Harold Osborn - 1924 To 1928

1924 To 1928

Osborn spent much of the year after the 1924 Olympics traveling and competing in European games with a small group of other track and field athletes who had competed in the Olympics. As a result of the Olympic gold medals and the many meets in Europe, he became well known in Europe and acquired fans there who followed his career.

A month after the 1924 Olympics he competed in Croke Park in Dublin, Ireland, in the Tailteann games. His major competitor in those games was Larry Stanley, a native of Kildare, Ireland, and Ireland's entrant in the 1924 Olympics. Stanley was a celebrated Gaelic footballer and the Irish emotions ran high at the Tailteann games, but Osborn defeated Stanley, jumping 6' 4½" to Stanley's 6' 3½".

Osborn returned from Europe to compete in track meets in the United States. In 1925, Clyde Littlefield, an outstanding track and field athlete from Texas, became the coach at the University of Texas. Littlefield started an event known as the Texas Relays, a showcase for track and field athletes, which continues today. Osborn competed in the first of the Texas Relays, along with the 1924 Olympic 200‑meter champion, Jackson Scholz. Both did well. Scholz won a special 100 meters, and Osborn reportedly “thrilled" the 6,000 spectators by clearing 6' 8-15/16", higher than his earlier world record set in 1924. (see TexasSports.com) This reported height may not be accurate, however; it conflicts with other sources reporting that Osborn's highest lifetime jump was 6' 8½".