Otis Davis

Otis Davis
Medal record
Men's athletics
Competitor for the  United States
Olympic Games
Gold 1960 Rome 400 metres
Gold 1960 Rome 4x400 metres relay

For the baseball player, see Otis Davis (baseball)

Otis Crandall Davis (born July 12, 1932) is a former American athlete, winner of two gold medals at the 1960 Summer Olympics.

Most of America's great track and field champions began their careers in high school or even earlier. But Otis Davis, born in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, took a different route. Basketball was his earliest game and he didn't take up track and the 400 m dash until age 26, as a student at the University of Oregon. Davis ran for the legendary Bill Bowerman. He lettered in track in 1958, 1959, and 1960.

Two years later, in 1960, was Otis Davis' year. At the Olympic Games in Rome, he won by a hair over Germany's Carl Kaufmann, setting a world record of 44.9 seconds and becoming the first man to break the heralded 45-second barrier. The photo of the finish, with (in full horizontal dive position) Kaufmann's nose ahead of Davis, but his torso behind, has been studied and discussed by track and field officials for years.[1] Both athletes were awarded the world record time, recorded in the 10ths of a second in those days, but Davis was awarded the win. Two days later, Davis and Kaufmann met again for the 4 x 400 m relay final. He held off the challenge, anchoring home the gold with another world record performance of 3:02.2. Again the photo of the finish of that race was made famous in Life Magazine.[1]

A torch-bearer for the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Davis, a former innovative teacher, coach, and counselor in the United States and abroad, is also an elected member of the University of Oregon, State of Oregon, and New Jersey Sports Writers' Halls of Fame. In 2004, he was elected to the National Track and Field Hall of Fame.[2] Otis Davis is currently president of the Tri-States Olympic Alumni Association, which he helped found.

Records

  • World Record 1960: 400 meters 44.9
  • American Record 1960: 400 meters 44.9

References

External links


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужно сделать НИР?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Otis Davis — (Otis Crandall Davis; * 12. Juli 1932 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama) ist ein ehemaliger US amerikanischer Sprinter und Olympiasieger. Davis war zunächst als Basketballspieler aktiv. Erst im Alter von 26 Jahren, als Student an der University of Oregon in …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Otis Davis — Informations Discipline(s) 400 m et …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Otis Davis — Medallero Atletismo Hombres Juegos Olímpicos Oro Roma 1960 400 metros lisos Oro Roma 1960 4 x 400 metros Otis Crandall Davis …   Wikipedia Español

  • Otis Davis (baseball) — Otis Davis Outfielder Born: September 24, 1920(1920 09 24) Charleston, Arkansas Died: July 23, 2007(2007 07 23) (aged 86) Clearwater, Florida …   Wikipedia

  • Otis Harris — (* 30. Juni 1982 in Edwards, Mississippi) ist ein US amerikanischer Leichtathlet und Staffel Olympiasieger. Seine bisher größten internationalen Erfolge gelangen ihm bei den Olympischen Spielen 2004 in Athen. Im 400 Meter Lauf gewann er die… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Otis (Name) — Otis ist ein männlicher Vorname und Familienname. Inhaltsverzeichnis 1 Herkunft und Bedeutung 2 Bekannte Namensträger 2.1 Vorname 2.2 Familienname …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Davis — ist ein häufiger Familienname. Er steht zum König David im Alten Testament, im allgemeinen mit einer patronymischen s Bildung zu dem häufigen Vornamen David, als Verkürzung aus Davids. Davis ist auch der Name einer Universitätsstadt in… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Otis Air National Guard Base — Coast Guard Air Station Cape Cod Part of Massachusetts Air National Guard (MA ANG) Located near: Mashpee, Massachusetts …   Wikipedia

  • Otis Leavill — (February 8, 1937[1][2][3] July 17, 2002) was an American R B singer, songwriter and record company executive. Life and career Otis Leavill Cobb was born in Dewey Rose, Elbert County, Georgia, and moved with his family to the West Side of Chicago …   Wikipedia

  • Otis Birdsong — No. 10, 12 Shooting guard / Point guard Personal information Date of birth December 9, 1955 (1955 12 09) (age 55) Place of birth Winter Haven …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”