Carson, Ewry's grandson and biographer, says the disease overwhelmed the doctors of Lafayette, Ind.

"He was stabbed numerous times around the knees with long pointed needles to get some kind of nerve response and, of course, when you have ascending paralysis, it just deadens the nerves from the ankles up to the hip," Carson says. "He had no feeling, so they thought he was going to be paralyzed for life."

That was the thought. The truth is, but for the polio, Ewry might not have been an Olympian. Ewry's therapist, only mentioned as "she" in the journals he kept, put her patient through a series of exercises to strengthen his legs. His 19th century rehabilitation was very similar to what today is known as plyometric training.

In 1889, Ray was ahigh school senior still using crutches. The following year, he was an engineering student at Purdue University who was setting records in the standing high jump and long jump, events that have fallen away from the world of track and field.

'Absolutely Phenomenal'

Ewry soon made his way east, where he became a member of the New York Athletic Club.

"He was an appealing fellow, who was generous with his skills," according to a contemporaneous description of Ewry from the Athletic Club archives. "He was well thought of, but also viewed as a very, very special person. I'd say as our best."

Ewry was so dominant at the standing long jump, high jump and triple jump that he was kind of boring, Carson says.

"After everybody had done their very best, Ray would