Dave Albritton

Dave Albritton
Medal record
Men’s Athletics
Representing United States
Olympic Games

David Donald Albritton (born April 13, 1913 in Danville, Alabama – died May 14, 1994) had a long career that spanned three decades and numerous titles and was one of the first high jumpers to use the straddle technique.

Albritton had a number of similarities with all-time great Jesse Owens. Both were born in Danville, Alabama; both attended East Technical High School in Cleveland, Ohio; both attended Ohio State University; both were members of Alpha Phi Alpha, the first intercollegiate Greek-letter fraternity established for African Americans; both competed in the 1936 Summer Olympics.

As a sophomore at Ohio State, Albritton won the National Collegiate Athletic Association championship in 1936.

In 1936, Albritton and Cornelius Johnson both cleared 6-9 3/4 to set a world record at the Olympic Trials, becoming the first blacks to hold the world record in the event. Albritton was second to Johnson at the 1936 Summer Olympics, with a height of 6' 6 3/4". He claimed the silver medal in a jump-off after he and two other jumpers cleared the same height.

Albritton and Johnson were snubbed by Hitler when they went to collect their medals.

Albritton won or tied for seven National Amateur Athletic Union outdoor titles from 1936 to 1950. He was AAU outdoor champion in 1937, 1946, and 1947 and tied for three national collegiate titles, in 1938, 1945, and 1950.

In 1980, he was inducted into the USA Track and Field Hall of Fame.

Albritton would later became a politician and serve in the Ohio House of Representatives.