This is a gem of a running vignette! As high school runners at the time, my brother and I were fascinated by Rick Wohlhuter - his matter-of-fact humility, the unusual way he would hold his fists clenched while at a full gallop, gritting his teeth, digging in tenaciously, and that plucky, long, loose-limbed gazelle-like stride...he is always fascinating to watch! Thank you for this wonderful informative clip!
Thank you for the great comment, Kenneth! Interesting that you should mention his "matter-of-fact humility"! You get that sense of him just by watching this clip: th-cam.com/video/NU5KThVTv6A/w-d-xo.html I'm glad you enjoyed my little clip of him too. I'll be doing more historic athletics documentaries as well as more contemporary athletics videos, though they do take such a long time to do. Please feel free to check out my full documentaries on Tom Byers and Ian Stewart? Thanks again.
@@PrentisHancock1 Prentis yes. In leading up to the 1976 Olympics, there was an interview where the journalist was prodding away with annoying questions, and Rich Wohlhuter maintained a steady dignity. He was an insurance salesman in Chicago at the time, and the interviewer said: 'Do you think about insurance when you're running?' To which Rick replied: "No. I think about running when I'm running. I think about insurance when I'm at the office'. Somehow, that kind of made an impression on me, favorably. It was with sinking grief that I watched Rick Wohlhuter begin treading water, as if he were running in Treacle, in the last fifty meters of the Olympic 800m. But then, my momentary grief was eclipsed by the regal magnificence of the mighty Juantorena. Even still, Rick ran a 1:44.12 800m. We should have seen more out of him. Probably he could have been the first guy to begin running 1:42's.
He was certainly capable; they just didn't have the belief in themselves in the 1970s. Juantorena, Van Damme , and Wohlhuter were outstanding in their era.
If I’m not mistaken, there’s a story about Ian Stewart going out for a long run when he spotted a dead body, he kept on going, and on his way back, he placed a call to the police to report the incident, upon arrival, the police asked’em how long ago he saw it, and he said a couple of hours ago, then questioned him as per why 2 hours later, his response was, well, the guy is already dead and I had to finish my run.
I really enjoy your videos. Having just watched the one on Ian Stewart I am beginning learn about guys I'd never heard of as they were in the time just before I was old enough to remember!
Thanks again Prentis for another nice little video of Rick Wohlhuter, and a very interesting stat about that 1000 meters record. He was a very good athlete, getting a bronze medal in the 1976 Olympics in the 800 meters, and then . by competing in the 1500 meters final. By the way I left an extra comment for you on the Ian Stewart video, so check it out
Thank you, John! Yes, he was a good athlete, very slim and very long striding. It always looked like he was over-striding. He did well to get third behind Juantorena in 1976. By the way, have you seen my documentary on Tom Byers?
@@PrentisHancock1 Thank you, great footage of an overlooked athlete. Similar build to Coe, and I would say that Rick's times stand up for the same reason that Coe still ranks number three all-time at 800m. Unfortunately for Rick the Olympic games came 2 years too late for him as he was probably the best 800m runner in the world in 1974 when he set a personal best of 1:43.90 and broke the 1000m world record. He has dismissed its longevity as the American record as just the consequence of the infrequency of the event’s running. But that doesn’t explain why it has withstood annual assaults and the next best American is still two seconds slower.
Thanks for the great comment, Gunter. I totally agree with you. Rick was perfectly built to tackle the 1000m, like Coe was. There have been few Americans capable of getting close, such as Clayton Murphy, Donovan Brazier and Nick Symmonds, and they've not given themselves the opportunities to put on a decent assault on the distance when they've been at their peaks.
@@Ruda-n4h That 1:43.9 was for 880 yards, roughly = to a 1:43.3 800 meters, which was faster than the WR for 800 meters until 1979 and faster than the American record for 800 meters until 1985. Unfortunately, no official time was taken at 800 meters (as was also the case with Jim Ryun's 1966 time of 1:44.9 for 880 yards).
This is a gem of a running vignette! As high school runners at the time, my brother and I were fascinated by Rick Wohlhuter - his matter-of-fact humility, the unusual way he would hold his fists clenched while at a full gallop, gritting his teeth, digging in tenaciously, and that plucky, long, loose-limbed gazelle-like stride...he is always fascinating to watch! Thank you for this wonderful informative clip!
Thank you for the great comment, Kenneth! Interesting that you should mention his "matter-of-fact humility"! You get that sense of him just by watching this clip:
th-cam.com/video/NU5KThVTv6A/w-d-xo.html
I'm glad you enjoyed my little clip of him too. I'll be doing more historic athletics documentaries as well as more contemporary athletics videos, though they do take such a long time to do. Please feel free to check out my full documentaries on Tom Byers and Ian Stewart? Thanks again.
@@PrentisHancock1 Prentis yes. In leading up to the 1976 Olympics, there was an interview where the journalist was prodding away with annoying questions, and Rich Wohlhuter maintained a steady dignity. He was an insurance salesman in Chicago at the time, and the interviewer said: 'Do you think about insurance when you're running?' To which Rick replied: "No. I think about running when I'm running. I think about insurance when I'm at the office'. Somehow, that kind of made an impression on me, favorably. It was with sinking grief that I watched Rick Wohlhuter begin treading water, as if he were running in Treacle, in the last fifty meters of the Olympic 800m. But then, my momentary grief was eclipsed by the regal magnificence of the mighty Juantorena. Even still, Rick ran a 1:44.12 800m. We should have seen more out of him. Probably he could have been the first guy to begin running 1:42's.
He was certainly capable; they just didn't have the belief in themselves in the 1970s. Juantorena, Van Damme , and Wohlhuter were outstanding in their era.
@@PrentisHancock1 Big Time! I was shocked to hear about Van Damme's untimely demise, there was so much more to come out of him!
I think that's a very young, pre world mile record John Walker finishing third.
If I’m not mistaken, there’s a story about Ian Stewart going out for a long run when he spotted a dead body, he kept on going, and on his way back, he placed a call to the police to report the incident, upon arrival, the police asked’em how long ago he saw it, and he said a couple of hours ago, then questioned him as per why 2 hours later, his response was, well, the guy is already dead and I had to finish my run.
Thanks for the great comment, Otto! That's a great story! I wonder if it is true?
@@PrentisHancock1 As far as I remember yes, but for sure it was a famous British runner. Read the story on a running book a few years ago.
50 years very soon
I really enjoy your videos.
Having just watched the one on Ian Stewart I am beginning learn about guys I'd never heard of as they were in the time just before I was old enough to remember!
Thanks for the great comment, Douglas. I'm glad you enjoyed them. I'll be making more like these in the future. Stay in touch. Best wishes, Prentis.
Thanks again Prentis for another nice little video of Rick Wohlhuter, and a very interesting stat about that 1000 meters record. He was a very good athlete, getting a bronze medal in the 1976 Olympics in the 800 meters, and then . by competing in the 1500 meters final. By the way I left an extra comment for you on the Ian Stewart video, so check it out
Thank you, John! Yes, he was a good athlete, very slim and very long striding. It always looked like he was over-striding. He did well to get third behind Juantorena in 1976. By the way, have you seen my documentary on Tom Byers?
@@PrentisHancock1 Thank you, great footage of an overlooked athlete. Similar build to Coe, and I would say that Rick's times stand up for the same reason that Coe still ranks number three all-time at 800m. Unfortunately for Rick the Olympic games came 2 years too late for him as he was probably the best 800m runner in the world in 1974 when he set a personal best of 1:43.90 and broke the 1000m world record. He has dismissed its longevity as the American record as just the consequence of the infrequency of the event’s running. But that doesn’t explain why it has withstood annual assaults and the next best American is still two seconds slower.
Thanks for the great comment, Gunter. I totally agree with you. Rick was perfectly built to tackle the 1000m, like Coe was. There have been few Americans capable of getting close, such as Clayton Murphy, Donovan Brazier and Nick Symmonds, and they've not given themselves the opportunities to put on a decent assault on the distance when they've been at their peaks.
@@Ruda-n4h That 1:43.9 was for 880 yards, roughly = to a 1:43.3 800 meters, which was faster than the WR for 800 meters until 1979 and faster than the American record for 800 meters until 1985. Unfortunately, no official time was taken at 800 meters (as was also the case with Jim Ryun's 1966 time of 1:44.9 for 880 yards).
@@WithBACON I am confused. I have always seen the 1:43:9 recorded as an 800m time on 22.6.74. What was Rick's personal best for a straight 800m then?
Unter rated and poorly coached by the laughable usa track Olympic group.
in an era where they didnt have doping tests though... so that makes up for it lol
@@abeaver4300 Rick by all accounts was a clean athlete. Unlike at least one of the runners who beat him in 1976.