William Wesley COE

Competing regularly on both sides of the Atlantic, Wesley Coe was one of the better-known athletes of his time. In 1900 he won the first AAU Junior shot put title, and the following year began study at Oxford. While there he won the British AAA title in 1901 and 1902 and won both the shot and hammer in the annual match against Cambridge in 1902. On his return to the states, Coe entered Yale, but did not represent them at the major collegiate meets. After placing second in the 1904 Olympic shot, he won the AAU in 1905 with a new world record of 49-6 (15.09), repeating that title in 1906. At the 1908 Olympics he was out of form and only placed fourth with a modest throw. Coe frequently traveled to England in later years; in 1912 he finished second in the shot at the AAA championships and in 1920 he won the 56-lb. weight event on the only occasion it was held at the British Championships. From a wealthy family Coe never worked but tinkered with some minor inventions. He returned to America in 1926, settling in Montana for his health, but died six months later of Hodgkin’s disease.

Personal Best: SP – 49-6 (15.09) (1905).