John Kuck

John Henry Kuck (April 27, 1905 – September 21, 1986) was an American athlete who mainly competed in the shot put.

Born in Wilson, Kansas, Kuck competed for the United States at the 1928 Summer Olympics held in Amsterdam, Netherlands where he won the gold medal in the men's shot put event.

One of the world's great track and field athletes of the 1920s, Kuck set over hundred records in the shot put, javelin and discus throw during his career. He enrolled at Kansas State Teachers College where he became the 1926 national collegiate champion in the shot put and javelin and world record holder in the shot put.

After his sophomore year, Kuck dropped out of college and joined the Kansas City Athletic Club and later the Olympic Club in San Francisco. He was one of the first men ever to record distances of over 50 feet with the 16-pound shot, 214 feet with the javelin and 140 feet with the discus. Kuck concluded his career by winning the gold medal in the shot at the 1928 Summer Olympics in Amsterdam despite nursing a broken left ankle. His effort of 15.87 m (52'-0 3/4") broke the previous world record by almost 13 inches.

Kuck was an assistant track and field coach at the University of Kansas in 1929, but after his days of competing were over, Kuck worked in the timber business and operated a resort in Idaho. He and his wife returned to Wilson, Kansas, in 1972. Kuck has also been inducted into the Helms Foundation Hall of Fame, Emporia State Hall of Fame and Drake Relays Hall of Fame.

References

* [http://www.kshof.org/hof-profiles.cfm?record_id=28 Profile]