Special from USA Track & Field
New York, NY - In advance of National Track & Field Hall of Fame induction ceremony at USATF Black Tie & Sneakers Gala on November 2 in New York City, USATF interviewed Class of 2017 inductees on their athletic careers and legacies.
Today's feature: Lindy Remigino
Veteran Athlete Inductee Lindy Remigino shocked the track and field world at the 1952 Olympics in Helsinki, winning the 100 meters in the closest sprint race in Olympic history. Remigino doubled his medal haul by winning gold as part of the U.S. 4x100m relay.
Remigino later became one of the top high school coaches in the nation, leading his alma mater, Hartford (Connecticut) Public High School, to 31 team titles and producing 157 individual state champions. he is a member of 10 other halls of fame.
How did you get started in track and field and when did you first realize your potential?
I went to the YMCA and they had what they called a play day. My brother was four years older than I was and said, "Let's go and have some fun." One of the activities was 60 yards. You had to run down, touch the wall, and come back. They entered me in the race, and I was only 12 years old. All the other guys were in high school. I won the race by almost 10 yards, and they came up to me and said when I got to high school in the fall, I should talk to the coach and he would love to have me since I just beat all the high school kids. I said, "I can't! I'm only 12." That was the beginning of my track career.
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