A Conversation with Coach John Smith | Legendary Sprint Coach from UCLA, HSI and Current 440yd WR Holder

Track and Field Black History

English - July 13, 2022 13:20 - 1 hour - 108 MB - ★★★★★ - 8 ratings
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Previous Episode: A Brief Conversation with Renaldo Nehemiah | The First Sub-13 second Hurdler in History

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Coach John Smith is a legend in every sense of the word. On the track, he not only won double gold at the 1971 Pan American Games and competed at the 1972 Olympics, but he also still holds the world record in the 440 yard dash. During his career as a coach, he has worked with a whos-who in the sport. From Steve Lewis and Kevin Young, to Carmelita Jeter and English Gardiner, he has guided a plethora of his athletes' to success at the highest levels of the sport.

In our conversation, we of course dive into his career on the track and as a coach, but we also talk about him growing up in the 50's, 60's and 70's in the height of the civil rights era and Black Power movement, how he looked up to John Carlos, Tommie Smith and Lee Evans for what they did on an off the track, his time with the Dallas Cowboys, his acting career, missing out on Olympic Gold in 1972 but guiding his athletes to golds through coaching, how track and field saved his life and the soul of the sport. John Smith even notes he could have run a sub-4 mile back in the day!