James Lightbody

James Davies Lightbody, born on 16 March 1882 in Pittsburgh and a graduate of Central High School in Muncie, Indiana, was an American middle-distance runner who won six Olympic medals in the early twentieth century, two of which are no longer recognised by the International Olympic Committee following its downgrading of the 1906 Intercalated Games. He had great success at the 1904 Summer Olympics in St. Louis, where he was not favoured in any of his three individual events yet won all three: the 2590 metre steeplechase, the 800 metres a few days later and the 1500 metres in a new world record. Later that day he added a second place with the Chicago Athletic Association in the 4 mile team event. In 1905 he won the AAU titles in the 800 and 1500 metres, and at the 1906 Intercalated Games in Athens he defended his 1500 metres title and placed second in the 800 metres. At the 1908 Summer Olympics he did not reach a final. He died in Charleston, South Carolina, in 1953.