Bill Schmidt

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William David "Bill" Schmidt (born December 29, 1947 in Muse , Pennsylvania ) is a former American athlete who was successful as a javelin thrower in the 1970s . He achieved the following placements at the American championships:

year 1972 1974 1975 1976 1978 1979
Expanse 256-2 (4.) 261-7 (4.) 253-10 (6.) 263-3 (3.) 276-9 MASTERS 262-11 (3.)

Schmidt took part in the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich . At first he was lucky that the US championships were not considered to be Olympic elimination, because in that case he would have had to stay at home in fourth place. In contrast, he won the trials with 270-6. In Munich he had luck on his side again. He missed the required qualifying distance of 80 m, but since only seven throwers exceeded this mark, but twelve throwers were scheduled for the final, he was allowed to move up. Now he literally exploded and landed two throws far beyond the 80-m line with 84.42 m and 84.12 m. He won the bronze medal behind Klaus Wolfermann and Jānis Lūsis , both of whom came over 90 m, and in front of the unfortunate Finn Hannu Siitonen , who was 11 cm short of winning a medal.

At the Universiade in Rome in 1975 he won the silver medal with 80.20 m behind the Romanian Gheorghe Megelea (gold with 81.30 m).

Schmidt had already set his personal best in 1970 with 85.52 m.

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