Did You Know? Forgotten Hellertown Native Won Gold at 1920 Olympics

The Saucon Valley is again in the Olympics spotlight, thanks to Morgan Craft–a Lower Saucon Township resident who will compete for gold in International Skeet shooting at the Rio de Janeiro Summer Games this Friday.

But Craft isn’t the first person with Saucon Valley connections to reach for Olympic greatness.

Nearly a century ago, forgotten Hellertown native Allen Woodring won a gold medal in the 200 meter dash at the 1920 Summer Olympics in Antwerp, Belgium, where he ran the race in just 22 seconds–a personal best.

Woodring–who stood 5 feet 11 inches tall and weighed 161 pounds–was born in Hellertown on Feb. 15, 1898 and died in 1982 in Clearwater, Fla., at the age of 84, according to the Wikipedia entry about him.

According to various sources, he was not supposed to compete at the 1920 Games at all, but was a surprise last minute replacement for another sprinter. More surprising was the fact that he edged fellow American and favorite to win the race Charles “Charlie” Paddock, 20, to win the gold medal.

Texas native Paddock won the silver medal in the 200 meter race and a gold medal in the 100 meter dash at Antwerp, and went on to compete on the American team at the 1924 Paris Olympics, according to various online sources.

In Woodring’s case, the 1920 Olympics were apparently his only moment of athletic glory.

An article about the games on a Belgian website describes him as “taciturn,” and a man of few words, but a dedicated athlete.

He was described as follows: ‘Allen, if he could avoid it, never spoke. He lived a very unsportmanslike life, and was one of the most studious and conscientious athletes.’ He finished only fifth and could not therefore be placed at the US trials for the Antwerp Games. Just before the departure to Antwerp, he was still selected, at the expense of George Massengale, fourth at the trials. Woodring was a very diligent and conscientious athlete. He trained so diligently that shortly after his arrival in Antwerp, his spikes gave way. (Translated from French by Google translation tool)

Woodring was a Syracuse University graduate and spent his career working as a sporting goods salesman for the Spalding Company, according to his Wikipedia article. Details about his later life appear to be largely unknown.

For more facts about Woodring’s athletic career, click here.

FACTS ABOUT THE 1920 OLYMPIC GAMES (Source: Wikipedia)

• The Games were the first to be held in eight years. The 1916 Olympics–which were to have been held in Berlin, Germany–were canceled following the outbreak of World War I.
• The 1920 Olympics were the first in which the Olympic Oath was recited.
• The United States dominated at the Games, winning at total of 41 gold, 27 silver and 27 bronze medals.
• The month-long Games featured one week of winter sports, which was highlighted by the debut of ice hockey as an Olympic sport.
• More than 2,600 athletes representing 29 nations competed at the Games, which were held from mid-August to mid-September.

Note: All photographic illustrations in this article are in the public domain.