Remigino, Lindy J.
Track and Field
b. June 3, 1931, Elmhurst, NY
Remigino's victory in the 100-meter dash in 1952 was one of the greatest upsets in Olympic history. He failed to qualify for the AAU finals that year and barely scraped into the Olympic trials by finishing fifth in the NCAA championships. However, he finished second in the trials.
The Olympic final ended in a photo-finish, with four runners crossing the finish line within fourteen inches of each other. Remigino congratulated Herb McKenley of Jamaica, who had broken the tape. But the photos showed that Remigino's right shoulder had crossed the finish line before McKenley's chest hit the tape.
Remigino won a second gold medal as a member of the 4 x 100-meter relay team.
Running for Manhattan College, he won three IC4A championships, in the 200-meter dash in 1952 and in the 100- and 220-yard dashes in 1953.
He later became a very successful high school track coach in Hartford, Connecticut, where his teams won six outdoor and seven indoor state championships.