Bobby Coffman

American former track and field athlete

Bobby Coffman (born February 17, 1951) is an American former track and field athlete who competed in the decathlon. He set his personal record of 8274 points in Quebec City on August 12, 1979.[1][2]

Coffman competed at two major international events and won gold in both. He first took the decathlon title at the 1979 Pan American Games with a championship record total of 8078 points.[3] The following year he qualified for the 1980 U.S. Olympic team but was unable to compete due to the 1980 Summer Olympics boycott. He did however receive one of 461 Congressional Gold Medals created especially for the spurned athletes.[4] and was the winner of the Olympic boycott games known as the Liberty Bell Classic with a score of 8058 points.[5]

At national level he won at the USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships in both 1979 and 1980, having placed fifth earlier in his career in 1975.[1]

International competitions

Year Competition Venue Position Notes
1979 Pan American Games San Juan, Puerto Rico 1st 8078 pts
1980 Liberty Bell Classic Philadelphia, United States 1st 8058 pts

National titles

See also

  • List of decathlon national champions (men)

References

  1. ^ a b Bobby Coffman. Track and Field Brinkster. Retrieved on 2016-02-11.
  2. ^ Bobby Coffman. All Athletics. Retrieved on 2016-02-11.
  3. ^ Pan American Games. GBR Athletics. Retrieved on 2016-02-11.
  4. ^ Caroccioli, Tom; Caroccioli, Jerry. Boycott: Stolen Dreams of the 1980 Moscow Olympic Games. Highland Park, IL: New Chapter Press. pp. 243–253. ISBN 978-0942257403.
  5. ^ Olympic Boycott Games. GBR Athletics. Retrieved on 2016-02-11.
  6. ^ USA Championships. GBR Athletics. Retrieved on 2016-02-11.
  • v
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1915–1979
Amateur Athletic Union
1980–1992
The Athletics Congress
1993-onwards
USA Track & Field
Notes
  • The 1920, 1928, 1932, 1992, 1996, 2000, 2004, 2008, 2012 and 2016 championships incorporated the Olympic Trials, otherwise held as a discrete event.
  • 2020 OT: The 2020 Olympic Trials were delayed and held in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.