1936 Olympic great John Woodruff passes away at 92

RIP John - a great athlete and greater man - God must have had a big race coming up

Berlin Olympic final here

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rQ5BM0XN-_I

http://www.letsrun.com/forum/flat_read.php?board=1&id=2047655&thread=2047301

When I came back to my native country, after all the stories about Hitler, I couldn't ride in the front of the bus. I had to go to the back door. I couldn't live where I wanted. I wasn't invited to shake hands with Hitler, but I wasn't invited to the White House to shake hands with the President, either.

I believe he was the oldest living Olympian.

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/tribunereview/news/breaking/s_535809.html

Some corrections: His denied WR was in the 880y, not the mile, and it wasn't at the Pan-American Games but some World's Fair type of thing that billed itself as the "Pan-American Exposition".

A picture of John is framed along with his Gold medal and hangs in the library at the University of Pittsburgh. I used to stare at that medal and think of how friggin' awesome it was that a young American took a boat across the Atlantic, went right into the heart of the Third Reich, and in front of tens of thousands of screaming fans won the race to the tape and took it back home with him across the sea.

The middle and bottom of the medal were worn from what I can imagine were the fingers of countless admirers and probably John's himself.

I remember seeing that medal in the library also. Mr. Woodruff was in attendance for a home football game at Pitt Last year. They showed a very nice tribute on the big screen and he got a standing ovation from the whole stadium. It gives me chills just thinking about it.

Every time I step to the line I wear my Pitt singlet with pride because I know about the rich history that this University has and what Mr. Woodruff accomplished under such circumstances. His story is very motivating and moving. It is an honor to meet such a great athlete and to wear the same name across my chest as he was did.

DaBurgh wrote:

A picture of John is framed along with his Gold medal and hangs in the library at the University of Pittsburgh.

It originally was given to Connellsville High School along with Johnny Lujack's Heisman Trophy but after some jackass kids decided to break into the school one night and caused all kinds of destruction (smashed computers, graffitti, I think they emptied a fire extinguisher or two) Woodruff decided it would be safer at the Pitt Library. I think some of his other medals are still at the HS but not his gold.

CarolinaRunner wrote:

I think some of his other medals are still at the HS but not his gold.

You are correct. Many of his races numbers and his Olympic sweater are also on display at Connellsville Area High School.

A few articles from his hometown region:

Where is his Olympic oak tree?

jsquire wrote:

Where is his Olympic oak tree?

About ten feet away from the third turn of the Connellsville High School track.

I think this is my favorite part:

"Penn is the most exciting meet I’ve ever run,” he once said. “When I ran there for Pitt, I anchored three relay winners a year for three years.” He added, “It was more thrilling winning at Penn than winning in the Olympics.”

I read the obit on the way home from work yesterday and this passage jumped out at me:

After 300 meters, Woodruff recalled, he found himself trapped.

“I had to do something,” he told The New York Times in 2006. “I didn’t panic. I just figured if I had only one opportunity to win, this was it. I’ve heard people say that I slowed down or almost stopped. I didn’t almost stop. I stopped, and everyone else ran around me.”

That left Woodruff in last place, but also with racing room. With an explosion of sprinting power and a 9-foot stride — he stood 6 feet 3 ¼ inches — he overtook the others in the next 100 yards. Edwards then regained the lead, but Woodruff passed him on the last turn, held off Lanzi by 2 meters and won in 1 minute 52.9 seconds.

WOW. And people talk about Wottle's great 800!

John came to my high school to speak when I was a freshman and I remember him as so humble and quiet and dignified. At that time, in the late 60\'s, I couldnt believe that someone so young looking could have been an Olympic Champion 30 years earlier. He shook all of our hands and I remember thinking that I would never forget him. I was embarrassed to admit I had never heard of him and only thought of Jesse Owens when I thought of the 1936 Olympics.

Thank you John Woodruff, for your incredible story and your historic performance. Also, for sharing yourself with thousands of other aspiring runners.

Didn't he win a bunch of IC4A and NCAA titles? What an amazing story. Truly inspiring.