Houston McTear
Encyclopedia
Houston McTear is a former American
sprinter
, who emerged from desperate poverty in the Florida Panhandle
to become an international track star in the mid-1970s. McTear rated in the top 10 in the 100 meters for the United States from 1975–1980, but he was stronger at shorter distances, including 60 meters
. His 1978 world record in the 60 meters (6.54 s) stood up until it was broken by Ben Johnson
in 1986. However, his meteoric rise was effectively ended by the American-led boycott of the 1980 Summer Olympics, and he subsequently fell into obscurity, drug abuse and homelessness.
. He recorded an 9.0 mark in the 100-yard dash
as a high schooler at Baker School, in Baker, Florida
, but the world record time was not recognized because it was hand-timed. The time remains the NFHS National High School record in the now discontinued event. He was the 1975 High School Athlete of the Year, as selected by Track and Field News. At the 1976 U.S. Olympic Trials in Eugene, Oregon
, McTear ran a 10.16 sec over 100 metres, at the time the fastest ever run under any condition by a Florida high school athlete. It is still No. 3 on the all-time list, only surpassed by Jeffery Demps
and Marvin Bracy
.
in Montreal
in the 100 meters, but a hamstring
injury suffered in the Olympic Trials forced him to withdraw from the Olympic field. He was replaced by Johnny "Lam" Jones
, who finished sixth. The American 4 x 100 meter relay team won the gold medal
, led by McTear's rival Harvey Glance
.
McTear appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated
in 1978, and qualified for the U.S. Olympic team in 1980, but the U.S. boycott of the 1980 Summer Olympics
prevented his participation. From there he fell into drug use and was homeless for three years during the 1980s. He attempted a comeback in the early 1990s and won the 60 meters at the Swedish Indoor Championships in 1990 with a time of 6.68s.
McTear now lives in the United States and is married to the Swedish sprinter Linda Haglund
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
sprinter
Sprint (race)
Sprints are short running events in athletics and track and field. Races over short distances are among the oldest running competitions. The first 13 editions of the Ancient Olympic Games featured only one event—the stadion race, which was a race from one end of the stadium to the other...
, who emerged from desperate poverty in the Florida Panhandle
Florida Panhandle
The Florida Panhandle, an informal, unofficial term for the northwestern part of Florida, is a strip of land roughly 200 miles long and 50 to 100 miles wide , lying between Alabama on the north and the west, Georgia also on the north, and the Gulf of Mexico to the south. Its eastern boundary is...
to become an international track star in the mid-1970s. McTear rated in the top 10 in the 100 meters for the United States from 1975–1980, but he was stronger at shorter distances, including 60 meters
60 metres
60 metres is a sprint event in track and field athletics. It is a championship event for indoor championships, normally dominated by the best outdoor 100 metres runners. At outdoor venues it is a rare distance, at least for senior athletes...
. His 1978 world record in the 60 meters (6.54 s) stood up until it was broken by Ben Johnson
Ben Johnson (athlete)
Benjamin Sinclair "Ben" Johnson, CM , is a former sprinter from Canada, who enjoyed a high-profile career during most of the 1980s, winning two Olympic bronze medals and an Olympic gold, which was subsequently rescinded...
in 1986. However, his meteoric rise was effectively ended by the American-led boycott of the 1980 Summer Olympics, and he subsequently fell into obscurity, drug abuse and homelessness.
Early promise
McTear was born in Okaloosa County, FloridaOkaloosa County, Florida
Okaloosa County is a county located in the state of Florida. Located in northwest Florida, it extends from the Gulf of Mexico to the Alabama state line. As of the 2000 census, the population was 170,498. The U.S. Census Bureau 2005 estimate for the county is 182,172. The 2009 estimate for the...
. He recorded an 9.0 mark in the 100-yard dash
100-yard dash
The 100 yard dash is a track and field event of 100 yards or 91.44 metres. It was part of the Commonwealth Games until 1966, and was included in the decathlon of the Olympics, at least in 1904. It is not generally used in international events...
as a high schooler at Baker School, in Baker, Florida
Baker, Florida
Baker is an unincorporated town in Okaloosa County, Florida. It is located about northwest of the county seat, Crestview, in the Florida Panhandle. The Baker Block Museum is in Baker....
, but the world record time was not recognized because it was hand-timed. The time remains the NFHS National High School record in the now discontinued event. He was the 1975 High School Athlete of the Year, as selected by Track and Field News. At the 1976 U.S. Olympic Trials in Eugene, Oregon
Eugene, Oregon
Eugene is the second largest city in the U.S. state of Oregon and the seat of Lane County. It is located at the south end of the Willamette Valley, at the confluence of the McKenzie and Willamette rivers, about east of the Oregon Coast.As of the 2010 U.S...
, McTear ran a 10.16 sec over 100 metres, at the time the fastest ever run under any condition by a Florida high school athlete. It is still No. 3 on the all-time list, only surpassed by Jeffery Demps
Jeffery Demps
Jeffery Demps is an American football running back and sprinter. He attends the University of Florida in his senior year, where he is a member of Florida Gators football team as well as the men's track team...
and Marvin Bracy
Marvin Bracy
Marvin Bracy is an American sprinter who specializes in the 100 and 200 metres. He was the world's third fastest under 17-year old in 2010, behind David Bolarinwa and Miles Shuler-Foster....
.
International stardom
McTear qualified for the 1976 Summer Olympics1976 Summer Olympics
The 1976 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXI Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event celebrated in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, in 1976. Montreal was awarded the rights to the 1976 Games on May 12, 1970, at the 69th IOC Session in Amsterdam, over the bids of Moscow and...
in Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
in the 100 meters, but a hamstring
Hamstring
In human anatomy, the hamstring refers to any one of the three posterior thigh muscles, or to the tendons that make up the borders of the space behind the knee. In modern anatomical contexts, however, they usually refer to the posterior thigh muscles, or the tendons of the semitendinosus, the...
injury suffered in the Olympic Trials forced him to withdraw from the Olympic field. He was replaced by Johnny "Lam" Jones
John Wesley Jones
Johnny "Lam" Jones is a former American sprinter and former American football player. He won a gold medal in the 4 x 100 meter relay at the 1976 Summer Olympics....
, who finished sixth. The American 4 x 100 meter relay team won the gold medal
Gold medal
A gold medal is typically the medal awarded for highest achievement in a non-military field. Its name derives from the use of at least a fraction of gold in form of plating or alloying in its manufacture...
, led by McTear's rival Harvey Glance
Harvey Glance
Harvey Edward Glance is a former American track athlete, winner of gold medal in 4x100 m relay at the 1976 Summer Olympics....
.
McTear appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated is an American sports media company owned by media conglomerate Time Warner. Its self titled magazine has over 3.5 million subscribers and is read by 23 million adults each week, including over 18 million men. It was the first magazine with circulation over one million to win the...
in 1978, and qualified for the U.S. Olympic team in 1980, but the U.S. boycott of the 1980 Summer Olympics
1980 Summer Olympics
The 1980 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXII Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event celebrated in Moscow in the Soviet Union. In addition, the yachting events were held in Tallinn, and some of the preliminary matches and the quarter-finals of the football tournament...
prevented his participation. From there he fell into drug use and was homeless for three years during the 1980s. He attempted a comeback in the early 1990s and won the 60 meters at the Swedish Indoor Championships in 1990 with a time of 6.68s.
McTear now lives in the United States and is married to the Swedish sprinter Linda Haglund
Linda Haglund
Linda Haglund is a former Swedish Olympic sprinter, born June 15, 1956 in Enskede, Sweden.- Running career :Haglund became a member of Hanvikens SK, a track and field club located just south of Stockholm, at the age of 13. She showed great promise as a future sprinting star by recording, barefoot,...
.
Rankings
McTear was ranked among the best in the world and the US in his event from 1975 to 1980, according to Track and Field News.| Year | Event | World rank | US rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1975 | 100 meters | 10th | 3rd |
| 1976 | 100 meters | - | 6th |
| 1977 | 100 meters | 2nd | 1st |
| 1978 | 100 meters | - | 6th |
| 1979 | 100 meters | 4th | 3rd |
| 1980 | 100 meters | - | 9th |