View source for Jim Lightbody

{{short description|American middle-distance runner}}
{{MedalTableTop|Jim Lightbody.jpg|200px|James Lightbody}}
{{MedalSport | Men's [[Athletics at the Summer Olympics|athletics]] }}
{{MedalCountry | the {{USA}} }}
{{MedalCompetition | [[Olympic Games]] }}
{{MedalGold | [[1904 Summer Olympics|1904 St. Louis]] | [[Athletics at the 1904 Summer Olympics – Men's 800 metres|800 metres]] }}
{{MedalGold | [[1904 Summer Olympics|1904 St. Louis]] | [[Athletics at the 1904 Summer Olympics – Men's 1500 metres|1500 metres]] }}
{{MedalGold | [[1904 Summer Olympics|1904 St. Louis]] | [[Athletics at the 1904 Summer Olympics – Men's 2590 metres steeplechase|2590 m Steeplechase]] }}
{{MedalCountry | a [[File:Olympic flag.svg|22px]] [[Mixed team at the 1904 Summer Olympics|Mixed team]] }}
{{MedalSilver | [[1904 Summer Olympics|1904 St. Louis]] | [[Athletics at the 1904 Summer Olympics – Men's 4 miles team race|Four Mile Team]] }}
{{MedalCompetition | [[Intercalated Games]] }}
{{MedalGold | [[1906 Intercalated Games|1906 Athens]] | [[Athletics at the 1906 Intercalated Games|1500 metres]] }}
{{MedalSilver | [[1906 Intercalated Games|1906 Athens]] | [[Athletics at the 1906 Intercalated Games|800 metres]] }}
{{MedalBottom}}

[[File:Lacey Hearn Jim Lightbody Mike Butler William Verner.jpg|thumb|right|Lacey Hearn, James Lightbody, Mike Butler and Frank Verner at the 1904 Olympic Games]]

'''James Davies Lightbody''' (March 16, 1882 – March 2, 1953) was an American middle distance runner, winner of six Olympic medals (two of which are no longer recognized by the [[International Olympic Committee]] following its downgrading of the [[1906 Intercalated Games]]) in the early 20th century.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/78697 |title=Jim Lightbody |work=Olympedia |access-date=January 17, 2021}}</ref>

Lightbody, born in [[Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania|Pittsburgh]] and graduating from Central High School in [[Muncie, Indiana]], had great success at the [[1904 Summer Olympics]], held in St. Louis, Missouri, United States. He was not favoured in any of the three individual events in which he competed, but nevertheless won all three.

First, he won the 2590 metre [[steeplechase (athletics)|steeplechase]], and then sprinting to the 800 metres title days later. Finally, he won the 1500 metres in a new [[world record]]. Later that day, he added a second place to his tally, when he competed with the [[Chicago Athletic Association]] in the 4-mile team event.

In 1905, Lightbody won [[Amateur Athletic Union|AAU]] titles in both the 800 and 1500 metres, and the following year he competed in his second Olympics, the [[1906 Intercalated Games|1906 Intercalated Games of]] in Athens. He successfully defended his 1500 metres title, and placed second in the 800 metres.

Lightbody competed again in the [[1908 Summer Olympics]]. In the 800 metres, he placed only fourth in his first round heat. Lightbody lost a close race to fellow American [[James Sullivan (athlete)|James Sullivan]] in the first round of the 1500 metres, eliminating him from further competition. He was defeated by a mere ten yards by [[Harry Sewell]] in the first round of the 3200 metre steeplechase and did not qualify for the final.

Lightbody died in 1953, two weeks short of his 71st birthday in [[Charleston, South Carolina]].

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Sources==
* {{cite book | last = Cook | first = Theodore Andrea | year = 1908 | title = The Fourth Olympiad, Being the Official Report | publisher = British Olympic Association | location = London}}
* {{cite web | last = De Wael | first = Herman | year = 2001 | url = http://users.skynet.be/hermandw/olymp/ath1908.html | title = Athletics 1908 | work = Herman's Full Olympians | access-date = 27 July 2006 | archive-date = 27 September 2006 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20060927093153/http://users.skynet.be/hermandw/olymp/ath1908.html | url-status = dead }}
* {{cite web | last = Wudarski | first = Pawel | year = 1999 | url = http://olympic.w.interia.pl/ | title = Wyniki Igrzysk Olimpijskich | access-date = 27 July 2006 | language = pl | archive-date = 16 February 2009 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090216130930/http://olympic.w.interia.pl/ | url-status = dead }}
* {{cite Sports-Reference |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/li/jim-lightbody-1.html |title=Jim Lightbody |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130430233527/http://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/li/jim-lightbody-1.html |archive-date=2013-04-30 |url-status=dead}}

==External links==
*{{sports links}}

{{Footer Olympic Champions 800 m Men}}
{{Footer Olympic Champions 1500 m Men}}
{{Footer Olympic Champions 3000 m Steeplechase Men}}
{{Footer US NC 800m Men}}
{{Footer US NC 1500m Men}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Lightbody, James}}
[[Category:1882 births]]
[[Category:1953 deaths]]
[[Category:American men middle-distance runners]]
[[Category:American men steeplechase runners]]
[[Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 1904 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 1906 Intercalated Games]]
[[Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 1908 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Olympic gold medalists for the United States in track and field]]
[[Category:Olympic silver medalists for the United States in track and field]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 1904 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 1906 Intercalated Games]]
[[Category:20th-century American sportsmen]]