with Stefan Holm 3 Franklin JacobsPersonal informationNationalityAmericanBorn 1957 12 31 December 31 1957 age 65 SportCountry United StatesSportAthleticsEvent s High jumpAchievements and titlesPersonal best s High jump 2 32 m 1978 Contents 1 Biography 2 Championship results 3 See also 4 References 5 External linksBiography EditJacobs was one of ten children of Jannie Jacobs living in a shack in Mullins South Carolina 4 His parents separated when he was young 5 The impoverished family moved to Paterson New Jersey when he was three and lived with four cousins 4 His first love was basketball and he played for Paterson East side High 4 He only started high jumping in his senior year after the end of the basketball season 4 He cleared 6 feet 8 inches 2 03 m that year 4 His natural talent overcame his lack of technique he called his style the Jacobs Slop as opposed to the Fosbury Flop 6 but later renamed it the Slope from the trajectory of his launch 7 Jacobs barely graduated high school and got no athletic scholarship but enrolled at Fairleigh Dickinson University in Teaneck New Jersey with a federal grant 4 He cleared 7 feet 1 inch 2 16 m in his freshman year 4 In March 1977 he tore cartilage in his right leg playing basketball but competed for over a year without surgery 5 He established a rivalry with Dwight Stones over the next two years 4 with media emphasizing the contrast between Jacobs a short inner city African American and Stones a tall blond Californian 8 Stones antagonized Jacobs by criticizing his unorthodox jumping style 5 Jacobs beat Stones at the 1978 Millrose Games in Madison Square Garden at which he set a world indoor record of 2 32 meters 7 ft 7 1 4 in 6 He waived his right to try for an even higher record saying he didn t feel nervous enough 6 Two months later Vladimir Yashchenko broke the record in Milan 9 In July at a highly publicized international between the U S and the Soviet Union Jacobs lost to Yashchenko on countback 10 In August Jacobs won the Tanqueray Award for outstanding amateur athlete by then he had won 27 collegiate events 11 Jacobs anticipated gaining lucrative endorsements from the 1980 Olympics but the U S boycott of the Games precluded this 8 He was extremely disappointed and wanted to skip the U S Olympic Trials he attended by request of his college but failed his opening height 2 He gave up the high jump and did not return to college 8 A planned return to competition in 1982 12 did not happen 2 In 1991 he commented I was upset and my dreams were shattered I probably could have come back in 1984 but I was a naive kid It was like the floor fell in 13 He subsequently had various jobs around Paterson 2 8 working for a construction company 1986 91 13 He married Naomi Livingston c 1990 and had a daughter Shannon in 1992 2 8 Around 1995 they moved to Gilbert Arizona 2 In 1998 he was working for an electrical installation company 2 8 That year he attended a Millrose Games tribute to stars of memorable previous meets 2 Championship results EditYear Tournament Venue Result Height m 1977 NCAA Outdoor Champaign Illinois 2nd 2 26 14 1977 US Nationals Los Angeles California 2nd 2 27 1 1978 NCAA Indoor Detroit Michigan 1st 2 25 fn 1 15 1978 NCAA Outdoor Eugene Oregon 1st 2 26 16 1978 US Nationals Los Angeles California 2nd 2 24 1 1979 US Nationals Walnut California 1st 2 26 fn 2 1 17 1979 Pan American Games San Juan Puerto Rico 1st 2 26 1 1979 World Cup Montreal Canada 1st 2 27 1 1980 NCAA Indoor Detroit Michigan 1st 2 24 15 1980 US Indoor Nationals New York City 18 1st 2 24 fn 3 19 1980 US Nationals Walnut California 1st 2 24 fn 3 1 17 Officially 7 ft 5 in NCAA switched to metric in 1979 Officially 7 ft 5 in USATF switched to metric in 2003 a b Officially 7 ft 41 4 in USATF switched to metric in 2003 See also EditMen s high jump indoor world record progressionReferences Edit a b c d e f g Nonna Michael Franklin Jacobs Track and Field Statistics brinkster net Retrieved April 30 2009 a b c d e f g h i Litsky Frank February 13 1998 High Jumper Resurfaces For Honor at Millrose The New York Times p C8 Retrieved April 30 2009 Sampaolo Diego January 14 2009 The super consistency of Stefan Holm torino2009 European Indoor Athletics Championships Archived from the original on December 10 2019 Retrieved April 30 2009 a b c d e f g h Looney Douglas S February 13 1978 A Mite Over The Bar Sports Illustrated a b c Rhoden Bill photographer G Marshall Wilson May 1978 A big victory for the Little People Ebony 82 88 a b c Putnam Pat February 6 1978 The Slop And Hustle Take Over Sports Illustrated Company Johnson Publishing June 8 1978 Franklin Jacobs adds new technique to high jump Jet 52 a b c d e f Madden Bill February 8 1998 Jumpin outta sight New York Daily News Retrieved April 30 2009 Reid Ron March 20 1978 An Encore On A High Note Sports Illustrated Marshall Joe July 17 1978 Not Quite As High But A Bit Mightier Sports Illustrated Company Johnson Publishing August 17 1978 Franklin Jacobs wins 1978 Tanqueray award Jet 46 Litsky Frank February 9 1982 Jacobs starting high jump comeback The New York Times p B19 Retrieved April 30 2009 a b Curry Jack February 4 1991 Sidelines You can t hide After 13 years Jacobs speaks The New York Times p C2 Retrieved April 30 2009 High Jump 1977 06 04 1977 Men s Division I Outdoor Track And Field NCAA Retrieved April 30 2009 a b Indoor Track and Field Division I men s PDF NCAA 2008 pp 2 5 Retrieved April 30 2009 dead link High Jump 1978 06 03 1978 Men s Division I Outdoor Track And Field NCAA Retrieved April 30 2009 a b Men s High Jump USA Outdoor Track amp Field Champions USATF Archived from the original on June 11 2011 Retrieved April 30 2009 USA Indoor Track amp Field Championships USATF Archived from the original on February 16 2009 Retrieved April 30 2009 Men s High Jump USA Indoor Track amp Field Champions USATF Archived from the original on February 16 2009 Retrieved April 30 2009 External links EditFranklin Jacobs at World Athletics Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Franklin Jacobs amp oldid 1133530600, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
