Dave Wottle
Encyclopedia
David James Wottle (born August 7, 1950) is a former American
athlete. He is the winner of the 800 meter run at the 1972 Summer Olympics
. He is perhaps, however, best known for wearing a golf cap while running.
Dave was born in Canton, Ohio
, and attended Bowling Green State University
. During his childhood he was very slim and feeble, so that the family doctor told him that he needed to do something to strengthen himself, such as running. The young boy took this advice and started to run. At 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 he was hampered by injuries, but a year later in 1972 he won the 1,500 m 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 today (1975 was the last year the mile was contested at the NCAA's outdoor meet).
Leading up to the 1972 Olympic Games, he won the AAU
800 meter title before equaling the world record over 800 meters of 1:44.3 at the US Olympic Trials. 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, finally grabbing the lead in the final stretch to win by just 0.03 seconds. (Also noted is that each 200M split was 26.X, a perfect display of even splits throughout a race). This gained him the nickname
of "The Head Waiter". (Another nickname was "the Throttle".) At the victory ceremony, Wottle forgot to remove his golf cap during the playing of the national anthem. This was interpreted by some as a form of protest, but Wottle later apologized.
He also competed in the 1500 meter run at the Munich
Olympics, but was eliminated in the semi-finals.
His signature cap was 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, he wore it for the remainder of his career.
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
(1977–81).
Currently, Wottle is Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid at Rhodes College
in Memphis, Tennessee
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
athlete. He is the winner of the 800 meter run at the 1972 Summer Olympics
1972 Summer Olympics
The 1972 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XX Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event held in Munich, West Germany, from August 26 to September 11, 1972....
. He is perhaps, however, best known for wearing a golf cap while running.
Dave was born in Canton, Ohio
Canton, Ohio
Canton is the county seat of Stark County in northeastern Ohio, approximately south of Akron and south of Cleveland.The City of Caton is the largest incorporated area within the Canton-Massillon Metropolitan Statistical Area...
, and attended Bowling Green State University
Bowling Green State University
Bowling Green State University, often referred to as Bowling Green or BGSU, is a public, coeducational research university located in Bowling Green, Ohio, United States. The institution was granted a charter in 1910 by the State of Ohio as part of the Lowry Bill, which also established Kent State...
. During his childhood he was very slim and feeble, so that the family doctor told him that he needed to do something to strengthen himself, such as running. The young boy took this advice and started to run. At the university he finished second to Marty Liquori
Marty Liquori
Martin Liquori is an American middle distance athlete.Liquori first rose to fame when he became the third American high schooler to break the four-minute mile by running a 3:59.8 in 1967, three years after Jim Ryun first did it.He grew up in Cedar Grove, New Jersey and attended Essex Catholic...
in the mile run at the 1970 NCAA
National Collegiate Athletic Association
The National Collegiate Athletic Association is a semi-voluntary association of 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States...
Outdoor Track and Field Championships. During the 1971 season he was hampered by injuries, but a year later in 1972 he won the 1,500 m 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 today (1975 was the last year the mile was contested at the NCAA's outdoor meet).
Leading up to the 1972 Olympic Games, he won the AAU
Amateur Athletic Union
The Amateur Athletic Union is one of the largest non-profit volunteer sports organizations in the United States. A multi-sport organization, the AAU is dedicated exclusively to the promotion and development of amateur sports and physical fitness programs.-History:The AAU was founded in 1888 to...
800 meter title before equaling the world record over 800 meters of 1:44.3 at the US Olympic Trials. In the Olympic 800 meter final
Athletics at the 1972 Summer Olympics - Men's 800 metres
The men's 800 metres at the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich, West Germany took place on September 2, 1972.-Summary:The race went out very quickly for the first 200 m, with the two Kenyans, Boit and Ouko, pushing the pace...
, 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, finally grabbing the lead in the final stretch to win by just 0.03 seconds. (Also noted is that each 200M split was 26.X, a perfect display of even splits throughout a race). This gained him the nickname
Nickname
A nickname is "a usually familiar or humorous but sometimes pointed or cruel name given to a person or place, as a supposedly appropriate replacement for or addition to the proper name.", or a name similar in origin and pronunciation from the original name....
of "The Head Waiter". (Another nickname was "the Throttle".) At the victory ceremony, Wottle forgot to remove his golf cap during the playing of the national anthem. This was interpreted by some as a form of protest, but Wottle later apologized.
He also competed in the 1500 meter run at the Munich
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
Olympics, but was eliminated in the semi-finals.
His signature cap was 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, he wore it for the remainder of his career.
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
Bethany College
Bethany College may refer to a number of Bible schools, Bethany is the name of a Biblical village.* Bethany Bible College, New Brunswick, Canada* Bethany College , United States* Bethany College , Canada...
(1977–81).
Currently, Wottle is Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid at Rhodes College
Rhodes College
Rhodes College is a private, predominantly undergraduate, liberal arts college located in Memphis, Tennessee, USA. Originally founded by freemasons in 1848, Rhodes became affiliated with the Presbyterian Church in 1855. Rhodes enrolls approximately 1,700 students pursuing bachelor's and master's...
in Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis is a city in the southwestern corner of the U.S. state of Tennessee, and the county seat of Shelby County. The city is located on the 4th Chickasaw Bluff, south of the confluence of the Wolf and Mississippi rivers....
.
External links
- Dave Wottle - The man with the hat and the Olympic gold medal by Jake Fehling
- YouTube: 1972 Olympic 800m Final