Larry Snyder (athlete)
| Sport(s) | Track and field |
|---|---|
| Biographical details | |
| Born |
August 9, 1896 Canton, Ohio |
| Died | September 25, 1982 (aged 86) |
| Alma mater | Ohio State University |
| Playing career | |
| 1922-1924 | Ohio State University |
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
| 1932-1942 | Ohio State University |
| 1946-1965 | Ohio State University |
| 1952 | U.S. Olympic Team (assistant) |
| 1960 | U.S. Olympic Team |
| Accomplishments and honors | |
| Awards | |
| |
Lawrence "Larry" Snyder (August 9, 1896 – September 25, 1982) was an American track and field athlete, coach, and military veteran. He served as the track and field coach at Ohio State University over the span of 1932 to 1965.[1]
Larry Snyder was portrayed by Jason Sudeikis in the 2016 biopic, Race, about African American Olympic athlete Jesse Owens.[2]
Military career
Snyder was a pilot instructor in World War I and served in the U.S. Navy in World War II.[3]
Coaching career
Snyder was due to participate in the 1924 Summer Olympics in Paris as a runner but was injured in an aeroplane crash a few weeks before he was due to set out. This ended his hope of an athletic career, leaving him only the option of being a coach and training others.
The most heralded athlete coached by Larry Snyder was Jesse Owens, and Coach Snyder helped improve Jesse's techniques and performance.[4] Other successful athletes coached by Snyder were Dave Albritton, Glenn Davis and "Marvelous Mal" Whitfield.[3] All told, Snyder's OSU athletes set 14 world records, won 52 All-Americans certificates and eight Olympic gold medals.[1]
Olympic coaching career
Snyder was the U.S. track and field assistant coach in 1952 (Helsinki) and the head coach in 1960 (Rome).[1] Under his coaching, the 1952 USA team won 40 medals in Helsinki[5] and the 1960 team won 32 medals in Rome.[6]
References
- 1 2 3 "Hall of Fame". USATF. 1982-09-25. Retrieved 2016-09-26.
- ↑ "Race Chronicles Jesse Owens's Rise to Olympic Glory". The New York Times. Retrieved 2016-09-26.
- 1 2 "Larry Snyder, USTFCCCA Special Inductee ::: U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association". Ustfccca. 2013-10-07. Retrieved 2016-09-26.
- ↑ "Jesse Owens | The Ohio State University". Library.osu.edu. Retrieved 2016-09-26.
- ↑ "Track & Field results for the 1952 Summer Olympics". Databaseolympics.com. Retrieved 2016-09-26.
- ↑ "Track & Field results for the 1960 Summer Olympics". Databasesports.com. Retrieved 2016-09-26.
