Athletes - Mel Sheppard

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	Athletes - Mel Sheppard

Melvin Whinfield "Mel" Sheppard (September 5, 1883 - January 4, 1942) was an American athlete, winner of four gold medals at the 1908 Summer Olympics and 1912 Summer Olympics.

Born in Almonesson Lake, New Jersey, Mel Sheppard, or "Peerless Mel" as he was nicknamed, was rejected by the New York Police because he had a weak heart. But this didn't stop him to win three AAU titles in 880 yd (805 m) from 1906 to 1908 and became a main favourite in middle distance at London Olympics.

Noted for being a frontrunner, Sheppard ran the first 400 metres of the 800 metres race in 53 seconds and went on to win in the world record time of 1.52.8.

He also won the 1,500 metres. He set an Olympic record at 4:05.0 in the first round that fell in the very next heat, when Norman Hallows ran a 4:03.6. Sheppard matched Hallows' time in the final to win the gold medal.

He earned his third gold medal on the medley relay race. He was the final runner on the American team, running fully half of the 1,600 metre race. Even without being in as good of form as he had been in the individual races, Sheppard had little trouble retaining the leads giving to him by his teammates, William F. Hamilton, Nathaniel Cartmell, and John Taylor. The team won both the first round and final, in times of 3:27.2 and 3:29.4. Sheppard's 800 metre split for the final was 1:55.4.

After winning an AAU titles in 880 yd in 1911 and 1912, Sheppard was again a main favourite of Olympic 800 m champion title at the Stockholm Olympics. At Stockholm, he tried the same tactics as in London, but after an opening lap of 52.4, he was overtaken by teammate Ted Meredith who set a new world record of 1.51.9. Sheppard won his fourth gold medal as lead-off runner on the 4 x 400 m relay team that set a world record of 3:16.6.

After retiring from sports Sheppard became a lawyer (he was one of the defenders of the Lindbergh child kidnapper Bruno Hauptmann). For many years, he was also the recreation director of the Millrose A.A.

Mel Sheppard died in Queens, New York City.

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