1. Stephen Andrew Seymour was an American physician and track and field coach and athlete, who in the 1948 London Olympics won America's first silver medal in the javelin throw, a feat that to-date would be repeated only in the 1952 Olympics.
13 Facts About Steve Seymour
1. 2.
Steve Seymour threw javelin for his Middletown, Pennsylvania, High School track team, and then for his college team, Franklin and Marshall in Lancaster, setting a school record of 208 feet or 63.4 meters after several years of competition.
3.
Steve Seymour helped improve and popularize a throwing position with more of a straight arm release with the arm over the head and close to vertical at one point.
4.
Steve Seymour's method seemed to more effectively use the muscle strength in the arms, shoulders, back and chest to power the throw than a side arm technique.
5.
Steve Seymour was an innovator in the development of strength training techniques specific to the javelin throw.
6.
Steve Seymour won the AAU Junior in 1941, still under the name Seymour Cohen, but changed it not long after.
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Steve Seymour coached track and attended the Philadelphia College of Osteopathy after college, then transferred to the Los Angeles College of Osteopathy in 1944, and married in June of that year, eventually having three children.
8.
Steve Seymour became the first American to take a silver in the sport, though his winning throw of 67.56 meters was shorter than his American record as it was hampered by poor weather and a somewhat overworked and sore elbow.
9.
In 1950, Steve Seymour added a third national championship to his collection; and in 1951 he was the silver medalist at the Pan American Games.
10.
Unable to compete, Steve Seymour took sixth place in the 1952 Olympic finals, and did not qualify for the 1956 Olympic finals.
11.
Steve Seymour researched written material on the sport including translations.
12.
Steve Seymour advocated the use of somewhat heavier javelins for stronger competitors to provide more thrust.
13.
Steve Seymour died of a suspected heart attack at 52 in Los Angeles on June 18,1973.