Adrianus de Jong
A Dutch fencer whose Olympic career spanned an astonishing five Games, demonstrating a rare longevity in elite sport.
1882–1966 (age 84)·Dutch fencer·Birthday: June 21·The Gilded Age
Biography
Adrianus 'Arie' de Jong was a man of steel and persistence, born in the Dutch East Indies in 1882. His life in fencing was defined not by a single, flashy victory, but by a remarkable decades-long presence on the world's biggest stage. He first competed at the 1906 Intercalated Games in Athens and maintained his elite status through the tumult of a world war, finally concluding his Olympic journey in Paris in 1924. While he often faced formidable opponents who claimed gold, de Jong secured his place in history by winning two individual bronze medals in saber at the 1920 Antwerp Games. His career is a testament to the discipline required to remain at the peak of a demanding sport across generations of athletes, making him a cornerstone of early Dutch Olympic history.
The Gilded Age
1860–1882
Born during or after the Civil War, they built industrial America — the railroads, the steel mills, the first skyscrapers. An era of massive wealth, massive inequality, and the belief that the future belonged to whoever could build it fastest.
Adrianus was born in 1882, placing them squarely in The Gilded Age. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Adrianus Was Born
The biggest hits of 1882
Adrianus's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1882Born
First electrical power plant opens in New York
President: Chester A. Arthur
1887Started school
President: Grover Cleveland
1895Became a teenager
First public film screening by the Lumiere brothers
President: Grover Cleveland
1898Could drive
Spanish-American War; US emerges as a world power
President: William McKinley
1900Could vote
Boxer Rebellion in China
President: William McKinley
1903Turned 21
Wright brothers achieve first powered flight
President: Theodore Roosevelt
1912Turned 30
Titanic sinks on its maiden voyage
President: William Howard Taft
1922Turned 40
King Tut's tomb discovered in Egypt
President: Warren G. Harding"April Showers" — Al Jolson
1932Turned 50
Amelia Earhart flies solo across the Atlantic
Gas: $0.18/galPresident: Herbert Hoover"Night and Day" — Fred AstaireBest Picture: Grand Hotel
1942Turned 60
Battle of Midway turns the tide in the Pacific
Gas: $0.20/galHome: $3,175Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"White Christmas" — Bing CrosbyBest Picture: Mrs. Miniver
1952Turned 70
Queen Elizabeth II ascends the throne
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $8,350Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Blue Tango" — Leroy AndersonBest Picture: The Greatest Show on Earth
1962Turned 80
Cuban Missile Crisis brings the world to the brink
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $12,800Min wage: $1.15/hrPresident: John F. Kennedy"Stranger on the Shore" — Acker BilkBest Picture: Lawrence of Arabia
1966Died at 84
Star Trek premieres on television
Gas: $0.32/galHome: $14,200Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"The Ballad of the Green Berets" — SSgt Barry SadlerBest Picture: A Man for All Seasons
Key Achievements
- Competed in fencing across five separate Olympic Games, from 1906 to 1924.
- Won two bronze medals in the individual saber event at the 1920 Antwerp Olympics.
- Served as a military officer, achieving the rank of lieutenant colonel in the Dutch army.
Did You Know?
He was born in Java, which was then part of the Dutch East Indies (modern-day Indonesia).
His full name included four given names: Adrianus Egbert Willem de Jong.
He lived to be 84 years old, witnessing massive changes in both sport and the world.
“The piste is a place of honor, and my salute is earned, not given.”
