The men's long jump event was part of the track and field athletics programme at the 1920 Summer Olympics. The competition was held on Tuesday, August 17, 1920, and on Wednesday, August 18, 1920. 29 long jumpers from eleven nations competed. No nation had more than 4 runners, suggesting the limit had been reduced from the 12 maximum in force in 1908 and 1912. The event was won by William Petersson of Sweden, the first time an athlete not from the United States took gold in the long jump.

Background

This was the sixth appearance of the event, which is one of 12 athletics events to have been held at every Summer Olympics. None of the jumpers from the pre-war 1912 Games returned. Sol Butler of the United States was the favorite; he had jumped 7.52 metres to win the U.S. Olympic trials, but could only manage 6.60 metres in the qualifying round at the Olympics and did not proceed to the finals.

Belgium, Czechoslovakia, Monaco, and Switzerland each made their first appearance in the event. The United States appeared for the sixth time, the only nation to have long jumpers at each of the Games so far.

Competition format

The 1920 format continued to use the two-round format used in 1900 and since 1908. The number of finalists expanded from 3 in previous Games to 6 in 1920. Each jumper had three jumps in the qualifying round; finalists received an additional three jumps, with qualifying round jumps still counting if the final jumps were not better.

Records

These were the standing world and Olympic records (in metres) prior to the 1920 Summer Olympics.

Schedule

Date Time Round Tuesday, 17 August 1920 9:00 Qualifying Wednesday, 18 August 1920 15:45 Final

Results

The best six long jumpers qualified for the final.

Rank Athlete Nation Qualifying Final Best mark Distance Rank William Petersson 6.940 1 7.150 7.150 Carl Johnson 6.820 3 7.095 7.095 Erik Abrahamsson 6.860 2 7.080 7.080 4 Dink Templeton 6.670 5 6.950 6.950 5 Erling Aastad 6.620 6 6.885 6.885 6 Rolf Franksson 6.730 4 Unknown 6.730 7 Sol Butler 6.600 7 Did not advance 6.600 8 Einar Ræder 6.585 8 Did not advance 6.585 9 Gösta Bladin 6.570 9 Did not advance 6.570 10 Johan Johannesen 6.565 10 Did not advance 6.565 11 John Merchant 6.500 11 Did not advance 6.500 Eugène Coulon 6.500 11 Did not advance 6.500 13 William Hunter 6.420 13 Did not advance 6.420 14 Marcel Orfidan 6.390 14 Did not advance 6.390 15 Hans Kindler 6.340 15 Did not advance 6.340 16 Eero Lehtonen 6.285 16 Did not advance 6.285 17 Charles Courtin 6.230 17 Did not advance 6.230 18 Gustave De Bruyne 6.200 18 Did not advance 6.200 19 Hugo Lahtinen 6.190 19 Did not advance 6.190 20 Harold Abrahams 6.050 20 Did not advance 6.050 21 Edmond Médécin 6.035 21 Did not advance 6.035 22 Charles Lively 5.870 22 Did not advance 5.870 23 Henri Pleger 5.815 23 Did not advance 5.815 24 Jean Lefèbvre 5.790 24 Did not advance 5.790 25 Julien Lehouck 5.760 25 Did not advance 5.760 26 František Šretr 5.550 26 Did not advance 5.550 27 Charles Guézille 5.485 27 Did not advance 5.485 28 Paul Hammer 5.450 28 Did not advance 5.450 29 Nicolas Kanivé 5.415 29 Did not advance 5.415 — Gustave Remouet — Did not advance — Alexis Soulignac — Did not advance —

References

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