Walter Pritchard
{{Short description|American track and field Olympian}}
{{Infobox sportsperson
| name = Walter H. Pritchard
| birth_date = {{birth date|1910|04|14}}
| birth_place = Hancock, New York
| death_date = {{death date and age|1982|08|31|1910|04|14}}
| death_place = Cleveland, Ohio, United States
| collegeteam = Hamilton College (1929–1932)
| nationality = American
| sport = Athletics
| event = 3000 meter steeplechase
}}
Walter Herbert Pritchard (April 14, 1910, Hancock, New York – August 31, 1982) was an American track and field Olympian and cardiologist. He is credited with contributing to the science of cardiac resuscitation and defibrillation to restart the human heart.{{cite journal |last1=Beck |first1=C. S. |last2=Pritchard |first2=W. H. |last3=Feil | first3=H. S. |title=Ventricular Fibrillation of Long Duration Abolished by Electric Shock |journal=Journal of the American Medical Association |date=13 December 1947 |volume=135 |issue=15 |pages=985 |doi=10.1001/jama.1947.62890150005007a |pmid=20272528 |display-authors=2 }}
Athletic career
Pritchard broke the American record in the 3000 meter steeplechase on July 16, 1932 while qualifying for the 1932 Los Angeles Olympics at the U.S. Olympic Trials. Fordham's Joseph McCluskey won the trials that day and ultimately held the American record. Pritchard would go on to finish eighth in the Olympics later that summer in a race that is considered one of the biggest errors in Olympic history.{{cite web | title = Spring 2012 Seldom Told Tales| url = https://www.hamilton.edu/magazine/spring12/seldom-told-tales | publisher = Hamilton College | date = Spring 2012 }} Officials incorrectly counted the number of laps completed and forced runners to complete an extra lap.{{cite web | title = The Unseen Hurdle in the Steeplechase at the 1932 Los Angeles Olympics: When 3,000 Meters Measured About 3,460| url = https://theolympians.co/2017/02/25/the-unseen-hurdle-in-the-steeplechase-at-the-1932-los-angeles-olympics-when-3000-meters-measured-about-3460/ | publisher = The Olympians | date = February 25, 2017 }} In honor of Pritchard, Hamilton College, where Pritchard attended college, named the track and field facility after him.{{cite web | title = Love Field/Pritchard Field | url = http://athletics.hamilton.edu/facilties/Love_Field-Pritchard_Track | publisher = Hamilton College| date = August 2, 2016 }}
Cardiology career
He graduated from Harvard Medical School. After college Pritchard became a preeminent cardiologist. He helped develop the science of cardiac resuscitation and defibrillation to restart the human heart. During his career he was Director of Cardiology and Chief of Staff at the University Hospitals of Cleveland and Argyl J. Beams Professor of Medicine at the Case Western Reserve University.{{cite web | title = Spring 2012 Seldom Told Tales| url = https://www.hamilton.edu/magazine/spring12/seldom-told-tales | publisher = Hamilton College | date = Spring 2012 }}{{cite journal|url= https://www.internationaljournalofcardiology.com/article/0167-5273(83)90228-0/pdf|title= Walter Pritchard Obituary|journal= International Journal of Cardiology|date= August 1983|volume= 4|issue= 1|pages= 123–125|doi= 10.1016/0167-5273(83)90228-0|pmid= 6352521|access-date= September 4, 2018}}
References
{{Footer USA Track & Field 1932 Summer Olympics}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Pritchard, Walter}}
Category:American cardiologists
Category:American male steeplechase runners
Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 1932 Summer Olympics
Category:People from Delaware County, New York
Category:Hamilton College (New York) alumni
Category:Harvard Medical School alumni
Category:Olympic track and field athletes for the United States