Herman van Leeuwen

During the early part of the 20th century Dutch sportsman Herman van Leeuwen competed in track and field athletics and gymnastics. Representing Plato in Amsterdam, van Leeuwen was selected to compete in both sports at the 1908 London Olympics. In track and field he participated in the high jump competition where he came 19th with a best clearance of 1.65 metres. In gymnastics he finished 95th overall in the individual all-round event and seventh in the team event. Van Leeuwen continued to compete in the high jump for some years after the Olympics and became the Dutch champion in the standing high jump in 1914. The Herman van Leeuwen Cup, later renamed as the Dutch Athlete of the Year award, was named after him.

Personal Best: HJ – 1.63 (1908).