Charles Paddock is likely Kappa Alpha’s greatest track and field star, dominating the competition and setting world records in the 1920’s. During the 1920 Olympics in Antwerp, Paddock won gold in the 100m and 400m relay as well as silver in the 200m. The next year he set the world record in the 110-yard dash, which is slightly longer than the 100m event. The shorter 100m dash would not be run faster than Paddock’s 110 yd time until 1956. He would win another silver in the ‘24 Olympics in Paris and compete in the Amsterdam Olympics of 1928.
Paddock is a member of the National Track & Field Hall of Fame and the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame, but is also known for his role in the story depicted in the film "Chariots of Fire." He was killed in a plane crash near Sitka, Alaska in during World War II.
The Skinny:
- Paddock’s teammate on the gold medal-winning 400m relay team was another KA, Jackson Scholz (AK ‘16)
- Held a number of management positions in several newspapers during his athletic prime
- Won the 100m and 200m in the 1919 Inter-Allied Games, in which Allied soldiers competed in various athletic events just after World War I
