David Jacobs

Having had his interest aroused by the 1908 Olympics being hosted in London, David Jacobs joined Herne Hill Harriers in London and found himself standing on top of the medal rostrum four years later in Stockholm as he became the first Welsh athlete to win an Olympic medal.

His gold medal, the first won by the British in Stockholm, came in the 4 x 100 metre relay, in which Jacobs led off the team. The British quartet enjoyed a slice of luck in both the semi-final and final when the two strongest teams in the event, the Americans and Germans, were disqualified. The USA beat the British team in the semi-finals as they smashed the world record held by the Germans. When they were disqualified, the British time of 43.00 sec briefly became the world best time. It was twice lowered in the next two semi-final races by the Swedes and then the Germans. In the final, the British team just held off the the Germans to take the gold and finish within one-tenth of a second of the world record. The Germans lost a medal in the final when they ran out of the box and were disqualified. Jacobs also competed in the 100 and 200 metre events, reaching the semi-finals in both.

He won 12 Welsh titles, five at 100 yards, three at 220 yards and four at 440 yards, between 1910-14. The best he achieved at the AAA Championships was second place in the 220 yards in 1912 and the 440 yards in 1913. He retired from active sport after World War I.

David Henry Jacobs (Athlete) Born in Cardiff on 30 April, 1888; Died in Llandudno on 6 June, 1976