Herbert Gidney

Herbert Alfred Gidney (November 16, 1881 – March 26, 1963) was an American athlete. From Boston, Massachusetts, he was affiliated with the Boston Athletic Association and was considered among the best high jumpers in the U.S. He won the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) national championship in 1906 and later competed in the men's high jump at the 1908 Summer Olympics.

Early life and sports career Herbert Alfred Gidney was born on November 16, 1881, in Boston, Massachusetts. He attended Malden High School. Afterwards, he began playing several sports for the local Malden YMCA team, having joined them by at least 1899. He participated in basketball (at center), being described as the best player they ever had, in athletics, and in baseball. He competed with Malden until 1906. By 1905, he had won the pole vault and running high jump championships of New England. having won that year's Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) indoor championship. Afterwards, he complained about the conditions of where he jumped. Gidney competed at the Canadian national championships and won two events. He also served as the chief of finance in the ordnance department of the Army, being named a colonel.