Polish Józef Szmidt, who became the first triple jumper in the world to cross the 17-meter line, has passed away at the age of 89.
Józef Szmidt died of cancer at the age of 89. Polish media reported on the matter on Monday.
Szmidt won the triple jump Olympic golds in Rome 1960 and 1964 and the European Championship golds in Stockholm 1958 and Belgrade 1962. His prestigious career ended at the Mexico Olympics 1968, where he placed seventh.
Szmidt was the first triple jumper in the world to cross the 17-meter mark in Olsztyn on August 5, 1960. The next time this mark was broken was in 1968, when Finn
Pertti Pousi jumped 17.00 at the Midsummer Games in Kuortane. The Pole lost his WR result to Italy's
Giuseppe Gentile, who jumped 17.10 in the Mexico Olympics qualifying competition in 1968.
Józef Szmidt was a mechanic by profession. He moved to West Germany in 1975 but returned to Poland in 1992.
Source:
Polsatsport.pl 
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