Lena Jordan

Lena Jordan (born 1880/81)[1] was a Russian gymnast, who performed in circuses during the 19th century. In 1897, Jordan was the first recorded person to perform a triple somersault.

Career

Jordan started doing gymnastics in the Russian Empire (now Latvia) in 1892.[1] She initially worked for the Flying Jordans circus. It was claimed that she performed a triple somersault during a routine in the US in 1896, although this has not been officially recognised.[2] In May 1897, Jordan, aged 16, became the first recorded person to perform a triple somersault during a routine in Sydney, Australia.[1][2][3][4][5] Jordan later joined the Barnum & Bailey Circus, during which time she performed the triple somersault 28 times.[5] For many years, Ernest Clarke was wrongly attributed as performing the first recorded triple somersault. However, he first performed a triple somersault in 1909, 12 years after Jordan. In 1975, the Guinness Book of World Records acknowledged Jordan as the record holder.[4][5]

References
  1. "Theatre Royal". The Sydney Morning Herald. 18 May 1897. p. 8. Retrieved 9 November 2017 – via Trove.
  2. Thomas, Sue (May 2009). Victorian Traffic: Identity, Exchange, Performance. Cambridge Scholars Publishing. p. 184. Retrieved 9 November 2017.
  3. "Lena Jordan: Set Record For Daring Trapeze Stunt". Chicago Sun-Times. 15 December 1992. Archived from the original on 10 November 2017. Retrieved 9 November 2017 – via Highbeam.
  4. Culhane, John (19 March 1978). "Trapeze". The New York Times. Retrieved 9 November 2017.
  5. Williams, Christian (2 April 1983). "Circus Lives". The Washington Post. Retrieved 9 November 2017.
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