Dave Wottle biography

 Dave Wottle biography

Dave Wottle, (born Aug. 7, 1950, Canton, Ohio, U.S.), American runner who received a gold medal on the 1972 Olympics in Munich.

Wottle was a member of the Bowling Green (Ohio) State University monitor workforce, profitable the 1,500-metre race on the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) championships in 1972. Two weeks later, he received the Amateur Athletic Union 800-metre title, though he thought of himself a greater runner on the longer distance. Wottle then received the 800 metres on the 1972 U.S. Olympic trials with a world file time of 1 min 44.3 sec. He additionally certified for the 1500 metres.

At the Games, Wottle, operating in his trademark outdated golf cap, was far again within the discipline for many of the 800-metre race. Yevgeny Arzhanov, a Soviet runner who had not misplaced an 800-metre race in 4 years, was main down the stretch. Less than 20 m from the end, Wottle made his last transfer and caught as much as Arzhanov. As the 2 athletes neared the end line, Arzhanov stumbled and fell, permitting Wottle to win the gold medal. During the taking part in of the American nationwide anthem on the medal ceremony, Wottle inadvertently left his cap on. He later made a tearful apology to Americans, assuring them he was not protesting something. Wottle was eradicated within the semifinals of the 1,500-metre occasion at Munich.