Charlie Paddock
Encyclopedia
Charles "Charlie" William Paddock (August 11, 1900 – July 21, 1943) was an American
athlete and twofold Olympic
champion.
After serving in World War I
as a lieutenant of field artillery in the U.S. Marines, Paddock - a native of Gainesville, Texas
- studied at the University of Southern California
. There he became a member of the track and field team, and excelled in the sprint events. He won the 100 and 200 m in the first major sporting event after the war, the 1919 Inter-Allied Games
, in which soldiers of the Allied nations competed against each other.
The next year, Charlie Paddock was sent out to represent his country at the 1920 Summer Olympics
in Antwerp. In Belgium, he had his greatest successes, winning the 100 m final, while placing second in the 200 m event. With the American 4 x 100 m relay team, Paddock won a third Olympic medal. Paddock became famous for his unusual finishing style, leaping towards the finish line at the end of the race.
The next year, he ran the 110 yd
, which is slightly more than 100 m, in 10.2 seconds. It wasn't until 1956 that the World Record for the 100 m became lower than Paddock's time. In addition, he broke or equalled several other World Records over Imperial distances.
At the 1924 Olympics
, Paddock again qualified for both the 100 and 200 m finals, but he was less successful than four years earlier; he finished 5th in the 100 m and won another silver medal in the 200 m. Paddock was not a part of the relay team. In Chariots of Fire
, the 1981 Oscar-winning film about those races, Paddock was portrayed by Dennis Christopher
. In 1928, Paddock participated in his third Olympics
, but couldn't reach the 200 m final.
During his athletic activities, Paddock also held management positions in several newspapers. In the late 1920s he also acted in a few movies. Also, he was on the personal staff of Major General William P. Upshur
since the end of World War I
. In 1943, during World War II
, both Upshur and Paddock died in a plane crash near Sitka
, Alaska
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
athlete and twofold Olympic
Olympic Games
The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
champion.
After serving in World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
as a lieutenant of field artillery in the U.S. Marines, Paddock - a native of Gainesville, Texas
Gainesville, Texas
Gainesville is a city in and the county seat of Cooke County, Texas, United States. The population was 15,538 at the 2000 census.-History:...
- studied at the University of Southern California
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
. There he became a member of the track and field team, and excelled in the sprint events. He won the 100 and 200 m in the first major sporting event after the war, the 1919 Inter-Allied Games
Inter-Allied Games
The Inter-Allied Games was a one-off multi-sport event held from June 22nd - July 6th 1919 at the newly constructed Pershing Stadium just outside Paris, France following the end of the First World War. The forum for the games, Pershing Stadium, had been built near the Bois de Vincennes by the U.S....
, in which soldiers of the Allied nations competed against each other.
The next year, Charlie Paddock was sent out to represent his country at the 1920 Summer Olympics
1920 Summer Olympics
The 1920 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the VII Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event in 1920 in Antwerp, Belgium....
in Antwerp. In Belgium, he had his greatest successes, winning the 100 m final, while placing second in the 200 m event. With the American 4 x 100 m relay team, Paddock won a third Olympic medal. Paddock became famous for his unusual finishing style, leaping towards the finish line at the end of the race.
The next year, he ran the 110 yd
Yard
A yard is a unit of length in several different systems including English units, Imperial units and United States customary units. It is equal to 3 feet or 36 inches...
, which is slightly more than 100 m, in 10.2 seconds. It wasn't until 1956 that the World Record for the 100 m became lower than Paddock's time. In addition, he broke or equalled several other World Records over Imperial distances.
At the 1924 Olympics
1924 Summer Olympics
The 1924 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the VIII Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was celebrated in 1924 in Paris, France...
, Paddock again qualified for both the 100 and 200 m finals, but he was less successful than four years earlier; he finished 5th in the 100 m and won another silver medal in the 200 m. Paddock was not a part of the relay team. In Chariots of Fire
Chariots of Fire
Chariots of Fire is a 1981 British film. It tells the fact-based story of two athletes in the 1924 Olympics: Eric Liddell, a devout Scottish Christian who runs for the glory of God, and Harold Abrahams, an English Jew who runs to overcome prejudice....
, the 1981 Oscar-winning film about those races, Paddock was portrayed by Dennis Christopher
Dennis Christopher
Dennis Christopher is an American actor. He was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He is known for playing Dave Stoller in Breaking Away and tragic film buff psychopath Eric Binford in Fade to Black....
. In 1928, Paddock participated in his third Olympics
1928 Summer Olympics
The 1928 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the IX Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event which was celebrated in 1928 in Amsterdam, Netherlands. Amsterdam had bid for the 1920 and 1924 Olympic Games, but had to give way to war-victim Antwerp, Belgium, and Pierre de...
, but couldn't reach the 200 m final.
During his athletic activities, Paddock also held management positions in several newspapers. In the late 1920s he also acted in a few movies. Also, he was on the personal staff of Major General William P. Upshur
William P. Upshur
Major General William Peterkin Upshur was the recipient of his nation's highest military decoration—the Medal of Honor—for his actions in 1915 during the Haitian Campaign.-Biography:...
since the end of World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. In 1943, during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, both Upshur and Paddock died in a plane crash near Sitka
Sitka City and Borough, Alaska
The City and Borough of Sitka, originally called New Archangel under Russian Rule, is a unified city-borough located on Baranof Island and the southern half of Chichagof Island in the Alexander Archipelago of the Pacific Ocean , in the U.S...
, Alaska
Alaska
Alaska is the largest state in the United States by area. It is situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent, with Canada to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia further west across the Bering Strait...
.