René Joannes-Powell

Belgian René Joannes-Powell started out as a footballer before becoming an all-round track and field athlete, winning 12 national titles. In his youth Powell played football for RFC Liège until 1910, when he started in a cross-country race that ultimately led him to take up track and field athletics. In 1919 he won his first national title with victory in the pole vault. He went on to win five more pole vault titles (1921–22, 1925, 1928, 1930), along with four titles in the 110 metres hurdles (1923–26), and two decathlon titles (1926, 1928). Powell held the Belgian record in all three events during his career with his pole vault record standing from 1922 to 1938.

At the 1920 Antwerpen Olympics Powell competed in all three disciplines finishing in 11th place in the decathlon. In the 110 metres hurdles he failed to advance from his heat, and he finished in 14th place in the pole vault. He was selected to compete in all three events at the 1924 Paris Olympics but did not start in any of them. Powell returned to the Olympics for the 1928 Amsterdam Games but his results were disappointing. In the decathlon he was 25th overall, recorded no height in the pole vault, and finished in last place in his heat in the hurdles.

Following his athletics career Powell became a sports journalist. As a civilian during World War II Powell was accidently killed in May 1940 when a bridge in Liège was deliberately destroyed to try and prevent the German invasion of Belgium.

Personal Bests: 110H – 16.0 (1923), PV – 3.85 (1926); Dec – 4779 (1924).