Bill Schmidt

William David " Bill " Smith ( born December 29, 1947 in Muse, Pennsylvania ) is a former American track and field athlete who was successful in the 1970s as a javelin thrower. He arrived at the American Championships the following placements:

Schmidt participated in the 1972 Olympics in Munich. First, he was lucky that the U.S. Championships were not the same as an Olympic excretion, because in this case he should have remained in fourth place at home. The trials, however, he won with 270-6. In Munich, he again had luck on his side. The qualifications required width of 80 m, he missed it, but since only seven launcher surpassed that mark for the final twelve launchers were provided but he was allowed to move up. Now he exploded and ended up with 84.42 m and 84.12 m equal to two litters well above the 80 -meter line. He won the bronze medal behind Klaus Wolfermann and Janis Lusis, both at about 90 m came, and were missing before the unfortunate Hannu Siitonen, which for a medal entire 11 cm.

In the Universiade 1975 in Rome he won with 80,20 m silver medal behind the Romanians Gheorghe Megelea ( gold with 81.30 m).

Already in 1970, Schmidt had set up with 85.52 m personal best.