Józef Szmidt

Józef Szmidt

Personal information
Born	(1935-03-28) 28 March 1935 (age 89) Miechowitz, Germany (now Miechowice in Bytom, Poland)
Medal record Men's athletics Representing  Poland Olympic Games 1960 Rome Triple jump 1964 Tokyo Triple jump European Championships 1958 Stockholm Triple jump 1962 Belgrade Triple jump

He was born in Miechowitz, Beuthen, Province of Upper Silesia, Germany. With a jump of 17.03m in 1960, Szmidt was the first triple jumper to reach 17 metres.

Szmidt, a mechanic by profession, was the world's leading triple jumper in the early 1960s, becoming European champion in 1958 and 1962, and Olympic champion in 1960 and 1964. The two latter years he was awarded the Sportsman of the Year prize in Poland. In 1975 Szmidt settled in West Germany, but returned to Poland in 1992. He is the brother of track and field athlete Edward Szmidt, who competed at the 1956 Summer Olympics.

• Triple jump world record progression