Why didn't Dave Wottle keep running?

In the days before professional track and field (1980s) most athletes didn't continue racing after college. Some persisted on their own or in clubs, but they were in the minority. If you look back at those who qualified for the Olympics few were running four years later.

Absolutely great thread. This is why I read this forum and put up with the stupid stuff. Man, I'd like to read some unexpurgated stories on Pre's Europe tours.

Back in HS in the mid-late 70's Wottle came to the XC camp my team went to and spoke. He was great and spent time with who ever wanted to talk and run with him.

Of course he showed the film of his race and talked about training and all, but he also talked about and showed a film of a funny thing. Not long after he gave up his amateur status he did a commercial for Burger King where they tried to re-create the finish of the Olympic 800 and then just past the finish he would grab a Whopper and take a bite.

For some reason the director had them run a full 200 each take and he said there were about 20+ takes. He had been out of training for a while so this was a very difficult workout running 20+ 200 all out. On top of that being a novice at doing commercials every finish when he grabbed a Whopper to bite he swallowed down every bite. So he was running all these 200 with more and more food going in his stomach. He said he started to get sick and it was not till the end when they said why didn't you just spit the Whopper out?

Eventually the director got the take he wanted and Wottle went and got sick.

Because he crossed the finish line? Am I right? Did I get it?

Because of his hat

https://mobile.twitter.com/wottlehat

Scott Wottle wrote:

Nathan Jessup - thanks for the story - nice to know that he is a nice guy when his family isnt watching! I enjoyed reading everyone's post - I have never done something like this before and it was fun - who knows, I may have found a coach for my daughter in jjjjjjjj - dad was giving her advise but it is clear that he is not the best person for that! haha! I told my dad about the site and told him to check it out, so he may address some of the stuff himself! Thanks for reminding me what a great dad I have everyone!

Read somewhere that Dave was scheduled to get married before the games and Bill Bowerman, by his own admission one of the worst US Olympic coaches ever (sprinter Eddie Hart failed to show up for his heat, for one example), ordered him not to because it would interfere with his training and focus. True?

In addition a teammate of Dave Wottle said that Wottle trained with a slow start all the time in practice. When challenged he could/would start fast and still smoke the team! However he trained to run even pace and had special workouts to make sure he could it when racing. Wottle is the main reason why so many international races start out so slowly now. Nobody wants to be the fool and try to lead all the way or even in some cases for just a few laps.

You will still see foolish fast starts in high school of course.

Brian Bell wrote:

Hey I hope somone reads this but iam a stong 800m runner and a OLympic hopeful from dayton ohio. David wottle amazes me from his kick. I'am currently the 2013 boys 15-16 junior olympic national champion with a time of 1:55 . this year I plan on running 1:48 sub 1:50 to be the best youth in the world. Please it would be a blessing if I could some how contact david wottle this is the only way. I just want to talk with the legend. because iam trying to win the 2020 olympics in tokyo God bless. you can reach me at

brianbell09@gmail.com

or call 9372481487. my legendary caoches told me I can be the best in the world. iam a junior trying to run 1:45 before I leave highschool. please contact me with tips.

Nice job on breaking the University of Houston 800 record last year. Did you ever get in contact with the subject of this thread?

Lol please please please let this bumped post be real. I've been a good person as of late and deserve this to be real! lmao!

Of course I've got to ask, Scott, what became of the sweat-stained gold medal golf cap?

Family heirloom? Museum? Lost or stolen?

Totally agree with the poster who said Boit was the smoothest runner ever! Incredible style and relaxation.

My running club in London, Canada was given a great collection of mid-'70s photos of the Springbank International Road Races by the Kettering track club in Ohio. Included in this set are pics of Miruts Yifer, Neil Cusack, Kenny Moore, and Mike Boit (in the green of E. New Mexico) etc.. Here is a link:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/londonpacers/sets/72157632597435742

Dave Wottle might be getting some notice as some numb-nuts on Facebook has an "inspirational" video of the 800m final with the title:

"DAVE WOTTLE probably didn't deserve in this 800m olympic final but he kept telling himself I CAN DO IT and that, He DID

What you tell yourself everyday will either lift you up or tear you down."

So the guy that tied the world record for 800m earlier in the year doesn't deserve to be in the Olympic final, or is this just more fake news?

I was a grad assistant with Bowerman in 1971-1972. Bowerman did not order Wottle to delay the wedding, but he did not like the idea, as he thought Wottle would be "distracted". As to the sprint coaching, Bowerman was not handling the sprinters in 1972, and he was incensed (and protested loudly) when ABC Sports blamed the Olympic sprint coach for the missed race. The truth is that the German games committee changed the time of the qualifying races, but did not inform the American team. Bowerman personally coached (among others) Harry Jerome, who was tied for the 100m WR (10.0 ht) while at Oregon, and Jerry Tarr who in 1962 NCAA won both the high & intermediate hurdles, and ran the fastest highs time (13.3 when the WR was 13.2) in the world that year.

Oh, yeah. Pre also lost at home in the 1971 Twilight mile to teammate Arne Kvalheim. I took photos of the race that are now in the UO Archives.

GlobalView1 wrote:

Totally agree with the poster who said Boit was the smoothest runner ever! Incredible style and relaxation.

My running club in London, Canada was given a great collection of mid-'70s photos of the Springbank International Road Races by the Kettering track club in Ohio. Included in this set are pics of Miruts Yifer, Neil Cusack, Kenny Moore, and Mike Boit (in the green of E. New Mexico) etc.. Here is a link:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/londonpacers/sets/72157632597435742

Photo 283 features Sid Sink and Steve Foster (Ashland/3:55.0)

GlobalView1 wrote:

Totally agree with the poster who said Boit was the smoothest runner ever! Incredible style and relaxation.

My running club in London, Canada was given a great collection of mid-'70s photos of the Springbank International Road Races by the Kettering track club in Ohio. Included in this set are pics of Miruts Yifer, Neil Cusack, Kenny Moore, and Mike Boit (in the green of E. New Mexico) etc.. Here is a link:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/londonpacers/sets/72157632597435742

Awesome photos, I recognize a bunch of guys from back in the day. Thanks.

whf wrote:

I was a grad assistant with Bowerman in 1971-1972. Bowerman did not order Wottle to delay the wedding, but he did not like the idea, as he thought Wottle would be "distracted". As to the sprint coaching, Bowerman was not handling the sprinters in 1972, and he was incensed (and protested loudly) when ABC Sports blamed the Olympic sprint coach for the missed race. The truth is that the German games committee changed the time of the qualifying races, but did not inform the American team. Bowerman personally coached (among others) Harry Jerome, who was tied for the 100m WR (10.0 ht) while at Oregon, and Jerry Tarr who in 1962 NCAA won both the high & intermediate hurdles, and ran the fastest highs time (13.3 when the WR was 13.2) in the world that year.

I said Us Olympic coache, not sprint coach, in reference to Bowerman.

So why did every other team get the message that heat times were changed,but not the biggest Olympic team with the best sprinters,ehhhh? German/Russian conspiracy, so that Borzov could win?

No not really, Stan Wright, appointed and, supervised by Bowerman, wasn't doing his job, staying updated at the IAAF office daily like the other coaches. Plus, his sprinters were staying up late in the village,playing cards and partying and had to be told to keep the noise down as a courtesy to the other athletes, but nope, that's not cool. So many athletes moved out to stay with friends at local hotels.

A total clusterfvck Olympics by the arrogant Bowerman,may he rest in peace.

whf wrote:

I was a grad assistant with Bowerman in 1971-1972. Bowerman did not order Wottle to delay the wedding, but he did not like the idea, as he thought Wottle would be "distracted". As to the sprint coaching, Bowerman was not handling the sprinters in 1972, and he was incensed (and protested loudly) when ABC Sports blamed the Olympic sprint coach for the missed race. The truth is that the German games committee changed the time of the qualifying races, but did not inform the American team. Bowerman personally coached (among others) Harry Jerome, who was tied for the 100m WR (10.0 ht) while at Oregon, and Jerry Tarr who in 1962 NCAA won both the high & intermediate hurdles, and ran the fastest highs time (13.3 when the WR was 13.2) in the world that year.

How come only Americans missed the 100 meters? Did the Germans inform all other countries and deliberately uninform the Americans.?

ukathleticscoach wrote:

He passed all but one runner on the outside so he was not 'lucky' in avoiding getting blocked

Great posts by Scott & others!

One of the all time great Olympic races by 'Wottle the Throttle'

Exactly right.

One of the great things in his favor was the field was strung out. Not bunched. So he was able to run his race without having to go too wide.

I was fortunate to be there that day.

I had a ticket watching the finish head on. I couldn't tell who won until the scoreboard. It was a great race.

Wottle ran a great race. He wasn't that far down at the 400, and had got there the most efficient way. And if you pay attention to the film, when Arzanhov went, so had Wottle. The difference was he was way smoother and didn't spend his coin like Arzanhov did. A perfect run. And a WR. You can't ask for much more than that.