Robert Cloughen
Encyclopedia
Robert "Bobbie" Cloughen (January 26, 1889, The Bronx
, New York
– August 7, 1930 in New York
) was an American
athlete, a member of the Irish American Athletic Club
, and a member of the 1908 U.S. Olympic team. His father John was the fifth Manhattan Borough President in 1909 and also New York City's Commissioner of Public Works.
Cloughen attended Morris High School in the Bronx, where he was a member of the football, baseball and basketball teams as well as Treasurer of the Athletic Association. While at Morris, he was also an early member of the Delta Chapter of the Omega Gamma Delta Fraternity, of which his father became an Honorary Member and Adult Advisor. Subsequent to high school he attended Fordham University, New York University and the Savage School of Physical Education.
"Bobbie" was initially turned down for the 1908 U. S. Olympic team; worked his way to Europe on a tramp steamer; and was accepted as an additional team member on the spot. Cloughen won the silver medal
in the men's 200 metres
at the 1908 Summer Olympics
in London
. His preliminary heat time was 23.4 seconds; he dropped to 22.6 seconds to win his semifinal. In the final, Cloughen came from behind to nearly catch Robert Kerr on the straightaway; he lost by about nine inches as both finished in 22.6 seconds. Cloughen also competed in the 100 metres
in 1908, winning his first round heat with a time of 11.0 seconds before not starting in the semifinal round.
Also in 1908, Cloughen won the National A.A.U
junior championship 100 yard sprint, with a time of 10.2 seconds. At the indoor A.A.U
championships the same year, Cloughen won the 60 yard and 75 yard races, equaling the existing records and establishing himself as "one of the best sprinters in the United States."
In 1909, Cloughen ran 130 yards in 12.8 seconds, establishing a new world's record.
In 1910, Cloughen broke the world's record for the 110 yard dash at the Tailtin Games held at Celtic Park, Queens, New York, with a time of 10.8 seconds. "Cloughen jumped into the lead at the start of the 110-yard dash, and led all the way winning by two yards from John Eller
in the remarkably fast time of 0:10 4-5. Billy Keating, another of Lawson Robertson
's team (the Irish American Athletic Club
), finished a close third."
In 1922, Cloughen was named track coach at the University of Vermont
. From Vermont he returned to New York as track coach at Erasmus Hall High School in Brooklyn from 1926 to 1930. Robert Cloughen died in August 1930 while training for an Olympic comeback.
The Bronx
The Bronx is the northernmost of the five boroughs of New York City. It is also known as Bronx County, the last of the 62 counties of New York State to be incorporated...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
– August 7, 1930 in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
) was an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
athlete, a member of the Irish American Athletic Club
Irish American Athletic Club
The Irish American Athletic Club was an amateur athletic organization, based in Queens, New York at the beginning of the 20th Century.-Early years:...
, and a member of the 1908 U.S. Olympic team. His father John was the fifth Manhattan Borough President in 1909 and also New York City's Commissioner of Public Works.
Cloughen attended Morris High School in the Bronx, where he was a member of the football, baseball and basketball teams as well as Treasurer of the Athletic Association. While at Morris, he was also an early member of the Delta Chapter of the Omega Gamma Delta Fraternity, of which his father became an Honorary Member and Adult Advisor. Subsequent to high school he attended Fordham University, New York University and the Savage School of Physical Education.
"Bobbie" was initially turned down for the 1908 U. S. Olympic team; worked his way to Europe on a tramp steamer; and was accepted as an additional team member on the spot. Cloughen won the silver medal
Silver medal
A silver medal is a medal awarded to the second place finisher of contests such as the Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games, and contests with similar formats....
in the men's 200 metres
Athletics at the 1908 Summer Olympics - Men's 200 metres
The men's 200 metre race was held for the third time at the 1908 Summer Olympics in London. The competition was held from July 21, 1908 to July 23, 1908.43 sprinters from 15 nations competed.-Records:...
at the 1908 Summer Olympics
1908 Summer Olympics
The 1908 Summer Olympics, officially the Games of the IV Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was held in 1908 in London, England, United Kingdom. These games were originally scheduled to be held in Rome. At the time they were the fifth modern Olympic games...
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. His preliminary heat time was 23.4 seconds; he dropped to 22.6 seconds to win his semifinal. In the final, Cloughen came from behind to nearly catch Robert Kerr on the straightaway; he lost by about nine inches as both finished in 22.6 seconds. Cloughen also competed in the 100 metres
Athletics at the 1908 Summer Olympics - Men's 100 metres
The men's 100 metres was the shortest of the sprint races at the 1908 Summer Olympics in London. The competition was held over the course of three days...
in 1908, winning his first round heat with a time of 11.0 seconds before not starting in the semifinal round.
Also in 1908, Cloughen won the National A.A.U
Amateur Athletic Union
The Amateur Athletic Union is one of the largest non-profit volunteer sports organizations in the United States. A multi-sport organization, the AAU is dedicated exclusively to the promotion and development of amateur sports and physical fitness programs.-History:The AAU was founded in 1888 to...
junior championship 100 yard sprint, with a time of 10.2 seconds. At the indoor A.A.U
Amateur Athletic Union
The Amateur Athletic Union is one of the largest non-profit volunteer sports organizations in the United States. A multi-sport organization, the AAU is dedicated exclusively to the promotion and development of amateur sports and physical fitness programs.-History:The AAU was founded in 1888 to...
championships the same year, Cloughen won the 60 yard and 75 yard races, equaling the existing records and establishing himself as "one of the best sprinters in the United States."
In 1909, Cloughen ran 130 yards in 12.8 seconds, establishing a new world's record.
In 1910, Cloughen broke the world's record for the 110 yard dash at the Tailtin Games held at Celtic Park, Queens, New York, with a time of 10.8 seconds. "Cloughen jumped into the lead at the start of the 110-yard dash, and led all the way winning by two yards from John Eller
John Eller
John Jacob Eller, Jr. was born in New Jersey and died in Cutchogue, New York. He was an American track and field athlete, a member of the Irish American Athletic Club and a member of the New York City Police Department from 1905 to 1942...
in the remarkably fast time of 0:10 4-5. Billy Keating, another of Lawson Robertson
Lawson Robertson
Lawson N. Robertson was born in Aberdeen, Scotland, and died in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania....
's team (the Irish American Athletic Club
Irish American Athletic Club
The Irish American Athletic Club was an amateur athletic organization, based in Queens, New York at the beginning of the 20th Century.-Early years:...
), finished a close third."
In 1922, Cloughen was named track coach at the University of Vermont
University of Vermont
The University of Vermont comprises seven undergraduate schools, an honors college, a graduate college, and a college of medicine. The Honors College does not offer its own degrees; students in the Honors College concurrently enroll in one of the university's seven undergraduate colleges or...
. From Vermont he returned to New York as track coach at Erasmus Hall High School in Brooklyn from 1926 to 1930. Robert Cloughen died in August 1930 while training for an Olympic comeback.