Rick Wohlhuter


Rick Wohlhuter is a retired American middle-distance runner.
Wohlhuter won the national indoor championship in the 600 yards in 1970. He graduated from the University of Notre Dame in 1971, and later qualified for the 1972 and 1976 Olympics. In 1976 he finished sixth in the 1500 meters and won a bronze medal in the 800 meters, behind Alberto Juantorena who broke the world record.
Wohlhuter was the U.S. national champion for the 800 meters in 1973 and 1974 and was ranked #1 in the world both years by Track & Field News. Also in 1974, Wohlhuter won the first of three indoor 1000 yard U.S. national titles, set a world record in the 880 yards at 1:44.10, and a world record in the 1000 meter event at 2:13.9, which remains the longest standing American outdoor record. He won the James E. Sullivan Award as the nation's top amateur athlete for his achievements in 1974.
Wohlhuter retired in 1977. He contemplated a comeback in 1980, but reconsidered after learning about American boycott of the Moscow Olympics. He began working in the insurance business instead.