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John Smith

Full name: John Walton Smith
Gender: Male
Height: 6'2" (188 cm)
Weight: 183 lbs (83 kg)
Born: August 5, 1950 in Los Angeles, California, United States
Affiliations: Southern California Striders, Anaheim (USA)
Country: USA United States
Sport: Athletics

Biography

John Smith was AAU 440y champion in 1970-71, breaking the world record with 44.5 for 440y at the 1971 meet. He also won the NCAAs in 1971-72, running for UCLA. Smith was world-ranked #1 in 1971 and was the likely favorite for the 1972 Olympic 400. He made the final but an injured hamstring caused him to pull up on the first curve of the final. At the 1971 Pan American Games he won gold in the 400 metres as well as in the 4×400 metres relay (with Fred Newhouse and the non-Olympians Dale Alexander and Tommy Turner). He has since became a well-known sprint coach.

Personal Bests: 100y – 9.4 (1971); 220y – 20.7 (1970); 400 – 44.2y (1971); LJ – 7.43 (24-4½) (1968).

Results

Games Age City Sport Event Team NOC Rank Medal
1972 Summer 22 München Athletics Men's 400 metres United States USA AC

Men's 400 metres

Event History
Games Age City Sport Country Phase Unit Rank L T(A)
1972 Summer 22 München Athletics United States Final AC DNF 6
1972 Summer 22 München Athletics United States Semi-Finals Heat One 3 QU 1 45.46
1972 Summer 22 München Athletics United States Quarter-Finals Heat Three 2 QU 8 46.04
1972 Summer 22 München Athletics United States Round One Heat Eight 2 QU 7 46.00