Like his older brother, Lewis, Dick Sheldon was an outstanding performer for both Yale and the New York AC. The first of his many successes came in 1896 when he won the IC4A shot. In 1897 he placed second in the shot and third in the hammer at the British championships and the following year he won the AAU shot and 56-lb. weight throw. In 1899, Sheldon confirmed his talents as an all-round weightman by taking a shot/discus double at the AAU championships and setting a world discus record of 122-3½ (37.27). In 1900, Sheldon won the British shot title with a new championship record and then crossed the Channel to Paris where he improved his best to 46-3¼ (14.10) and became the youngest ever winner of the Olympic shot put title. Reports of his being the youngest champion in an Olympic weight event are unfounded; examination of his birth certificate shows him to be born in 1878, not in 1880 as usually quoted. In addition to track, Dick Sheldon competed on the football team at Yale. After graduation he worked for the Cadillac Motor Co.
Personal Bests: SP – 14.25 (1904); DT – 37.35 (1899).
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