Ernst Gerspach

Active during the 1920s Swiss sportsman Ernst Gerspach was a true all-round track and field athlete who won multiple titles and set several national records. In July 1920 Gerspach broke the Swiss pole vault record with a clearance of 3.42 metres. A month later he competed in the decathlon at the 1920 Antwerpen Olympics, finishing in ninth place and setting a Swiss record in the process. After the Antwerpen Games Gerspach improved the Swiss pole vault record several times, eventually clearing 3.58 metres in mid-1923. The following year he again competed in the decathlon at the Olympics, this time at the 1924 Paris Games, finishing in sixth place and setting another Swiss record. Gerspach’s performance in Paris included finishing joint-second in the 100 metres, joint-fifth in the 110 metres hurdles, and fourth in the pole vault.

Personal Best: Dec – 5765 (1924).