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Dave Wottle - Wikipedia
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Dave Wottle

David James Wottle (born August 7, 1950) is an American retired middle-distance track athlete. He was the gold medalist in the 800 meter run at the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich and a world record holder in the 800 meters. In 1973, Wottle also ran the then-3rd fastest mile in history. He was known for wearing a golf cap while running.[1][3]

Dave Wottle
Wottle at the 1972 Olympics
Personal information
Full nameDavid James Wottle
Born (1950-08-07) August 7, 1950 (age 74)
Canton, Ohio, U.S.
Height6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Weight146 lb (66 kg)
Sport
SportTrack
Event(s)800 meters, 1500 meters, mile
College teamBowling Green
Achievements and titles
Personal best(s)800m: 1:44.3[1][2]
1500m: 3:36.2[2]
Mile: 3:53.3[2]
Medal record
Representing the  United States
Olympic Games
Gold medal – first place 1972 Munich 800 m

Early life

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Dave Wottle was born in Canton, Ohio. During his childhood he was very slim and feeble. His family doctor told him that he needed to do something, such as running, to strengthen himself. The young boy took this advice and "ran with it".

Running career

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High school running

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Wottle attended Canton Lincoln High School in Canton, Ohio, graduating in 1968.[4][5] Wottle was the 1968 Ohio State champion in the mile, after finishing 4th in 1967.[6]

Collegiate running

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Competing for Bowling Green State University, Wottle finished second to Marty Liquori in the mile run at the 1970 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships (3:59.9 to 4:00.1).[7] That same year he represented his country in the 800 meters at the World University Games in Turin narrowly missing the final. During the 1971 season, Wottle was hampered by injuries, but a year later in 1972, he won the 1,500 meter race at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships.

1972 Olympics

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Leading up to the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich, Germany, Wottle won the AAU 800-meter title in 1:47.3 before equaling the world record over 800 meters of 1:44.3 at the US Olympic Trials. To the annoyance of US team coach Bill Bowerman, he got married two weeks before the Games, and his new bride, Jan, traveled with him to Munich and stayed outside of the Olympic Village.[8]

In the 800 meters final at the Olympics, Wottle immediately dropped to the rear of the field, and stayed there for the first 500 m, at which point he started to pass runner after runner up the final straightaway.[9] He seized the lead in the final stretch to beat pre-race favorite Yevgeny Arzhanov of the Soviet Union by just 0.03 seconds. This gained him the nickname of "The Head Waiter". (Another nickname was "Wottle the Throttle").[10] Wottle’s winning performance was a triumphant tour de force of even paced running. His 200m splits were 26.4, 27.1, 26.2 and 26.2.[7]

Stunned by his victory, Wottle forgot to remove his cap on the podium during the national anthem. Some interpreted this as a form of protest, but Wottle later apologized at the news conference following the medals ceremony.[11]

Wottle also competed in the 1500 meter run at the Munich Olympics. He had finished second in the US Olympic Trials behind Jim Ryun (3:41.5 to 3:42.3). He was eliminated in the 1,500-metre semi-finals at the Olympics. Track & Field News ranked him 1st in their 1972 world rankings for 800 metres.

His signature cap was originally used for practical purposes. He sported long hair at the peak of his career, so the hat kept his hair out of his face. After realizing the cap was part of his identity and for good luck, he wore it for the remainder of his career.[9]

Post-Olympics

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At the 1973 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships Wottle won the mile run in a time of 3:57.1. He earned a Bachelor of Science in History from Bowling Green State University in 1973.[3][12]

In June 1973, Wottle and 1972 U.S. Olympic teammate Steve Prefontaine (5000M) raced each other in the mile at a meet at the University of Oregon. Wottle defeated Prefontaine on his home track, running 3:53.3, which was the 3rd fastest mile in history at the time. Prefontaine ran 3:54.6, the 9th fastest mile at the time. Only world record holder Jim Ryun (3:51.1) and Kip Keino (3:53.1) had run the mile faster than Wottle.[13] After the race, a fan attempted to run off with Wottle's signature golf cap, but he chased the thief outside the stadium and retrieved his cap.[5]

Wottle finished second to Rick Wohlhuter in the 1973 AAU 880 yards clocking 1:45.4 at 800 metres. His fastest 800 metre time of the year was 1:45.3 winning a race in Helsinki. He also ran 3:36.2 finishing second behind Filbert Bayi in a fast 1,500-meter race race in Helsinki in June. Track & Field News ranked him 4th in their 1973 world rankings for 1,500 metres and 7th at 800 metres.[14]

Professional career in athletics

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Wottle turned professional in 1974, but retired from competitive running quite soon after that. Later, he became a college track coach at Walsh College (Ohio) (1975–77) and Bethany College (West Virginia) where he also served as Director of Admissions (1977–81).

Career after athletics

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A cap and jersey autographed by Dave Wottle.

Wottle was the track coach and Admissions Director at Bethany (WV) College in the late 70’s and early 80’s, and he served as an administrator at Rhodes College from August 1983 until his retirement in June 2012. He was Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid for 28 years before spending his final year at the school as the Special Assistant to the President.[12][15] He then served as the Interim Vice-President for Enrollment Management at Millsaps College.[16] From September 2013 to April 2014, Wottle was the interim Vice President for Enrollment at Ohio Wesleyan University in Delaware, Ohio.[17][18]

Awards and honors

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References

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  1. ^ a b Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Dave Wottle". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on April 17, 2020.
  2. ^ a b c "David WOTTLE - Athlete Profile". International Association of Athletics Federations. Archived from the original on April 8, 2019. Retrieved October 25, 2018.
  3. ^ a b "40th anniversary of Dave Wottle's Olympic Gold". BGSU Magazine. Bowling Green State University. Spring 2012. Archived from the original on March 14, 2016.
  4. ^ "STARK HS ICONS: Lincoln High School Top 10 Sports Icons". Canton Repository. May 2, 2016. Archived from the original on November 27, 2022. Retrieved September 14, 2022.
  5. ^ a b "Dave Wottle". Bring Back the Mile.
  6. ^ a b "OHSAA to honor 3 former standouts in Circle of Champions at boys state basketball tournament". Galion Inquirer. March 16, 2016.
  7. ^ a b Quercentani, Roberto; Kot, Nejat (2000). Wizards of the Middle Distances.[full citation needed]
  8. ^ "Wottle 50 years on – the unlikeliest of Olympic 800m champions". Museum of World Athletics. Archived from the original on February 21, 2024. Retrieved August 31, 2024.
  9. ^ a b 1972 Olympic 800m Final. Summer Olympics. ABC Sports. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved August 11, 2012 – via wimp.com.
  10. ^ "My Sport: Alan Sunderland". The Telegraph. Interviewed by Gareth A Davies. May 17, 2005. Archived from the original on October 15, 2018. Retrieved April 3, 2018.
  11. ^ Briggs, David (June 24, 2012). "Memories fresh of day Wottle shocked the world". The Blade. Toledo, OH. Archived from the original on April 16, 2018. Retrieved September 11, 2012.
  12. ^ a b "Dave Wottle". Rhodes College. Archived from the original on June 29, 2012.
  13. ^ Written at Eugene, OR. "3:53.3 By Wottle Beats Prefontaine". The New York Times. New York. Associated Press. June 21, 1973. p. 47. Archived from the original on September 14, 2022. Retrieved September 14, 2022.
  14. ^ Nelson, Cordner; Quercentani, Roberto (1985). The Milers.[full citation needed]
  15. ^ "Dave Wottle To Be Recognized For Service To College and Olympic Win". Rhodes College. May 1, 2012. Archived from the original on May 3, 2012.
  16. ^ "Dave Wottle". Millsaps College. Archived from the original on February 4, 2013.
  17. ^ "Interim Vice President for Enrollment". OWU Daily. September 30, 2013.
  18. ^ Wottle, Dave (Spring 2014). "Running for Gold". OWU Magazine. Archived from the original on May 6, 2014.
  19. ^ "Dave Wottle (1978)". Hall of Fame. Bowling Green State University Athletics. Archived from the original on September 14, 2022. Retrieved September 14, 2022.
  20. ^ "Dave Wottle". Hall of Fame. USATF. Archived from the original on May 26, 2021.
  21. ^ "Dave Wottle (1990) - Hall of Fame". getsomemaction.com. Archived from the original on September 14, 2022. Retrieved September 14, 2022.
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Records
Preceded by Men's 800 metres World Record Holder
equalled time of Peter Snell and Ralph Doubell
1972-07-01 – 1973-06-27 		Succeeded by
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