Constantin Henriquez was a Haitian-born French rugby union footballer. He played as number eight, wing and centre.[1]

Constantin Henriquez
Place of birthPort-au-Prince, Haiti
Rugby union career
Position(s) No. 8, Wing, Centre
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
Olympique
Stade Français
()
Medal record
Men's rugby union
Representing  France
Olympic Games
Gold medal – first place 1900 Paris Team competition

Henriquez was the first known black athlete to compete in the Olympic Games,[2] and the first to become an Olympic gold medallist, as he was a member of the French squad that won the Olympic title at the first Rugby Olympic Tournament.

He played at Olympique de Paris and Stade Français. He won as a Stade Français player the titles of French Champion, in 1897, 1898 and 1901.[citation needed]

He introduced football in his country of Haiti in 1904, and scored the first goal in Haiti during a competition. He co-founded with his brother Alphonse the Union Sportive Haïtienne. By 1950 he was a Senator.[3]

References edit

  1. ^ "Constantin Henriquez". Olympedia. Retrieved 28 December 2020.
  2. ^ David Kenneth Wiggins (ed.), African Americans in sports, Volume 1, Page 264 (Sharpe Reference:2004), ISBN 0-7656-8055-6, ISBN 978-0-7656-8055-6
  3. ^ Haiti et Les Jeux Olympiques - Constantin Henriquez de Zubiera Archived 2012-12-08 at the Wayback Machine

External links edit