Mel Sheppard

Mel Sheppard, Stockholm 1912

Mel Sheppard (actually Melvin Winfield Sheppard, born September 5, 1883 in Almonesson Lake, New Jersey; † January 4, 1942 in Queens, New York City ) was an American track and field athlete and Olympic champion who had his greatest success in middle distance running.

Career

Sheppard's application to the New York Police Department was rejected because he had a weak heart. This did not prevent him to win 1906 to 1908 three times the AAU championships over 880 yards over the years. He was traded as a favorite for the upcoming Olympic Games.

At the Olympic Games in London in 1908, he led more than 800 m from the start and ran the first 400 meters in a time of 53 seconds. He won the race with a world record time of 1:52,8 minutes ahead of the Italian Emilio Lunghi and the German Hanns Braun. In the 1500 -meter run, he also won the gold medal, ahead of the two British Harold Wilson and Norman Hallows. Third, he won the team gold medal in the Olympic season.

At the Olympic Games in Stockholm in 1912 Sheppard won the silver medal over 800 meters between the two other Americans Ted Meredith and Ira Davenport. Over 1500 m, it did not reach the goal in the final. In the 4 x 400 - meter relay team, he won together with his teammates Edward Lindberg, Ted Meredith and Charles Reidpath before the relay races from France and Britain.

After his playing days as an athlete Sheppard became a lawyer and was one of the defenders of the Lindbergh baby kidnapper Bruno Hauptmann of.