Charley Paddock biography

 Charley Paddock biography

 Charley Paddock, byname of Charles William Paddock, (born August 11, 1900, Gainesville, Texas, U.S.—died July 21, 1943, close to Sitka, Alaska), American sprinter, world report holder for the 100-metre sprint (1921–30) and the 200-metre sprint (1921–26). He additionally held the world report for the 100-yard sprint (1921, 1924–26) and the 220-yard sprint (1921–26). In addition, he was a member of a world record-holding 4 × 100-metre group (1920–24).

Paddock ran for the University of Southern California (Los Angeles), from which he graduated in 1922. He served within the U.S. Field Artillery (1918–19) throughout World War I. At the 1920 Olympic Games in Antwerp, Belgium, he received the gold medal for the 100-metre race, the silver medal for the 200-metre race, and a gold medal as a member of the 4 × 100-metre relay group. Paddock turned recognized for his uncommon finishes, which concerned him leaping with widespread arms throughout the end line. In 1921 he set world information in a wide range of occasions, which helped earn him the nickname the “world’s fastest human.” At the 1924 Olympic Games in Paris, he positioned fifth within the 100-metre race and received the silver medal within the 200-metre race. Paddock competed on the 1928 Games in Amsterdam however did not win a medal. He retired from working in 1929.

Paddock additionally labored as a author, and he appeared in a number of movies. He later went into the newspaper enterprise and was a profitable editor and writer. He died in a aircraft crash whereas serving within the Marine Corps throughout World War II. His function within the 1924 Olympics was documented within the fact-based, Academy Award-winning movie Chariots of Fire (1981). The Fastest Human, an autobiography, was printed in 1932.