Ted Meredith
Encyclopedia
James Edwin "Ted" Meredith (November 14, 1891 – November 2, 1957) was an American athlete, winner of two gold medals at the 1912 Summer Olympics
.
He was born in Chester Heights, Pennsylvania
and died in Camden, New Jersey
, aged 65. Ted Meredith made the 1912 Olympic
team while still in high school at Mercersburg Academy
.
In Stockholm
, he won a gold medal in the 800 m run with a world record
1:51.9. He ran on to the 880 yd (804.7 m) mark and also set a world record for that distance, with a 1:52.5. He won another gold medal on the 4 x 400 m relay
team, also taking fourth in the 400 metres competition
.
After Stockholm, Meredith entered the University of Pennsylvania
. He was the IC4A
440 yd (402.3 m) champion from 1914 to 1916 and the 880 yd (804.7 m) champion in 1914 and 1915. He also won the AAU
440 yd (402.3 m) title in 1914 and 1915. In 1916, he set a world record
in the 440 yd (402.3 m) of 47.4, which wasn't broken until 1928. At the same year he lowered his own world 880 yd (804.7 m) record to 1:52.2.
Meredith retired from competition in 1917 and served in the army during World War I
. He made a comeback for the 1920 Summer Olympics
, where he was eliminated in the semifinal of the 400 metres competition
and ran on the relay team that finished fourth in the 4x400 m relay event
.
After the second retiring from competition, he became a real estate broker.
1912 Summer Olympics
The 1912 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the V Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event held in Stockholm, Sweden, between 5 May and 27 July 1912. Twenty-eight nations and 2,407 competitors, including 48 women, competed in 102 events in 14 sports...
.
He was born in Chester Heights, Pennsylvania
Chester Heights, Pennsylvania
Chester Heights is a borough in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 2,481 at the 2000 census. Most of the borough lies south of U.S...
and died in Camden, New Jersey
Camden, New Jersey
The city of Camden is the county seat of Camden County, New Jersey. It is located across the Delaware River from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city had a total population of 77,344...
, aged 65. Ted Meredith made the 1912 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...
team while still in high school at Mercersburg Academy
Mercersburg Academy
Mercersburg Academy is an independent, coeducational boarding school for grades 9-12 located in Mercersburg, Pennsylvania, United States. The school's mission is:...
.
In Stockholm
Stockholm
Stockholm is the capital and the largest city of Sweden and constitutes the most populated urban area in Scandinavia. Stockholm is the most populous city in Sweden, with a population of 851,155 in the municipality , 1.37 million in the urban area , and around 2.1 million in the metropolitan area...
, he won a gold medal in the 800 m run with a world record
World record
A world record is usually the best global performance ever recorded and verified in a specific skill or sport. The book Guinness World Records collates and publishes notable records of all types, from first and best to worst human achievements, to extremes in the natural world and beyond...
1:51.9. He ran on to the 880 yd (804.7 m) mark and also set a world record for that distance, with a 1:52.5. He won another gold medal on the 4 x 400 m relay
Relay race
During a relay race, members of a team take turns running, orienteering, swimming, cross-country skiing, biathlon, or ice skating parts of a circuit or performing a certain action. Relay races take the form of professional races and amateur games...
team, also taking fourth in the 400 metres competition
Athletics at the 1912 Summer Olympics - Men's 400 metres
The men's 400 metres was a track and field athletics event held as part of the Athletics at the 1912 Summer Olympics programme. It was the fifth appearance of the event, which is one of 12 athletics events to have been held at every Summer Olympics...
.
After Stockholm, Meredith entered the University of Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...
. He was the IC4A
IC4A
IC4A or ICAAAA is an annual men's competition held at different colleges every year....
440 yd (402.3 m) champion from 1914 to 1916 and the 880 yd (804.7 m) champion in 1914 and 1915. He also won the AAU
Amateur Athletic Union
The Amateur Athletic Union is one of the largest non-profit volunteer sports organizations in the United States. A multi-sport organization, the AAU is dedicated exclusively to the promotion and development of amateur sports and physical fitness programs.-History:The AAU was founded in 1888 to...
440 yd (402.3 m) title in 1914 and 1915. In 1916, he set a world record
World record progression 400 metres men
The first world record in the 400 m for men was recognized by the International Amateur Athletics Federation, now known as the International Association of Athletics Federations, in 1912...
in the 440 yd (402.3 m) of 47.4, which wasn't broken until 1928. At the same year he lowered his own world 880 yd (804.7 m) record to 1:52.2.
Meredith retired from competition in 1917 and served in the army during 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...
. He made a comeback for 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....
, where he was eliminated in the semifinal of the 400 metres competition
Athletics at the 1920 Summer Olympics - Men's 400 metres
The men's 400 metres event was part of the track and field athletics programme at the 1920 Summer Olympics. The competition was held on Thursday, August 19, 1920 and on Friday, August 20, 1920.37 runners from 16 nations competed.-Records:...
and ran on the relay team that finished fourth in the 4x400 m relay event
Athletics at the 1920 Summer Olympics - Men's 4x400 metre relay
The men's 4×400 metres relay event was part of the track and field athletics programme at the 1920 Summer Olympics. The competition was held on Sunday, August 22, 1920 and on Monday, August 23, 1920.Twenty-four runners from six nations competed.-Records:...
.
After the second retiring from competition, he became a real estate broker.