Bud Held contributed to the sport of track and field in many ways but it was his excellence as a javelin thrower that brought him world recognition. He started as a pole vaulter in high school but at Stanford University he developed into a world-class javelin thrower, winning national collegiate titles in 1948, 1949 and 1950. In 1951, he threw 249' 8", the first of six American records he was to set. He became the first American ever to hold the world javelin record when he threw 263' 10" in 1953. He set another world record of 268' 2" in 1955 and overall was ranked first in the world three times. He was the AAU national champion six times, in 1949, 1951, 1953-55 and 1958 and ranked first in the U.S. seven times. Held was a member of the 1952 Olympic team, placing ninth after injuring a shoulder. He set a career best of 270' 0" in 1956. That year, he just missed making his second Olympic team by one inch. He was still throwing in 1970 at the age of 42 and set a national Masters' record of 229' 3". During his career, Held experimented with a hollow javelin, which was subsequently outlawed. He then designed a javelin without the usual weighted steel tip, replacing it with a thick middle section and altering the implement's center of gravity. Following his retirement, he became a successful businessman, selling sporting equipment.
World Record: Javelin Throw - 80.42 m
1952 Olympics: Javelin Throw (9th) 1949 AAU: Javelin Throw (1st) 1951 AAU: Javelin Throw (1st) 1953 AAU: Javelin Throw (1st) 1954 AAU: Javelin Throw (1st) 1955 AAU: Javelin Throw (1st) 1958 AAU: Javelin Throw (1st) 1948 NCAA: Javelin Throw (1st) 1949 NCAA: Javelin Throw (1st) 1950 NCAA: Javelin Throw (1st)
Businessman