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| medaltemplates ={{MedalCountry|{{GBR2}}}}{{Medal|Olympic}}{{Medal|Gold | 1912 Stockholm | 4×100 m relay}}
}}David Henry Jacobs (30 April 1888 – 6 June 1976) was a Welsh-born track and field sprinter. He was the first British Jew to win an Olympic gold medal.[3]He was born in Cardiff, to John Jacobs (previously Yaakov), who was a general dealer from London. His athletics career started in London with Herne Hill Harriers in 1908.[1] His interest in athletics was aroused by watching the 1908 Olympic Games.
At the 1912 Summer Olympics in Stockholm, Jacobs won a gold medal as the first leg in the British 4 × 100 m relay team, in spite of finishing second behind the United States in the semifinals. The United States was later disqualified for a fault in passing the baton, the same mistake made in the finals by the world record holder and main favourite German team.
Jacobs also competed in the 100 m and 200 m individual events, but was eliminated in the semifinals.
Although many times Welsh champion, Jacobs never succeeded in winning a AAA title. He retired from active sport after World War I.
He died suddenly in Aberconwy, aged 88, while on holiday from his London home. His body was returned to London, where he was buried in a Jewish cemetery,[1] at East Ham. At the time of his death he was Britain's oldest Olympic gold medalist.[[2]]
References
{{Commons category|David Jacobs}}1. ^1 2 {{cite book|url=https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=hJc8afOZV0QC&pg=PA465|page=465|contribution=Jacobs, David Henry|title=The Palgrave Dictionary of Anglo-Jewish History|editors=William D. Rubinstein, Michael Jolles, Hilary L. Rubinstein|year=2011|publisher=Palgrave Macmillan|isbn=9781403939104}}
2. ^{{cite web|url=http://youandus.theus.org.uk/features-and-fun/features-and-interviews/feature-david-henry-jacobs-gold-medallist-at-the-olympics/|title=David Henry Jacobs, Gold Medallist at the Olympics|date=25 July 2012|publisher=The US}}
{{Footer Olympic Champions 4x100 m Men|1912}}{{authority control}}{{DEFAULTSORT:Jacobs, David}}{{UK-athletics-Olympic-medalist-stub}}{{Wales-athletics-bio-stub}} 12 : 1888 births|1976 deaths|Sportspeople from Cardiff|Welsh male sprinters|Jewish male athletes (track and field)|Welsh Jews|Olympic athletes of Great Britain|Olympic gold medallists for Great Britain|Welsh Olympic medallists|Athletes (track and field) at the 1912 Summer Olympics|Medalists at the 1912 Summer Olympics|Olympic gold medalists in athletics (track and field)