The men's triple jump was one of six jumping events on the Athletics at the 1908 Summer Olympics programme in London. The competition was held on 25 July 1908. Twenty athletes from eight nations competed. NOCs could enter up to 12 athletes.Official report, p. 32. The event was won by Tim Ahearne of Great Britain, breaking a streak of three American victories in the triple jump. All three medal-winning nations were on the podium for the first time.
Background
This was the fourth appearance of the event, which is one of 12 athletics events to have been held at every Summer Olympics. No athletes from the 1904 Games returned. The triple jump was still "rarely contested at national meets in this era" and once again there was no favorite in the Olympic event.
Canada, Finland, Norway, and South Africa each made their first appearance in the event. The United States competed for the fourth time, having competed at each of the Games so far.
Competition format
The competition was described as two rounds at the time, but was more similar to the modern divided final. All athletes received three jumps initially. The top three after that received an additional three jumps to improve their distance, but the initial jumps would still count if no improvement was made. The jump format was codified: "The competitor shall first land upon the same foot with which he shall have taken off. The reverse foot shall be used for the second landing, and both feet shall be used for the third landing."Official Report, p. 87.
Records
These are the standing world and Olympic records (in metres) prior to the 1908 Summer Olympics.
(*) unofficial
At first Tim Ahearne set a new Olympic record with 14.72 metres. Then Garfield MacDonald improved the record to 14.76 metres and finally Ahearne took the new Olympic record with 14.92 metres.
Schedule
Date Time Round Saturday, 25 July 1908 10:00 QualifyingFinal
Results
All jumpers performed three jumps. The best three made another three attempts to improve their marks. Best marks are known for the top seventeen jumpers, but no information about marks or placement for the bottom three.
Rank Athlete Nation Qualifying Final Notes Tim Ahearne 14.72 14.92 Garfield MacDonald 14.12 14.76 Edvard Larsen 14.37 14.39 4 Calvin Bricker 14.10 Did not advance 5 Platt Adams 14.07 Did not advance 6 Frank Mount Pleasant 13.97 Did not advance 7 Karl Fryksdal 13.65 Did not advance 8 John Brennan 13.59 Did not advance 9 Martin Sheridan 13.42 Did not advance 10 Doug Stupart 13.40 Did not advance 11 Cyril Dugmore 13.31 Did not advance 12 Michael Dineen 13.23 Did not advance 13 Henry Olsen 13.17 Did not advance 14 Oscar Guttormsen 13.16 Did not advance 15 Dimitrios Muller 13.09 Did not advance 16 Frank Irons 12.67 Did not advance 17 Sam Bellah 12.55 Did not advance 18–20 Nathaniel Sherman Unknown Did not advance George Mayberry Unknown Did not advance Juho Halme Unknown Did not advance — 21 nonstarters Various Did not advance
References
Sources Official Report of the Games of the IV Olympiad (1908). De Wael, Herman. Herman's Full Olympians: "Athletics 1908". Accessed 7 April 2006. Available electronically at .