Lightbody, "Jim" (James D.)
Track and Field
b. March 15, 1882, Pittsburgh, PA
d. March 2, 1953
As a student at the University of Chicago, Lightbody didn't win any major races, but he won four medals, including three golds, at the 1904 Olympics in St. Louis.
He began with a victory in the 2,500-meter steeplechase, beating heavily favored John D. Daly of Ireland. Three days later, Lightbody was given little chance to win the 800-meter but, after a very fast pace began to wear out most of the competitors, he sprinted through the stretch to take the lead 50 yards from the tape and won going away.
After a day off, Lightbody won the 1,500-meter run in a world record 4:05.4. That race was in the morning; in the afternoon, he ran in the 4-mile team race for the Chicago Athletic Association, which won the silver medal.
Lightbody won the AAU national 800- and 1,500-meter runs in 1905. To celebrate the 10th anniversary of the modern Olympics, Athens hosted an "intercalated" Olympic Games in 1906. Lightbody repeated as the 1,500-meter champion and won a silver in the 800-meter, finishing just inches behind Paul Pilgrim of the U. S.