1972 Olympic 800m Final

[ronpaulforpresident6]

Listening to Jim McCay and his enthusiasm was incredible. "Here comes the kick of Dave Wottle". This race still gives me shivers when I watched it as a 11 yr old boy. And, after Lasse Viren and Shorter ran I was hooked on distance running in high school. Three of my idol's from ONE Olympics!

[VirenKickedPresAss]

Wottle ran the SMARTEST of ANYONE in this field- if you time his splits, you will see that he didn't so much kick, but ran each 200m at virtually the same pace to the tenth of a second.....!

[TwinFraser]

holy shit that was incredible running! totally his own race, where everyone sprints ahead at the start, it looks like hes going for a stroll. but what a finish!!

[Rollin558]

I remember watching this live. Incredible to watch then and now.

[bathtownship]

Wottle you left it late but you got the Gold in your back pocket at the end of the day, not to many can say i was an Olympic Champion.

[forest69ist]

i read he was getting over injury and couldn't sprint, that was him going through the motions; maybe a victim of overtraining

[mylifeisJDM]

I loved the 800.

[kozmon0t]

Anything can happen in a "tactical" race where everyone's too scared to race more than the last 200m. If you're gonna win by kick, you're looking to win in 1:45 or 1:46, which everyone in the final can do. So it's really a terrible tactic unless you've got by far the best kick.

Leading isn't really a disadvantage, being in lane 1 the whole time makes up for

the extra wind resistance.

[TomokoMurakami]

I remember watching that live. Still sends shivers down my spine. What an amazing finish by Wottle.

[ugahokie]

They timed Wottle's splits. He actually ran consistent and steady at every 100 meters. Basically the other racers slowed down. Wottle ran a great race

[telephilia]

One of the best races of all times.

[vicsmith5000]

You never hear Wottle's name mentioned until the last 20 metres...unbelievable run from Dave Wottle. A day of destiny for sure.

[anaheimXCtrack714]

am i the back in the beginning but then moved all they way to the front in the end

[WaryBuck1]

A couple things. I read elsewhere that Wottle's 200 splits were almost dead-even. Secondly, think about how much of the race he actually led: like maybe the last 0.4 seconds or so. Unbelievable race, and yes I remember watching it live as a 10-yr. old.

[E1isi]

proven EPO cheat!!!!

[unionrunner1]

Who the hell disliked this video???

[AKAcath]

awsome

[NedwardCberry]

This guy spoke at my school and was a pretty cool guy saying his foot was hurting slightly at the begining which is why he was in last for the first half. He also said when he first tried track the kids on the team laughed at him

[nffc]

The first sporting event I ever remember. As an 8 yr old I just wanted the fella in the hat to win! Happy times.

[stringcatt]

Most runners at this level have careers lasting as long a 8 10 years. Wottle's was over in 2 years. Like the race, he came out of nowhere. One year prior he set the world's record and a year after this race he was out of running.

[CaneFu]

I remember watching this live in 1972...Marty Liqouri was the commentator for American TV and he just went crazy when Wottle was able to come from behind and pass everyone in the last few meters. This has to be the most exciting finish for an 800 ever.

[stringcatt]

@CaneFu The American commentators

knew in advance who won. For dramatics watch the other version were the commentator is British.

[dsfddsgh]

LOL I was eleven when this race took place and i wondered who the fuck this dude with the crazy hat was. Then he won. lmao

[toby099]

This is a perfect example of why you don't need to go out too hard. Just save some energy for the final sprint.

[4807avh]

Brillant race indeed.

But so was Rome 1960. Peter Snell against Roger Moens.

Dave Wottle was a little lucky, in that race, he was sure to get a medal, But Gold ?

Roger Moens ran 1.45.7 in 1955.

Peter Snell ran 1.44.3 in 1962.

What if the 3 of them ran in a 800 m all at the age of about 25 ?

[raulrmz23]

its tru the 800's a real man's race!

not like a sprint where all yu need is speed, not like a 2mile or 5k where yu mostly need just endurance. this is a bit of both, endurance and speed. if yu aint got one of those 2, yu're out!

[Zaxxen69]

Lol, why would he have to apologize for wearing a hat? Was the flag going to beat him up? People are so sillly.

[chuckmanofgod]

That hat caused some drag......he could have run faster, lol.

[TheDuhgreat]

I actually was on the CC and Track team with his Daughter...The first time I met him I had no idea he was an olympic gold medalist. He is a cool dude

[Baskerville22]

If you want to see an equally great finishing run, check out - Lloydy's 5000m 1990 Commonwealth Games Gold (cut & paste to find part 1 of the whole 5000m race. there is also a part 2. )

[stringcatt]

...and now slows down WHAT? Immeasurably!!! I love the way he talks

[WaryBuck1]

Napoleon Dynamite...now that's funny. I remember watching this on TV at the time, I'd have been 10 years old. One has to remember of course that in 1972 the Cold War USSR v. USA theme running through much of sports (including Alexander Belov's controversial winning bucket in the BB championship). That made this upset win over the Russian even more exciting for Americans. If I recall, didn't Wottle forget to take off the hat for the medal ceremony? Probably still in shock.

[TakeAShowerStinky]

He looks like Napoleon Dynamite!

[FIFTY2WEEKS]

Dave Wottle was awesome. He was so cool. Such a finishing kick. Its a shame he didn't face Coe and Ovett in Moscow. What a race that would have been!!!

[metsdudenj]

he wouldnt have made the US olympic team that year anyway

[Brandonlcosta]

epic

[TigerMeadows]

Nice run. And a nice hat. :)

[Realverynice]

This is a famous race and victory; The 200m spilts for Wottles run are exactly the same. He won the race through perfectly even pace. In the final straight he is not running faster but every other athlete is slowing down.

[FinnMove]

Yes, maybe Wottle was the best in the world in 1972 in the 800´s but he gave a show which is one of the best I have seen. He ran in the semi- finals at the same tactic. But in the final it is unbelieavable.

[donottake]

saved by a very fast wottle

[csrunnerx]

Every time I see this I keep thinking he won't win. I love this race.

[skatecarolina]

so ur telling me that the guy in the back at the beggining won? lol

[jayrunner89]

i never had a kick like that in the 800m

[Rock171023]

Much like Andriy Borzakovsky's finish in 2004, only Wottle's is even more dramatic. Never seen this before - incredible.

[larryboy1995]

Exactly, Rock. This is what it means to keep an even pace - scary and unnerving to both the coach and runner, but it works!

[Rock171023]

And by Andriy, I meant Yuriy...woops.

[francilius]

Beautifully judged race.Wattle knew exactly what he had to do and timed his run to perfection.

[mvpdda]

Fantastic Dave just fantastic!!!!

[olympiclegend96]

ya the 800 i used to run it i hated it!Im more of a fan of the 1600m.

[foreigndauhu]

the 800 is the hardest run ever!!

it's like a long distance sprint

[xroscountry91]

@foreigndauhu

1000m is harder, its the 800 but with 200 meters tagged on at the end

[Jay333888]

lol he looks like Napolean Dynamite

[HomedudePedroski]

good kick

[telephilia]

800 meters is the most exciting, dramatic race in the Olympics -short enough where you have to run pretty fast and where there will probably be a close finish; long enough where strategy (positioning, pacing and timing)comes into play. And this one, with that classic white painter's cap bobbing along from last place to first at the tape, is as good as it gets.

[Zigster38]

I always get a kick out of watching this race.

[arealmench]

Wattle trying to get through... and he gets through..look at em' in the white cap on the grandstand side and he wins it by a nose.

[koolkurd82]

thats good even pace running.saving your best til the end....because usually everyone slows down in the second lap.but you have to run it perfect to win..

[imjstcl]

what a monster

[jtobias2]

Those who watched the '72 Games may recall how the announcers said Wottle and his cap ran from behind as a strategy, when Bud Greenspan's recent interview reveals he had just had an injury 2 months prior and didn't want to finish last!! To hear him tell it now, it's even more awesome.

[rytkonen]

Eepä oes voettanna jos Vasala oes ollu viivalla;-)

I quess:1.Vasala.1.44.5 2.Wottle.1.44,73.Arzanov...

[ccwheels89]

one of the greatest and gutsiest runs ever...amazing

[gringo178586]

the greatest race ever run. what most people don't remember is the night before wottle got married..........my question is: DID THEY CONSUMATE THE MARRIAGE??? (food for thought) hehe!

[Cleopatti]

He got married in July, not the night before.

[garicmidknight]

bravo!

[janet928]

Always good to watch this race again!!

[HeshimaJameni]

See the 1988 800m Olympic Final and see Paul Ereng' of Kenya winning in almost the same strategy as Dave Wottle did here!

[johnlvs2run]

amazing running by wottle

[njmike38]

UNREAL ! I have not seen this race in over 30 years. He was in last place the whole first lap than WINS THE GOLD METAL.

[meskomanor]

I've watched every Olympics from 1960 on and this is the BEST race ever...I was so glad to see it again. Wait 'til I show it to my son.

[rjschroed]

Actually, it was totally legal for Wottle to wear that hat, and he always did. It wasn't until sometime after this that you were no longer allowed to wear hats and such. He did, however, forget to remove his hat on the podium and had a lot of explaining and apologizing to do afterwards.

[geektar03]

no actually wottle always practiced with that hat, he thought that by taking it off it would cause bad luck.

[240566]

Gara incredibile! Mai visto niente di simile

[tim191219]

Haha, Wottle actually forgot to take off his hat before the race.

[Track400800gk]

long live the baseball hat

[jpindayton]

Hey Mennea;

How could you forget. I was actually a squirt in the 6th grade during that time, but it brings back memories. Now I know you have to remember Pietro Mennea winning a bronze medal in the 200 meter dash in that Olympics, he was only 19 years old! But yes, Dave Wotte stole the show, he is from the same state as I am from (Ohio - Bowling Green Univ.) Wottle was a little better than average runner in high school, but just kept getting better. This is awesome!

[jpindayton]

THis race still gives me goose bumps.

[SuperJoe22]

Isn't it cheating to have a hat that makes it look like you cross the line faster? The other guy should have worn a 2 foot flashlight on top of a miners cap on his head, lol.

[kkornack]

lol, but no, it's not cheating because they tell where you finish by the first torso to cross the line

[trwent]

If you watch the video, it is clear that Wottle won by MORE than the length of the bill of his cap, so he would have won even without the cap.

[CreativeStuffVideo]

The hat doesn't count, even the head doesn't count. We time to the torso of the body (shoulders, chest etc.)

[weebeedee123]

Oh my god...i gotta go run now.

[lernerbarron]

Between the terrorist attack and Mark Spitz, the 1972 Olmypics were a defining event of my childhood. I could not tear myself away from the TV. But Wottle's victory was truly inspirational, one of the best sports clips ever. I showed my son this clip when he was eleven, my age in 1972.

[Belobrasil77]

I couldn't agree with you more. I was nine (9) years old in 1972 and like yourself I was mesmerized by the "Serene Games" from Munich in 1972. I remember that race like it was yesterday watching Wottle lag at the back as was his trademark and then kicking it in at the finish! I too have told many a person that those games were a seminal point in my life and despite all that happened there my favorite moment will forever be that race!

[jomel77]

Thank you, thank you, thank you. I've been wanting to see this again for a long, long time. Just as amazing as I remember it 34 years ago!

[kenrolston]

Still stunning after all these years- Wottle and Frank Shorter were derided by American coach Bill Bowerman for drinking beer ( 1972 carbo loading ) and look who won gold for U.S. I was 20 at the time and remember screaming like a lunatic when Wottle won. Thanks You Tube !

[prrolg]

I was 21 and a 13ft pole vaulter in h.s. If you saw the movie "Invincable" I co-held the record with Vince Papale at Interboro h.s. '68 Bill Toomey,decathalon - Bob Beamon,broad jump - Pre,5k and Dick Fosbury,high jump and DAVE WOTTLE 800m. The most exciting Olympics ever and I was scraming like a lunatic as well.

[prrolg]

Sorry,got so excited from seeing this race for the first time in over 30 yrs I blocked that this race was 72. I think Steve Prefontaine was the only one I mentioned that competed in 72.

[SuperJoe22]

The 800M is always the best Olympic Event!

[mattbrockmd]

I've been looking everywhere for this video ever since Dave Wottle himself showed it to myself and the rest of the freshmen class at Rhodes College in 2001 where he is the Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid. Before you watch it, you should know that he is the guy in the hat. Its un-fricking-believable. What an amazing kick at the end.

[cheeseboy25]

Its the hat, the hat does it.

[utahaztec]

I still get goose bumps watching this