Wesley Coe facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Wesley Coe

Coe at the Chicago Daily News building, 1904
Personal information
Full name	Wesley William Coe Jr.
Born	May 8, 1879 Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
Died	December 24, 1926(1926-12-24) (aged 47) Bozeman, Montana, U.S.
Height	5 ft 10 in
Weight	209 lb
Sport
Sport	Track and field athletics
Event(s)	Shot put
Medal record Men's athletics Representing the  United States Olympic Games Silver 1904 St. Louis Shot put

Wesley William Coe Jr. (born May 8, 1879 – died December 24, 1926) was an American track and field athlete. He was best known for competing in the shot put. He also took part in the hammer throw, discus throw, and even tug of war.

Wesley Coe was born in Boston, Massachusetts. He went to the University of Oxford in England. There, he became the shot put champion of England in 1901 and 1902. He was also the first American athlete to earn a "blue" award. This award is given for high-level sports achievements at Oxford or Cambridge universities.

In 1902, Coe came back to the United States. He won a silver medal in the shot put at the 1904 Summer Olympics in St. Louis, Missouri. Between 1905 and 1907, he set new world records in different shot put events. He was also part of the Michigan Wolverines men's track and field team. With them, he won a national championship in shot put in 1906.

At the 1908 Summer Olympics in London, England, he finished fourth in the shot put. Even at 41 years old in 1920, he won an event at the British Championships.

Becoming an Athlete: Early Years

Wesley Coe was born in Boston in 1879. He grew up in Somerville, Massachusetts. His parents were William W. Coe Sr. and Annie Coe.

He started school in Boston. Then he went to special preparatory schools. In 1897, while at Noble and Greenough School, he was already competing in the shot put. He threw the shot 35 feet, 7 inches. In 1898, he won the interscholastic championship. His throw was 41 feet, 9 inches.

In 1899, he joined the Princeton Preparatory School. In 1900, he won the junior championship for the Amateur Athletic Union (A.A.U.).

Coe's Amazing Sports Career

Competing at Oxford and Yale

In 1901, Coe went to Hartford College at the University of Oxford in England. He became the shot put champion of England in both 1901 and 1902. He was the first American athlete to get a "blue" award. He earned it by helping Oxford beat Cambridge University. He won both the shot put and hammer throw events. In 1901, he threw 44 feet, 3 inches. In 1902, he improved to 44 feet, 10 inches.

Coe returned to the United States in 1902. Many thought he would go to Harvard University. But he chose Yale University instead. He was expected to play football at Yale. However, he could not play during the 1902 season. Coe only stayed at Yale for one term.

The 1904 Olympics Challenge

Coe at the 1904 Summer Olympics in St. Louis.

On July 4, 1904, Coe broke a world record in shot put. He threw 48 feet, 6 inches in his hometown of Somerville, Massachusetts. But the Amateur Athletic Union did not officially recognize this record.

Two months later, Coe competed for the United States at the 1904 Summer Olympics. These games were held in St Louis, Missouri. The 1904 Olympics started a big rivalry between Coe and another athlete, Ralph Rose. They often competed to see who was best in the shot put. Rose was a very tall man, over six feet, five inches. He was much taller than Coe.

At the 1904 Olympics, Rose set a new Olympic record on his first try. He threw 14.35 meters. But Coe threw even further on his first try, 14.40 meters! In the end, Rose won the gold medal. He set a new Olympic record and tied his own unofficial world record with a throw of 14.81 meters. Coe won the silver medal, coming in second place. Another American, Lawrence Feuerbach, won the bronze medal.

Setting World Records

After the 1904 Olympics, Ralph Rose beat Coe again at a competition in Boston. Coe decided he wanted to break Rose's world record. He worked very hard to improve his throwing style.

In February 1905, many people came to watch Coe at an indoor event in Medford, Massachusetts. Rose was there as a guest. He wished Coe good luck before his first throw. Coe did not break the record on his first four tries. As Coe got ready for his last throw, Rose encouraged him. He said Coe was in great form and could do it.

The Boston Globe newspaper described Coe's final throw. Coe smiled at Rose's words. He held the shot carefully. Then, with a quick hop and spring, he threw the ball. It went high and landed far past his earlier throws. Rose shouted, "You've got it, Coe, and I congratulate you!"

Coe's throw was first measured at 49 feet, 2-1/2 inches. Later, it was changed slightly to 49 feet, 1-7/8 inches. This distance was longer than Rose's world record of 48.6 feet.

Coe had been denied records before because officials weren't strict enough. But this time, his record throw was measured many times. They wanted to make sure it would count. The shot was weighed carefully. Newspaper reporters and sports officials were there. The shot weighed exactly 16 pounds. The Boston Globe said there was "no longer any doubt" about the new record. However, a sports committee later said the record would not count. They said the shot was not "solid lead" and the starting line was not "regulation."

Joining the University of Michigan

In March 1905, it was announced that Coe would go to the University of Michigan. His rival, Ralph Rose, had also gone to Michigan. Coe started at the University of Michigan in the fall of 1905.

In December 1905, Coe traveled to Portland, Oregon, to compete against Ralph Rose. Coe broke the world record again! He threw the 16-pound shot 49 feet, 6 inches. This was almost a foot further than the old record of 48 feet, 7 inches. The Detroit Free Press newspaper said Coe was the top "record-smasher" of the year.

In March 1906, there was a question about Coe's right to compete. Rules said athletes who went to another college had to wait a year. While this was being decided, Coe could still compete for Michigan. In April 1906, Coe won the national college championship in shot put. He also came in second in the discus. His efforts helped the Michigan Wolverines men's track and field team win their fourth national team championship in a row.

In May 1906, the Western Conference decided Coe could not compete in their events.

More Records with Boston Athletic Association

In December 1906, the Boston Athletic Association (B.A.A.) announced their new team. It included champions like Coe.

In February 1907, Coe set another world record. He threw the 8-pound shot 63 feet, 1-7/8 inches. This happened at an indoor event in Medford, Massachusetts. His throw even hit the ceiling 20 feet up! It was almost five inches further than the old record.

In March 1907, Coe broke his own 8-pound shot put record. He also broke the world record for the 12-pound shot put. He set these records at a meet in St. Louis. His new records were 53 feet, 6-1/2 inches for the 12-pound shot put. And 62 feet, 8-1/4 inches for the 8-pound shot put.

The 1908 Summer Olympics in London

In June 1908, Coe was chosen to compete for the United States again. This time, it was at the 1908 Summer Olympics in London. The shot put event was on July 15, 1908. Coe finished in fourth place. Ralph Rose won the gold medal. Coe also competed in the tug of war for the U.S. team.

Later Life and Legacy

After the 1908 Olympics, Coe worked with his father in the mining business in California. Later, he moved to Detroit, Michigan. There, he worked as a research chemist.

Around 1916, Coe married Evelyn Coe. She was from England. They had two children. Coe continued to compete in shot put sometimes, even into his 30s. He came in second at a championship in 1912. In 1920, he won the 56-pound weight event at the British Championships.

In June 1926, Coe became ill. His doctor told him to move to Bozeman, Montana. He worked as a chemist there. Wesley Coe passed away on December 24, 1926, at age 47. He died from a type of cancer called Hodgkin's disease. His wife and two children survived him.

Images for kids

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  Coe at the 1904 Summer Olympics in St. Louis.

See also

In Spanish: William Wesley Coe para niños