Dave Wottle - The Greatest Comeback In Athletics History? | Throwback Thursday 

What is your favorite Olympic moment of all time? Let us know in the comments below and it might be featured in the next #ThrowbackThursday!

He went to my middle school! We have a run dedicated to him!

I remembered watching this on TV. It made me tear up with pride! Miracle on ice and Dave Wottle are my fav moments!!

He was SO Relaxed during the whole race and just blew past ALL of those runners locking up.

One of those moments that show the original Olympic spirit.

He walked off after the race like a savage

A kid I’ve known/been friends with for like 7 years is the grandchild of this dude! His name is Ethan Wottle

Omg he ran the perfect race he ran his own race☺️☺️

I was 12 years old when I saw this and it inspired me to become an 800 meter runner.

I was MVP in track at my California high school that year and seeing that was the most beautiful run. But also even better that week was lasse viren when he was in last place at the start and fell half way through only to win. He went on to win that an the 5K and repeated in '76. Only person in history to win the double double and it started with a fall.

Looks like he paced himself. That was awesome to watch.

Imagine that quiet kid waiting for everyone to tire out then throw down a killer kick

Who ever ran 800 and 1500m race, knows that it Wasn't a comeback but a perfect strategy plus outstanding performance..he knew what he was doing the guys that went crazy at the beginning didn't.

He never gave up, but was determined to do his best no matter what position he finished the race in. This is what you call RELAXING and RUNNING YOUR RACE. Just great!

This is one of my earliest Olympic memories. What a thrill, as the '72 games were overall a low point for American track & field. For excitement, Franz Klammer's '76 downhill run (and Bob Beattie's call) is hard to top!

He had an injury just a few weeks before and was unable to train. He was hoping to just not get last place. Then as the race went on, he was just hoping to get third.

Love this race for many reasons but the optical illusion of his kick is the best. He ran 26 point something for every single one of his 200m splits.

ABC was doing the Olympics that year. I remember watching this when it happened with Jim McKay and Marty Liquori calling the race. Their commentaries made it even more exciting!

I remember watching this when I was 13. I was a terrible short-distance runner, but I could hold my own at 2 miles+. So inspiring!

I saw this as an elementary schooler and it's still the most exciting big track race I've ever seen...There was an indoors track relay a long time ago, 4x400 probably, early on one guy dropped the baton, picked it back up, his team actually made up the entire distance and won by a similar margin at the finish to Dave Wottle here. Was probably collegiate at least, as it was on TV back when cable TV wasn't even popular yet.

I still consider this the greatest feat in sports history...Mr Dave Woddle heart of a champion

Very good quality upload I would love to see more from the 1972 summer Olympics in Munich.

Two things about this race which I never tire of watching after 50 years. Dave kept his head very still which would have been easy to spot with his iconic cap on. The other is he won 🏆

Dude wore a hat! He is a savage for sure! Awesome race! Ohhh and 800 views as I write this WOW!

NEVER get tired of seeing this!

He's the perfect example of slow and steady wins the race. 🙂

Una obra maestra del atletismo: sangre fría, seguridad completa en sí mismo, y el poder para atacar sostenidamente desde los últimos 200 sin entrar en pánico ni acelerar descontroladamente. Un grande de los 800

You know that guy in the lead was thinking I've got it. I'm winning... Wait...NNOOOOOooo! That was too cool!

Lasse Viren run in 10000m race was good too.

I just learned about this feat today. INCREDIBLE!!!

Galaxy Quest: Never give up. Never surrender.

Reminds me of Secretariat. Last to first!

I ran middle distance in high school, the biggest hurdle is the mind, if you can make yourself do it, you will!

Its incredible. Everone must watch it !

This shows that we should never give up.. Losers of mind are victories of Hearts...

My track coach said I reminded him of Wottle. I was 5'-5" in a race with guys 6' plus. Just when it looked like I don't have a chance. Last turn was mine.

I was in Basic Training st Fort Dix New Jersey when I watched this race All alone. I was cheering with a lump in my throat. I will never forget Dave . I think I remember that he was so taken by his victory that he forgot to remove his hat while standing on the podium for the national anthem.

This is not a comeback, this was his strategy, don't downplay it...

Wottle The Warrior.

A great run. I think the key moment, in two respects, is when the Russian runner moves quickly on the backstretch to move and Wottle follows that lead. This position him nicely AND the Russian put in quite an effort a bit too early - just enough for him to tie up in the final 10 meters or so. It was meant to be.

Great Race

Unfassbar wie geht sowas und ohne Doping, Sir Dave Wottle 👍🏆

I watched this in 1972.

Wow!!!

I feel for the Ukrainian (red singlet.) He put his cards on the table and attacked with more than 200 meters to go. He didn't look back, you just can't in a two lap race. He could see Gold in his sights, that is until Wottle showed up in his peripheral at the very last few meters. If that ain't a heartbreak Silver medal.

beautiful

I watched this. Inspired me to begin running. I even wore a Dave Wottle hat. I was 14.

Lol! He didn't even seem that excited to win! Ho hum...

It was amazing how many people started wearing hats after this!

I remember watching this

From the last to gold medal. The greatest comeback in Olympic history❤❤❤🎉🎉🎉🎉

Thank you, so you much. Though sadly, you can hear the crowd. But not the commentator. I was in London, UK at the time. Watching it on BBC or ITV. It could have been a replay later on with commentator going from steady plodding to almost hysterical as the race progresses to the finish. Time before VHS video recorders. They came out in 1976. If memory serves it became a like trade mark. I recently heard he had tendonitis prior to this race. I didn't know at the time. Even now during the race and after there did not seem any sign of it. At the end of the race, you see the athletes puffing and gasping for breath. Wottle, just strolling casually around as if he had just been for a walk in the park. Making the others guys look rank amateurs. Classic, James Bond, 007 type style.

If we include horses Rich Strike is up there. Epic comeback. Team sports in the postseason the 2004 Red Sox.

This dude didnt comeback. He put on a show. And it eas spectacular. At the end while everyone else was used up, he wasnt even breathing hard.

Never lost your hope

H.S. runner here; the 800 might be the toughest race (repeat, might). It's not a sprint, it's not a long, settle-in pace race. It's a bit of both -- and I don't know about the rest of you runners but it was my greatest challenge.

Last place with just over a half lap to go and he may of thought "I got them just where I want them".

I always ran with a hat after this

Epic

Star of David in the timer.

Greatest ever 😊

HOW is “Wottle” not a by-word for “Throttle”?

Wottle was my hero

Wouldn't call it a comeback, more like running his own race tactics.

In the end, he looked like he can do the race again while everyone else is spent.

My memory is he did not kick, I believe I read somewhere that he even splited while everyone slowed down. Although relatively speaking i guess thats a kick.

With a hat on💀

He's competition with himself ☺

Le plus beau 800 m de l'histoire

W takim sposobem biegł jak Paweł Czapiewski czy Adam Kszot i Marcin Lewandowski 😊

I think it was more of a tactical choice and not a bad start.. So its not a comeback but a genius run

I just like how he forgot to remove his hat.

Bowling Green Falcons in the house!

Are there other races by Wottle, where he repeats similar performance?

After seeing this ad I will never use grammarly.

According to the European coverage of this race, Wottle only won because the leader fell. As an American and fellow Bowling Green State University alumnus, I wonder what race they were watching because it wasn't this one.

Wooahh

Enter femke bol 4×400W 2023. i wish someone could post last 100M of these two races side by side?~ lil bro

Cómo decía Tego Calderon; llegue después y como quiera tome ventaja..

About 150 out he just went up a gear!

Dave Wottle was newly married and he brought his wife with him. And everyone said that was a mistake because she would weaken his legs. But Dave always had that amazing kick at the end of a race. Maybe he was just on a hurry to get back to his young wife?

Billy Mills 1964

WHY ARE DAVE WOTTLE VIDEOS BEING REMOVED?

He runs with a hat as well.

What was up with the hat?😅 Has he ever explained this?

No, I wouldn't give the premise that you put in this title. He ran steady splits, 0:53 and 0:53 for each lap. It only appears that he put on a great burst while actually he just didn't fall off the pace so bad like the other competitors.

The question is? Does he still have the hat? 🤷‍♂️. That hat would be worth millions today.

Аржанов рано пошел Уолт отсиделся и выстрелил ...

El.representate de USA termino parado y el de la ex sovietica tirado al piso.

Is that comeback?

🙌🙏🏼👏👏👏👍👍👍😎🥇🏆

He always wore that hat. They didn’t want him wearing it for the Olympics.

It wasn't a comeback!! He simply paced himself properly. All the others went way too fast early.

When was the last time you saw an 800m athlete wear a hat and calf high socks?

Come back of flora gueye in Zurich 4x400 woman the greatest

lets not forget about mr billy mills

That's chariots if fire what he done

I feel sorry for the russian, he got clipped or tripped up twice early and broke his stride which ended up costing him the race.

Arzhanov, the Russian, had it in the bag. He did not run through the line.

Where’s Jim McKay voice