Harvey Glance, a former Olympic gold medalist in track and field, passed away on Monday at the age of 66. He died of cardiac arrest at a hospital in Mesa, Arizona, according to his wife and sister.
A Sprinting Legend
Glance was born in Phenix City, Alabama, and showed his sprinting talent at an early age. He attended Auburn University, where he won four NCAA titles in the 60m, 100m and 200m events. He also equaled the then 100m world record of 9.9 seconds twice in 1976, according to Wikipedia.
He made his Olympic debut in 1976 at Montreal, where he finished fourth in the 100m final and won the gold medal in the 4x100m relay with his teammates. He qualified for the 1980 Olympics in Moscow, but did not compete due to the US boycott. He instead participated in the Liberty Bell Classic, where he won silver in the 100m and gold in the relay. He received a Congressional Gold Medal for his achievements.
Glance continued his sprinting career until 1987, when he won another gold medal in the 4x100m relay at the World Championships in Rome. He also won two gold medals and one silver medal at the Pan American Games in 1979 and 1987.
A Successful Coach
After retiring from sprinting, Glance became a coach and worked at Auburn University and the University of Alabama. He coached many top athletes, including Kirani James, who won the Olympic and world titles in the 400m event. Glance also served as the head coach or assistant coach for several US teams at international competitions, such as the World Championships, the Pan American Games and the Olympic Games.
Glance was widely respected and admired by his peers and students for his passion, knowledge and dedication to the sport. He was also known for his friendly and humble personality.
A Sad Loss
The news of Glance’s death shocked and saddened the track and field community. Many people expressed their condolences and tributes on social media and other platforms. World Athletics, the governing body of the sport, issued a statement saying that they were “deeply saddened” by his passing.
Glance is survived by his wife Tammi, his sister Patricia and his children Harvey Jr., Ashley and Brittany. He will be remembered as one of the greatest sprinters and coaches of all time.
