Dave Wottle
 Wottle (right) at the 1972 Olympics | ||||||||||
| Personal information | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nationality | American | |||||||||
| Born |
August 7, 1950 Canton, Ohio | |||||||||
| Height | 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) | |||||||||
| Weight | 66 kg (146 lb) | |||||||||
| Sport | ||||||||||
| Sport | Track | |||||||||
| Event(s) | 800 meters, 1500 meters, Mile | |||||||||
| College team | Bowling Green | |||||||||
| Achievements and titles | ||||||||||
| Personal best(s) |
800 meters: 1:44.3[1][2] 1500 meters: 3:36.2[2] Mile: 3:53.3[2] | |||||||||
Medal record
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David "Dave" James Wottle (born August 7, 1950) is a retired American middle-distance track athlete. He was the gold medalist in the 800 meter run at the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich. He was known for wearing a golf cap while running.[1][3]
Early life
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 started to run.
Running career
Collegiate
He earned a Bachelor of Science in History from Bowling Green State University in 1973.[3][4] Competing for the university, he finished second to Marty Liquori in the mile run at the 1970 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships. 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, and at the 1973 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships he won the mile run in a time of 3:57.1, an NCAA record that still stands. (1975 was the last year the mile was contested at the NCAA's outdoor meet.)
Post-collegiate
Leading up to the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich, Germany, Wottle won the AAU 800 meter title before equaling the world record over 800 meters of 1:44.3 at the US Olympic Trials.
At the Olympics, in the Olympic 800 meter final, 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 straight.[5] 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").[6] Stunned by his victory, Wottle forgot to remove his cap on the medal stand during the national anthem. This was interpreted by some as a form of protest, but Wottle later apologized at the news conference following the medals ceremony.[7] He also competed in the 1500 meter run at the Munich Olympics, but he was eliminated in the semi-finals.
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.[5]
Professional career in athletics
Wottle turned professional in 1974, but retired quite soon after that. Later, he became a college track coach at Walsh College (1975–77) and Bethany College (West Virginia) (1977–81).
Career after athletics
Wottle 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.[4][8] He then served as the Interim Vice-President for Enrollment Management at Millsaps College.[9] Since September 2013, Wottle has been the interim Vice President for Enrollment at Ohio Wesleyan University in Delaware, Ohio.[10][11]
References
- 1 2 Dave Wottle. sports-reference.co
- 1 2 3 All-Athletics. "Profile of David Wottle".
- 1 2 "40th anniversary of Dave Wottle's Olympic Gold," BGSU Magazine (Bowling Green State University), Spring 2012.
- 1 2 Dave Wottle. Rhodes College.
- 1 2 "1972 Olympic 800m Final", Summer Olympics, ABC Sports
- ↑ "My Sport: Alan Sunderland". The Telegraph. Interview with Gareth A Davies. May 17, 2005.
- ↑ Briggs, David (June 24, 2012) "Memories fresh of day Wottle shocked world," The Blade (Toledo, OH)
- ↑ "Dave Wottle To Be Recognized For Service To College and Olympic Win," Rhodes College, May 1, 2012.
- ↑ Dave Wottle (admissions staff biography). Millsaps College.
- ↑ "[OWU] Interim Vice President for Enrollment, OWU Daily: September 30, 2013
- ↑ Wottle, Dave (Spring 2014) "Running for Gold". OWU Magazine.
External links
 |
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Dave Wottle. |
- Dave Wottle – The man with the hat and the Olympic gold medal by Jake Fehling at the Wayback Machine (archived March 13, 2007)
- 1972 Olympic 800m Final on YouTube
| Records | ||
|---|---|---|
Preceded by Peter Snell |
Men's 800 metres World Record Holder equalled time of Peter Snell and Ralph Doubell 1972-07-01 – 1973-06-27 |
Succeeded by Marcello Fiasconaro |
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