Wayne Collett

Wayne Collett ( Collett Wayne Curtis, born October 20, 1949 in Los Angeles, † March 17, 2010 ) was an American sprinter.

In 1971, he was U.S. vice- champion in the 440 yards.

The following year he was champion over 400 meters and qualified with the Weltjahresbestzeit of 44.1 s over this distance for the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich. With 44,80 s where he won the silver medal behind his countryman Vince Matthews ( 44.66 s ) and before the Kenyans Julius Sang ( 44.80 s ). Due to their irreverent behavior at the awards ceremony, which reflected the disappointment of the two African American on the former states in their country, Matthews and Collett were blocked by the IOC so that the U.S. team had not had enough runners to attend the 4-by- participate in 400 - meter relay.

Wayne Collett graduated from the University of California in Los Angeles and later worked as a lawyer and in the real estate industry. At the age of 60 years Collett died of cancer; He left a wife and two children.