| rdfs:comment | - Tommie Smith began life quietly, born to Richard and Dora Smith on June 6, 1944, in Clarksville, Texas, the seventh of 12 children. Tommie Smith survived a life-threatening bout of pneumonia as an infant. Although born in Clarksville, Texas, Tommie began his incredible career in Lemoore, California, when as a fourth grade student he was asked to race against the fastest runner in the school - incidentally, his sister. He went on to become the only man in the history of track and field to hold eleven world records in athletics simultaneously. By the time he graduated from high school, he had been voted “Most Valuable Athlete” three years straight, in basketball, football, and track and field.
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| abstract | - Tommie Smith began life quietly, born to Richard and Dora Smith on June 6, 1944, in Clarksville, Texas, the seventh of 12 children. Tommie Smith survived a life-threatening bout of pneumonia as an infant. Although born in Clarksville, Texas, Tommie began his incredible career in Lemoore, California, when as a fourth grade student he was asked to race against the fastest runner in the school - incidentally, his sister. He went on to become the only man in the history of track and field to hold eleven world records in athletics simultaneously. By the time he graduated from high school, he had been voted “Most Valuable Athlete” three years straight, in basketball, football, and track and field. While attending Lemoore High School in Lemoore, California, Smith showed great potential, setting most of the school's track records, many of which remain. He won the 440 yard dash in the 1963 CIF California State Meet. His achievements won him a scholarship to San Jose State. On May 7, 1966 while he was at San Jose State, Smith set a world best of 19.5 seconds in the 200 metres straight, which he ran on a cinder track. That "world best" for 200 metres was finally beaten by Tyson Gay on May 16, 2010, just over 44 years later., though Smith still holds the best for the slightly longer 220 yard event. Since the IAAF has abandoned ratifying records for the event, Smith will retain the official record for the straightaway 200 metres/220 yards in perpetuity. Smith won the national collegiate 220-yard (201.17 m) title in 1967 before adding the AAU furlong (201.17m) crown as well. He traveled to Japan for the 1967 Summer Universiade and won the 200 m gold medal. He repeated as AAU 200 m champion in 1968 and made the Olympic team.
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