Kate Schmidt
Inducted: November, 2005
Born: December 29, 1953 - Long Beach, California
Events
Javelin Throw - 69.32 m

Kate Schmidt had the good luck to grow up in Long Beach, Calif., a mecca of javelin throwing during the 1960s. A year after she took up the event, she almost made the Olympic team in 1968 at age 14 and won the woman's nationals the following year. Nicknamed "Kate the Great" with good reason, she totally dominated the American women's javelin throwing scene for a decade. She broke the American javelin record 10 times, culminating with a throw of 227' 5" that has held up as the record for more than a quarter century. At the time, that throw was a world record and established her place on the international scene. Schmidt was third at the 1972 and 1976 Olympic Games and was also a member of the 1980 Olympic team that didn't compete. She just missed making the 1984 team when she placed fourth. She won seven national titles and placed in the top three in 12 of 13 national championships from 1972 to 1984.

Records Held
World Record: Javelin Throw - 69.32 m (September 11, 1977 - )

Championships
1972 Olympics: Javelin Throw (3rd)
1976 Olympics: Javelin Throw (3rd)
1969 USA Outdoors: Javelin Throw (1st)

Education
undergraduate: UCLA (Los Angeles, California)
undergraduate: Long Beach State (Long Beach, California)