Jacky Boxberger

Who is Jacky Boxberger?

Jacques "Jacky" Boxberger was a track and field athlete from France who specialized in long-distance races.

Boxberger worked for a textile spinning company from the age of 12.

He was the great hope of French middle distance running, breaking the junior world record in the 1500 metres at Stade Charléty in 1968. He represented France at the 1968, 1972, 1976 and 1984 Summer Olympics, placing sixth in the 1968 1500 metres and 42nd in the 1984 marathon. He also won the Paris Marathon in 1983 and 1985, the 1500 metres title at the 1972 European Athletics Indoor Championships, and French titles in the 1500 metres, 5000 metres and 10000 metres. A knee injury during his military service with the Joinville battalion prevented him from achieving a career as brilliant as that of Michel Jazy.

In 2001, Boxberger was on vacation with his wife and daughter in Kenya. While he was trying to film an elephant on a safari, the animal picked up Boxberger with its trunk, threw him against a tree and trampled him to death.