In just over two months, the 2012 Summer Olympics will capture the World’s attention. Some 5 billion people will watch at least part of the action, more people than will tune in to anything else all year long. Dreams will come true, legends will form, names will be etched into the ethereal pantheon of Olympic lore, to mingle with the likes of Muhammad Ali and Jim Thorpe, Jesse Owens and Michael Jordan.
But, unfortunately, whatever names rise up in London this summer, they won’t mingle with that of John Baxter Taylor — no matter how much they should, seeing as he is the first black American to win gold, and in London no less. That’s because the name of this sensational quarter-miler is largely forgotten.
Taylor was, by all accounts, smart and thoughtful, gentle and elegant. With a desire to take care of animals, he managed to graduate from the University of Pennsylvania’s cutting-edge veterinary school, earning the praise of teachers and students alike. And, my word, could he run. In 1903 the tall and lanky Taylor, with his astounding 8-foot, 6-inch stride, set the world record in the 400 meters. In 1907, he won the national indoor championship in the 600.
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