Robert Lyman "Dink" Templeton (May 27, 1897 – August 7, 1962) was an American track and field athlete, Olympic gold medalist in rugby union, college football player, and track coach.[4]

Dink Templeton
Templeton at the 1920 Olympics
Personal information
Full nameRobert Lyman Templeton
Born(1897-05-27)May 27, 1897
Helena, Montana, U.S.
DiedAugust 7, 1962(1962-08-07) (aged 65)
Palo Alto, California, U.S.
Height5 ft 10 in (178 cm)
Weight165 lb (75 kg)
Sport
SportAthletics, rugby union
Event(s)Long jump, high jump, pole vault, hurdles
ClubStanford Cardinal
Achievements and titles
Personal best(s)LJ – 7.085 m (1920)
HJ – 1.935 m (1920)
110 mH – 15.6 (1914)[1][2]
Templeton in 1929
Rugby union career
Position(s) Fullback
Amateur team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
Olympic Club RFC[3] ()
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
1920 USA 1 (5)
Medal record
Men's rugby union
Representing the  United States
Olympic Games
Gold medal – first place 1920 Antwerp Team

Personal

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Templeton was born in Helena, Montana, and attended Palo Alto High School in Palo Alto, California.[5] He attended Stanford University, where he played on the football and rugby union teams. He received both his undergraduate and law degrees from Stanford.

Olympics

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In 1920, Templeton was on the United States Olympic team in rugby and the long jump. He was handicapped in his best event, the high jump, because he normally used the Western roll jumping style, which was considered illegal at that time.[5] In the long jump, he finished out of the medals in fourth place, but the U.S. rugby team upset France to win the gold medal.[1][5][6]

Track coach

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In 1922, Templeton returned to Stanford as its track coach, a position he held until 1939. During his tenure as coach, Stanford won the NCAA Men's Outdoor Track and Field Championship in 1925, 1928, and 1934, and Stanford athletes won 19 individual titles.[5] He was noted at the time for conducting intensive daily practices, an uncommon practice at that time.[5] He later coached at the Olympic Club in San Francisco.[5]

Later life

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Templeton also had a career as a journalist and broadcaster.[5] For his coaching, he was inducted into the USA Track & Field Hall of Fame in 1976,[5] and is a member of the Stanford Athletic Hall of Fame in recognition of his coaching and as a football player.

References

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  1. ^ a b Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Dink Templeton". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on October 5, 2017.
  2. ^ "Richard Lyman 'Dink' Templeton". TrackField.brinkster.net. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016.
  3. ^ "History". Olympic Club. May 29, 1985. Archived from the original on July 11, 2012. Retrieved January 12, 2015.
  4. ^ "Dink Templeton". Olympedia. Retrieved July 20, 2021.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h "Robert Lyman (Dink) Templeton". USATF.com. Archived from the original on September 28, 2007. Retrieved July 13, 2007.
  6. ^ "Dink Templeton". databaseOlympics.com. Archived from the original on September 29, 2007. Retrieved July 13, 2007.
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