Olympic Games Gold Medalist Athlete. He competed as a track and field athlete on the inaugural United States Olympic team, and was the first modern Olympic champion in discus throw and shot put in the games that were held in Athens, Greece in 1896. His winning distance in the discus thrown of 29.15 meters defeated a field of eleven other athletes that included three native Greek participants. In the shot put, he defeated another pair of Greek athletes with a winning throw of 11.22 meters. He also won the silver in the triple jump and high jump events. He would go on to compete in the 1900 Olympic Games in Paris, France, placing third in the shot put and in the standing triple jump. His bronze medal in the shot put came about because he had refused to participate in the final throw, which was held on a Sunday. His previous throws, however, were good enough to place him third overall. Later in life he became a banker, and an archaeologist, and financed archaeological expeditions to Syria.

Olympic Games Gold Medalist Athlete. He competed as a track and field athlete on the inaugural United States Olympic team, and was the first modern Olympic champion in discus throw and shot put in the games that were held in Athens, Greece in 1896. His winning distance in the discus thrown of 29.15 meters defeated a field of eleven other athletes that included three native Greek participants. In the shot put, he defeated another pair of Greek athletes with a winning throw of 11.22 meters. He also won the silver in the triple jump and high jump events. He would go on to compete in the 1900 Olympic Games in Paris, France, placing third in the shot put and in the standing triple jump. His bronze medal in the shot put came about because he had refused to participate in the final throw, which was held on a Sunday. His previous throws, however, were good enough to place him third overall. Later in life he became a banker, and an archaeologist, and financed archaeological expeditions to Syria.

Bio by: THR