Ray Barbuti

Ray Barbuti, actually Raymond James Barbuti, ( born June 12, 1905 New York, New York, † July 8, 1988 in Pittsfield, Massachusetts) was an American sprinter and Olympic gold medalist.

He studied at Syracuse University and excelled there, both in athletics as well as in American football. In 1928 he won at the IC4A Championships the 400 -meter run with a time of 48.8 seconds and reach him in a single football game eight touchdowns. In the same year he won the 400 m and the AAU Championships.

At the Olympic Games in Amsterdam in 1928 Barbuti won the gold medal in the 400 meters, before the Canadians James Ball ( silver ) and the German Joachim Buchner ( Bronze) as well as the team gold medal in the 4 x 400 meters relay, together with his teammate George Baird, Emerson Spencer and Fred Alderman, before the teams from Germany ( silver ) and Canada ( bronze). In this run, they also presented with a time of 3:14,2 minutes on a world record.