Paul Pilgrim
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Paul Harry Pilgrim (October 26, 1883 - January 8, 1958) was an American athlete, winner of three gold medals at the 1904 and 1906 Summer Olympics.
Although a gold medal winner of 4 miles team race at St. Louis Olympics, Paul Pilgrim was virtually unknown until the "intercalated" Olympics of 1906.
At St. Louis, Pilgrim competed in 400 m and 800 m runs, but didn't achieve any success. He finished sixth in a four mile run, therefore aiding his club (New York Athletic Club) to win a gold.
At Athens, Pilgrim was an 11th-hour addition to the team. He travelled to Athens by his own hand, therefore missing the great wave, that washed over the deck of the ship in Gibraltar, on which the rest of the US Olympic Team travelled. The wave injured about half-dozen athletes aboard the deck, including Harry Hillman, a big favourite in 400 m.
In 400 m, Pilgrim was third before the final straight, but managed to pass Wyndham Halswelle of Great Britain and Nigel Barker of Australia to win in time of 53.2. In 800 m, to everyone's surprise, Pilgrim passed a big favourite James Lightbody on a final lap and won a close competition by 2 feet.
At 1908 Summer Olympics in London Pilgrim didn't made to the semi-finals and he never won a major competition again.
| Olympic medalists in athletics (men) | Olympic Champions in Men's 400 m |
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Tom Burke | Maxey Long | Harry Hillman | Paul Pilgrim | Wyndham Halswelle | Charles Reidpath | Bevil Rudd | Eric Liddell | Ray Barbuti | Bill Carr | Archie Williams | Arthur Wint | George Rhoden | Charlie Jenkins | Otis Davis | Michael Larrabee | Lee Evans | Vincent Matthews | Alberto Juantorena | Viktor Markin | Alonzo Babers | Steve Lewis | Quincy Watts | Michael Johnson (twice) | Jeremy Wariner |
| Olympic medalists in athletics (men) | Olympic Champions in Men's 800 m |
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Teddy Flack | Alfred Tysoe | Jim Lightbody | Paul Pilgrim | Mel Sheppard | Ted Meredith | Albert Hill | Douglas Lowe (twice) | Thomas Hampson | John Woodruff | Mal Whitfield (twice) | Tom Courtney | Peter Snell (twice) | Ralph Doubell | Dave Wottle | Alberto Juantorena | Steve Ovett | Joaquim Cruz | Paul Ereng | William Tanui | Vebjørn Rodal | Nils Schumann | Yuriy Borzakovskiy |