John Smith (athlete)

John Smith ( John Walton Smith; * August 5, 1950 in Los Angeles ) is an American track and field coach and former 400 - meter runner.

Career as an athlete

Smith was about 400 m two-time U.S. champion and won in 1971 at its purpose-built track at the Pan American Games 1971 in Cali. In 1972 he took part in the Olympic Games in Munich, but retired due to an injury in the final run out.

After an interlude lasting until 1974 when American football, as a player of the Dallas Cowboys, he went again as a track and field athlete at the start, until 1980, he ended his career because of an injury to the Achilles tendon.

Career as a coach

This was followed by an activity to a coach. At the Olympic Games in Seoul in 1988, supervised by Smith athletes were very successful: So Steve Lewis celebrated winning the title and Danny Everett finished third in the 400 -meter run, and both as members of the winning U.S. team in the 4-by- 400 - meter relay medal winnings.

At the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona celebrated with Quincy Watts and Kevin Young two athletes coached by Smith wins over 400 meters and 400 meter hurdles.

Very successful was also Smith's collaboration with the short sprinters Dennis Mitchell, Inger Miller, Jon Drummond, and the two-time Olympic gold medalist and five -time world champion Maurice Greene. Smith's results as coach made ​​sure that foreign athletes as Ato Boldon and Marie -José Pérec his group joined. Pérec won under his aegis at the 1996 Olympics gold in the 200 - and 400 -meter run.

Doping allegations

Shadow over the Smiths success throwing list for several years doping allegations against members of his training group: Several supervised by Smith athletes such as Dennis Mitchell and Ato Boldon were tested positive in doping controls. Maurice Greene and Smith himself was directly associated with doping.

Personal best time

  • 400 m: 44.60 s, August 1, 1971, Cali
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