KRAENZLEIN, ALVIN

born Dec. 12, 1876, Milwaukee, Wis., U.S. died Jan. 6, 1928, Wilkes-Barre, Pa. American athlete, the first competitor to win four gold medals in a single Olympics. He is credited with originating the modern technique of hurdling, and his world record in the 220-yard hurdles was unbroken for more than a quarter-century. During the mid-1890s Kraenzlein competed for the University of Wisconsin and the University of Pennsylvania, excelling in sprints and long jumps, and developed an innovative technique of leading with a straight leg over hurdles. In 1898 he set a record of 15.2 sec in the 120-yard (110-metre) hurdles. Also in 1898 Kraenzlein ran the 220-yard hurdles (forerunner of the 200-metre hurdles) in 23.6 sec, a world record that lasted for 26 years. In the long jump he set a world record of 7.43 m (24 feet 4 1/2 inches). At the 1900 Olympic Games in Paris, Kraenzlein placed first in the 60- and 200-metre hurdles (both of which were later discontinued from the Olympic program), as well as in the 110-metre hurdles. In the long jump, world-record-holder Meyer Prinstein won the qualifying round with a leap of 7.17 m (23 feet 6 1/4 inches). However, Prinstein did not compete in the finals of the event, and Kraenzlein jumped 1 cm farther than Prinstein to win the gold medal.