View source for Steve Riddick

{{Short description|American sprinter (born 1951)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2025}}
{{Infobox sportsperson
| name = Steve Riddick
| image =
| imagesize = 
| caption =
| nationality = [[United States|American]]
| sport = [[Running]]
| event = [[100 meters]]
| club = Philadelphia Pioneers
| collegeteam = [[Norfolk State University]]
| birth_name = Steven Earl Riddick
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|mf=yes|1951|09|18}}<ref name="sportsr">{{cite web | url = https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/ri/steve-riddick-1.html | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200417190923/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/ri/steve-riddick-1.html | url-status = dead | archive-date = April 17, 2020 | title = Steve Riddick | publisher = sports-reference.com | access-date = September 21, 2012}}</ref>
| birth_place = [[Newport News, Virginia]], United States
| residence = 
| death_date = 
| death_place = 
| height = {{convert|6|ft|3|in|m|2|abbr=on}}
| weight = {{convert|165|lb|kg|abbr=on}}
| pb = 100 m: 10.05 s ([[Zürich]] 1975)
| medaltemplates =
{{MedalSport|Men's [[Athletics (sport)|athletics]]}}
{{MedalCountry | the {{USA}} }}
{{MedalCompetition|[[Athletics at the Summer Olympics|Olympic Games]]}}
{{MedalGold | [[1976 Summer Olympics|1976 Montreal]] | [[Athletics at the 1976 Summer Olympics – Men's 4 × 100 metres relay|4 × 100 m relay]]}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[Pan American Games]]}}
{{MedalGold|[[1979 Pan American Games|1979 San Juan]]|[[Athletics at the 1979 Pan American Games|4 × 100 m relay]]}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[IAAF World Cup|Athletics World Cup]]}}
{{MedalGold|[[1977 IAAF World Cup|1977 Düsseldorf]]|4 × 100 m relay}}
{{MedalSilver|[[1979 IAAF World Cup|1979 Montreal]]|4 × 100 m relay}}
}}

'''Steven Earl Riddick''' (born September 18, 1951) is an American [[Athletics (sport)|athlete]] and winner of the gold medal in [[Athletics at the 1976 Summer Olympics – Men's 4 × 100 metres relay|4 × 100 meter relay]] at the [[1976 Summer Olympics]].

== Personal life ==
Riddick was raised in [[Hampton, Virginia]]. His father was a Church of Christ minister there.<ref name="si1">[https://web.archive.org/web/20131101044412/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1092213/2/index.htm "Feeling Fit To Hurt A Lot Of Feelings"], Joe Marshall, Sports Illustrated, March 28, 1977.</ref>

Riddick was a late starter in track, concentrating on team sports until his junior year at high school.<ref name="si1"/>

After high school, Riddick attended at [[Norfolk State University]], having been recruited by coach [[Dick Price (coach)|Dick Price]]. There he met his wife Theresita Renee Coleman.<ref name="si1"/>

For the last year of his psychology degree course he ran for the Philadelphia Pioneers track club because his college eligibility had ended. It was a move engineered by Coach Price who put Riddick in contact with the Philadelphia Pioneers coach Alex Woodley.<ref name="si1"/>

After graduation in 1975, Riddick moved first to Washington D.C. and then Philadelphia and continued to run for the Philadelphia Pioneers club.<ref name="si1"/>

== Track career ==
Riddick attempted to qualify for the [[1972 Summer Olympics|1972 Munich Olympics]] but was eliminated at the semi-final stage in both the 100 and 200 m at the [[1972 United States Olympic trials (track and field)|U.S. Olympic Trials]].<ref name="usaot">[http://www.legacy.usatf.org/statistics/champions/OlympicTrials/HistoryOfTheOlympicTrials.pdf The History of the United States Olympic Trials - Track & Field], R Hymans, USA Track & Field, 2008</ref>

In 1975, in Zurich, he ran the fastest automatically timed 100 m of the year at 10.05 s, a time that remained his personal best.<ref name="si1"/> He had started that year by causing some amazement and amusement when he ran and won an indoor race in his sweat pants. The reason: he had forgotten his shorts. He won the final in borrowed shorts.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20131101044309/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1089520/2/index.htm Scorecard], Andrew Crichton, Sports Illustrated, February 17, 1975.</ref>

At the [[1976 Summer Olympics|1976 Montreal Olympics]], Riddick was eliminated in the semi-final of the [[Athletics at the 1976 Summer Olympics – Men's 100 metres|100 m]] race, but ran the anchor leg for the gold medal-winning American [[Athletics at the 1976 Summer Olympics – Men's 4 × 100 metres relay|4 × 100 m relay]] team (with [[Harvey Glance]], [[Lam Jones|Johnny 'Lam' Jones]], and [[Millard Hampton]]). Riddick had finished third in the 100 m final at the [[1976 United States Olympic trials (track and field)|U.S. Olympic Trials]]. He just missed another medal in the [[Athletics at the 1976 Summer Olympics – Men's 200 metres|200 m]] and finished fourth, narrowly passed in the closing stages of the final by [[Mark Lutz (athlete)|Mark Lutz]].<ref name="usaot"/>

Riddick was a member of American 4 × 100 m relay team, which won the [[1977 IAAF World Cup]] with a new [[world record]] of 38.03 s (with [[Cliff Wiley]], [[Bill Collins (athlete)|Bill Collins]] and [[Steve Williams (athlete)|Steve Williams]]). He was also a member of American 4 × 100 m relay team, which won the [[1979 Pan American Games]](with [[Mike Roberson]], [[Harvey Glance]] and [[Cliff Wiley]])<ref>[https://newspaperarchive.com/galveston-daily-news/1979-07-16/page-28 "US planning to leave Pan Am games in style"], Galveston Daily News, July 16, 1979.</ref> and placed second in [[1979 IAAF World Cup]] (with [[Mike Roberson]], [[Harvey Glance]] and [[Mel Lattany]]).

In 1978, he won the 100 m and anchored the United States 4 × 100 m relay team to victory in the USA versus USSR meet at the [[University of California]]'s [[Edwards Stadium]], and so helping the United States to its first overall victory in the dual meet series since 1969.<ref>[https://archive.today/20130119192455/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1093871/1/index.htm "...U.S. team scored a rare triumph over the U.S.S.R."], Joe Marshall, Sports Illustrated, July 17, 1978.</ref>

Riddick attempted to qualify for the 100 m at the [[1984 Summer Olympics|1984 Los Angeles Olympics]], but was eliminated at the quarter-final stage at the [[1984 United States Olympic trials (track and field)|U.S. Olympic Trials]].<ref name="usaot"/>

Surprisingly, Riddick never achieved much success at the USA National Championships outdoors during his career - his best was fourth in the 100 m (in 1974, 1977, 1978 and 1979) and fifth in the 200 m (in 1977 and 1979)<ref name="uschamps">[http://www.trackandfieldnews.com/archive/usa-nat-champs-history.html A History Of The Results Of The National Track & Field Championships Of The USA From 1876 Through 2003] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120311184347/http://www.trackandfieldnews.com/archive/usa-nat-champs-history.html |date=March 11, 2012 }}, Track and Field News.</ref> - he was, however, twice United States champion indoors at 60 y in 1977 and 1979.<ref>[http://www.legacy.usatf.org/statistics/USA-Champions/USAIndoorTF/men/60m.aspx USA Indoor Track & Field Champions, Men's 60 m], USA Track and Field.</ref> His indoor successes in 1977 led him to being voted [[Track and Field News| Track and Field News's]] indoor athlete of the year.<ref>{{cite news |title=People in Sports |newspaper=Eugene Register-Guard |date=April 2, 1977 |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1310&dat=19770402&id=ujRWAAAAIBAJ&sjid=zOcDAAAAIBAJ&pg=2922,336777 }}</ref> He also won a British [[AAA Championships]] title double in the 100 and 200 metres events at the [[1975 AAA Championships]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0002137/19750803/288/0033 |title=Stewart Mystery |work=Sunday Mirror |date=3 August 1975 |via=British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription |access-date=31 May 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nuts.org.uk/Champs/AAA/index.htm |title=AAA, WAAA and National Championships Medallists |website=National Union of Track Statisticians |access-date=30 May 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gbrathletics.com/bc/aaa.htm |title=AAA Championships (men) |website=GBR Athletics |access-date=31 May 2025}}</ref>

Riddick ran for his college [[Norfolk State University]] until 1974 winning NCAA division titles.<ref name="si1"/> He then joined the Philadelphia Pioneers track club. The Philadelphia Pioneer Educational Athletic Development Club, the proper name for the Philadelphia Pioneers, were the brainchild of Alexander J. Woodley. During the period 1977–1981, when Riddick was a member, they were the premier track club in the United States.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20131101151243/http://articles.philly.com/2004-05-27/news/25382137_1_track-club-track-team-olympic "Alexander J. Woodley, 71; coached Olympic stars"], Gayle Ronan Sims, The Inquirer, May 27, 2004. Retrieved 16 September 2012.</ref>

In 1980, Riddick was inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame of The Lower Virginia Peninsula.<ref>[http://www.hampton.gov/halloffame/current_members.html Hall of Fame Recipients] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120626153621/http://hampton.gov/halloffame/current_members.html |date=2012-06-26 }}, City of Hampton, Virginia. Retrieved 16 September 2012.</ref>

In 1997, Riddick was inducted into the Hampton Roads African American Sports Hall of Fame.<ref>[http://www.hraashf.org/athletes.html Inductees of the Hampton Roads African American Sports Hall of Fame] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130619161255/http://www.hraashf.org/athletes.html |date=2013-06-19 }}.</ref>

== Rankings ==
Riddick was ranked among the best in the US and the world in both the 100 and 200 m sprint events from 1973 to 1979, according to the votes of the experts of ''[[Track and Field News]]''.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.trackandfieldnews.com/rankings/men/100worldbyathlete.pdf |title= World Rankings Index--Men's 100 meters |publisher= [[Track and Field News]] |url-status= dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130609225745/http://www.trackandfieldnews.com/rankings/men/100worldbyathlete.pdf |archive-date= 2013-06-09 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= http://trackandfieldnews.com/rankings/men/100usbyathlete.pdf |title= U.S. Rankings Index--Men's 100 meters |publisher= [[Track and Field News]] |url-status= dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130609230915/http://trackandfieldnews.com/rankings/men/100usbyathlete.pdf |archive-date= 2013-06-09 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.trackandfieldnews.com/rankings/men/200worldbyathlete.pdf |title= World Rankings Index--Men's 200 meters |publisher= [[Track and Field News]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= http://trackandfieldnews.com/rankings/men/200usbyathlete.pdf |title= U.S. Rankings Index--Men's 200 meters |publisher= [[Track and Field News]]}}</ref>
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
{| class=wikitable
|+100 meters
|-
!Year
!World rank
!US rank
|-
|1973
|align="center" | -
|align="center" | 6th
|-
|1974
|align="center" | 7th
|align="center" | 4th
|-
|1975
|align="center" | 6th
|align="center" | 2nd
|-
|1976
|align="center" | 6th
|align="center" | 3rd
|-
|1977
|align="center" | 10th
|align="center" | 5th
|-
|1978
|align="center" | 8th
|align="center" | 4th
|-
|1979
|align="center" | 10th
|align="center" | 6th
|-
|}
{{col-2}}
{| class=wikitable
|+ 200 meters
|-
!Year
!World rank
!US rank
|-
|1973
|align="center" | -
|align="center" | 8th
|-
|1974
|align="center" | -
|align="center" | -
|-
|1975
|align="center" | 4th
|align="center" | 2nd
|-
|1976
|align="center" | 8th
|align="center" | 5th
|-
|1977
|align="center" | 6th
|align="center" | 3rd
|-
|1978
|align="center" | -
|align="center" | 10th
|-
|1979
|align="center" | -
|align="center" | -
|-
|}
{{col-end}}

== Coaching career ==
After his athletics career, Riddick was a coach at [[Norfolk State University]].

Riddick enjoyed some early success in the role,<ref>[http://hamptonroads.com/node/95711 "A timeline for Steve Riddick"], The Virginian Pilot, April 29, 2006. Retrieved September 19, 2012.</ref> but his reputation was tarnished when he was embroiled in a scandal over the misappropriation of university travel funds for which he was sacked.<ref>[https://archive.today/20130201080843/http://www2.richmond.com/news/2000/may/17/audit-uncovers-fraud-at-norfolk-state-university-ar-604921/ "Audit Uncovers Fraud At Norfolk State University"], Marc Davis, May 17, 2000, richmond.com.</ref>

==Money laundering and bank fraud scandal==
In 2006, Riddick was indicted and arrested on fraud charges for his alleged involvement in a [[money laundering]] scheme.<ref>[https://www.espn.com/espn/wire?section=trackandfield&id=2835523 "NY trial opens for Olympian with mention of wrongdoing by another"], Associated Press, April 2007, espn.com. Retrieved September 20, 2012.</ref> His former student, [[Tim Montgomery]], was also a defendant in the case and Montgomery's former girlfriend, 5-time Olympic medalist sprinter [[Marion Jones]], was also found to have been involved in the operation.

In 2008, Riddick was sentenced to five years and three months in federal prison for counterfeiting checks.<ref>[http://hamptonroads.com/2008/01/hard-truth-marion-jones-6month-term "The hard truth for Marion Jones is a 6-month term"]. ''[[Virginia Pilot]]''. January 12, 2008.</ref>

== References ==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
*{{World Athletics}}

{{Footer Olympic Champions 4x100 m Men|1976}}
{{Footer Pan American Champions 4x100m Men}}
{{Footer Universiade Champions 4x100 m Men}}
{{Footer IAAF World Cup Champions 4x100 m Men}}
{{Footer US NC Indoor 60m Men}}
{{Footer WBYP 100m Men}}
{{Footer USA Track & Field 1976 Summer Olympics}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Riddick, Steven}}
[[Category:1951 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:American men sprinters]]
[[Category:American people convicted of fraud]]
[[Category:American sportspeople convicted of crimes]]
[[Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 1976 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Hampton High School (Virginia) alumni]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 1973 Summer Universiade]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 1976 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 1979 Pan American Games]]
[[Category:Olympic gold medalists for the United States in track and field]]
[[Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 1979 Pan American Games]]
[[Category:Norfolk State Spartans men's track and field athletes]]
[[Category:Norfolk State Spartans track and field coaches]]
[[Category:Pan American Games gold medalists for the United States in athletics (track and field)]]
[[Category:Universiade medalists in athletics (track and field)]]
[[Category:FISU World University Games gold medalists for the United States]]
[[Category:USA Indoor Track and Field Championships winners]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Newport News, Virginia]]
[[Category:Track and field athletes from Virginia]]
[[Category:20th-century American sportsmen]]
[[Category:Sportspeople convicted of crimes]]