David Jacobs (gymnast)

David Jacobs
Jacobs and Judy Wills Cline in 1968
Personal information
Full name	David Arthur Jacobs
Born	1946 (age 78–79) Sheboygan, Wisconsin, US
Height	5 ft 8 in (173 cm) [1]
Gymnastics career
Discipline	Trampoline gymnastics
Country represented	United States
Medal record Men's trampoline gymnastics Representing the   United States World Championships 1966 Lafayette Synchro 1967 London Individual 1968 Amersfoort Individual 1966 Lafayette Tumbling

David Arthur Jacobs ^[2] (born in 1946 ^[3] ) is an American trampoline and artistic gymnast. He is a three-time Trampoline Gymnastics World Championships gold medalist and the NCAA men's gymnastics champion on the floor exercise (1967) and trampoline (1967 and 1969).

He was inducted into the World Acrobatics Society (WAS) Hall of Fame in 2009 and later served as the president from 2015 to 2019. In September 2024, Jacobs received the Charlie Pond Service Award from the WAS. ^[4]

Early life and education

Jacobs was born in 1946 in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, to Careta ( née  Aschenbach). ^[3] The family moved to Amarillo, Texas, in 1957, and moved back to Sheboygan in 1965. ^[3] In 1962 while a sophomore in high school, he joined Nard's trampoline club in Texas. ^{[1] [5]} Jacobs was a student at the University of Michigan.

Gymnastics career

In 1964, he competed at the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) championships and finished third. While there, he began a working relationship with Eddie Cole. ^[5] At the 1966 Trampoline World Championships (TWC), he won the synchronized trampoline title with fellow Michigan student Wayne Miller. ^[6]

While Jacobs was at the University of Michigan, he competed for the Michigan Wolverines men's gymnastics team from 1967 to 1969. ^[7] He was the NCAA champion in the floor exercise and trampoline at the 1967 NCAA gymnastics championships. ^{[8] [9]} He won a further NCAA title for trampoline in 1969 en route to being a finalist for the Nissen-Emery Award. ^{[7] [10]}

Personal life

Jacobs was the father of David Jacobs, who created one of the largest steroid and growth hormone operations in the United States and led to "...one of the largest trafficking investigations of its kind in the nation's history..." ^{[11] [12]} Authorities determined Jacobs' son was the perpetrator of a murder–suicide discovered on June 5, 2008. ^{[2] [13]}

References

1. Walters, Dora (December 28, 1968). "Late Start Overcome By Trampoline Champ". St. Petersburg Times . Vol. 85, no. 157. p. 3C. Retrieved March 11, 2025.
2. "ME says Jacobs shot himself twice; no ruling on other victim". espn.com. June 6, 2008. Retrieved March 11, 2025.
3. "City-Born Tramp Champ On Television Saturday". The Sheboygan Press . Vol. LX, no. 124. May 12, 1967. p. 22. Retrieved March 11, 2025.
4. "World Acrobatics Society Inducts Class of 2024 into Hall of Fame". StageLync press release. September 16, 2024. Retrieved October 14, 2024.
5. "City-Born Tramp Star Holds All Major Titles". The Sheboygan Press. November 11, 1967. p. 16. Retrieved February 24, 2021.
6. "U.S. Retains Tumbling Title". The Shreveport Journal. April 30, 1966. p. 5. Retrieved February 24, 2021.
7. "2025 Michigan Men's Gymnastics Record Book" (PDF). mgoblue.com. 2025. Retrieved January 16, 2025.
8. "Michigan Ace Takes Titles". The Grand Rapids Press . Vol. 75, no. 204. April 3, 1967. p. 40. Retrieved January 16, 2025.
9. "NATIONAL COLLEGIATE MEN'S GYMNASTICS CHAMPIONSHIPS" (PDF). National Collegiate Athletic Association . Retrieved January 16, 2025.
10. "Nissen Emery Finalists". collegegym.org. Retrieved January 16, 2025.
11. Trahan, Jason; Jacobson, Gary (April 25, 2008). "Plano resident's steroid distribution ring was one of the largest in U.S." dallasnews.com. Archived from the original on May 6, 2008. Retrieved March 11, 2025.
12. Assael, Shaun (June 6, 2008). "THE DAVID JACOBS STORY". espn.com. Retrieved March 11, 2025.
13. "Family of slain woman sues Chinese steroid suppliers". dallasnews.com. June 10, 2010. Retrieved March 11, 2025.