Steve Seymour

Stephen ("Steve") Andrew Seymour (born October 4, 1920 in New York City – died June 18, 1973 in Los Angeles) was an American athlete who competed mainly in the javelin throw.

Steve Seymour is regarded by track and field historians as America's original master technician of the event. During an era when performance levels of U.S. javelin throwers lagged well behind Europeans, Seymour spent a considerable amount of time in Finland studying the technique of that nation's world-class throwers. Seymour's research paid big dividends in 1947, when he established an American Record of 75.80 meters (248' 8") at the U.S. AAU Championships. Thanks to Steve Seymour's efforts, the American Record had been pushed to within ten feet of the global standard set by Finland's Yrjo Nikkanen in 1938.

The crowning achievement of Steve Seymour's relatively short career came in 1948, when he represented the United States at the Summer Olympics in London, winning a silver medal in the javelin throw. Seymour went on to claim two more national titles in 1948 and 1950. Then in 1951, he stood once more upon the awards podium at a major international competition; this time picking up a silver medal in the javelin at the Pan American Games.

References

* [http://www.usatf.org/statistics/champions/USAOutdoorTF/men/mJT.asp United States Track and Field]
* [http://www.usolympicteam.com/13220.htm United States Olympic Committee]