David Sime

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Olympic medal record
Men's Athletics
Silver	1960 Rome	100 metres

David William "Dave" Sime (born July 25, 1936) is a former American athlete. He never won a major title but he ranked as one of the fastest humans of all time, holding several sprint records during the late 1950s.

Born in Paterson, New Jersey, David Sime became a star in 1956 while attending Duke University as a member of the baseball and track & field teams. (He is now "one of the infamous ten")"The 10". He and fellow American Bobby Joe Morrow had some great duels that year but an injury ruined his Olympic hopes. Four years later, in Rome, he was second in the Olympic 100 m before anchoring the U.S. to a victory in the 4x100 m relay. However, the U.S. team was disqualified for passing out of the zone, and Sime lost his chance at an Olympic gold medal. During his career, he held world records at 100 yd, 220 yd, and the 220 yd low hurdles. After college, Sime became an ophthalmologist in Florida.

    The story of David Sime is movie material.  He came to Duke on a baseball scholarship, and had never run track in his life.  The Duke track coach happened to see this long lanky figure while attending a baseball game.  He asked permission from Duke's baseball coach to let him work out with the track team.  His coach agreed provided there was not a baseball game that day.  In his first track meet he was entered into the 100 yard, 220 yard, and the 440 yard event.  Never having raced before in his life in his first track event (against the Univ. of Maryland) he set the world's record for the 100.  He did the same in the 220 setting a new world record.  Not to be outdone, in the 440, Sime set a new world record in that event.  He still holds the record at Duke for the 100 and 220.  

    The story does not end.  Duke's football coach approached him the following season, again getting permission from his baseball coach.  Playing the position of "lonesome end" Duke played Notre Dame in their first game.  On the first play from scrimmage, Sime caught a touchdown pass.  The next time Duke was on offense,  the first play, Sime caught another touchdown pass.  After that Notre Dame had 3 men on Sime the entire game.  Duke defeated Notre Dame that day.