Forrest Smithson

Forrest Smithson

Smithson and his running "style".
Personal information
Born	(1884-09-26)September 26, 1884 Portland, Oregon, USA
Died	November 25, 1962(1962-11-25) (aged 78) Contra Costa County, California, USA
Medal record Men's athletics Representing the  United States Olympic Games 1908 London 110 m hurdles

Forrest Custer Smithson (September 26, 1884 – November 25, 1962) was an American athlete, winner of 110 m hurdles at the 1908 Summer Olympics.^[1]

Born in Portland, Oregon, Smithson was a student of theology from Oregon State University and an AAU champion in 1907 and 1909 in the 120 yd (110 m) hurdles.

At London, the main favourites were Smithson's teammates John Garrels and Arthur Shaw, who had earlier equaled Alvin Kraenzlein's world record of 15.2 seconds. The 110 m hurdles were not contested on a track as usual but on a special path in the stadium grass. Only Americans reached the final, which was contested on the last day of the London Games. Smithson defeated Garrels and set a new world record of 15.0 seconds.

Forrest Smithson died in Contra Costa County, California, aged 78.