View source for Nathaniel Cartmell

{{short description|American athlete}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2015}}
{{Infobox sportsperson
| fullname= Nathaniel John Cartmell
|nickname=
|image = Nathaniel Cartmell 1908.jpg
| image_size     =
|caption=Nathaniel Cartmell at the 1908 Olympics
|birth_date= January 13, 1883 
|birth_place= [[Uniontown, Kentucky]], U.S.
| death_date = August 23, 1967 (aged 84)
| death_place = [[Forest Hills, New York]], U.S.
| height = 6 ft 0 in
| weight = 157 lb
|sport=Athletics
|event= 100–400 m
|club=  University of Pennsylvania<br>Louisville YMCA
|pb= 100 m – 11.0 (1908)<br>200 m – 21.5 (1907))<br>400 m – 50.1 (1909)<ref name=r1/><ref name=r4/> 
|alma_mater= 
| show-medals    = yes
| medaltemplates = 
{{MedalCountry | the {{USA}} }}
{{MedalCompetition | [[Olympic Games]]}}
{{MedalGold | [[1908 Summer Olympics|1908 London]] | [[Athletics at the 1908 Summer Olympics – Men's medley relay|Medley relay]]}}
{{MedalSilver | [[1904 Summer Olympics|1904 St. Louis]] | [[Athletics at the 1904 Summer Olympics – Men's 100 metres|100 m]]}}
{{MedalSilver | [[1904 Summer Olympics|1904 St. Louis]] | [[Athletics at the 1904 Summer Olympics – Men's 200 metres|200 m]]}}
{{MedalBronze | [[1908 Summer Olympics|1908 London]] | [[Athletics at the 1908 Summer Olympics – Men's 200 metres|200 m]]}}
}}

'''Nathaniel John Cartmell''' (January 13, 1883 – August 23, 1967), also known as '''Nat''' and '''Nate''', was an American [[Athletics (sport)|athlete]] who won medals at two editions of the [[Olympic Games]]. Importantly, Nate was on first racially integrated [[Athletics at the 1908 Summer Olympics – Men's medley relay|Men's Medley relay team]] that won [[Olympic gold medal]] at the [[1908 Summer Olympics|1908 London Olympics]], which Nate helped form and featured Nate's fellow [[University of Pennsylvania]] alumnus and former teammate, Dr.<ref>([[University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine]] (Class of 1908)</ref> [[John Taylor (relay runner)|John Baxter Taylor Jr.]], the first black athlete in America to win a gold medal in the Olympics.<ref name="John Taylor">{{cite web|url=https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/79112 |title=John Taylor |work=Olympedia |access-date=5 March 2021}}</ref>  Nate is also known for being the first head coach of the [[North Carolina Tar Heels men's basketball]] team<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/78210 |title=Nathaniel Cartmell |work=Olympedia |access-date=January 10, 2021}}</ref>

==Nickname==
While the reason why Cartmell was nicknamed "Bloody Neck" is not entirely known, author Ken Rappoport speculates that it either comes from his use of the term [[Bloody]] due to the fact his family came from [[Cartmel]], [[England]], or from the fact that he had a childhood accident where he lost two and a half fingers from his right hand when an ax slipped while he was chopping wood.<ref>{{harvnb|Rappoport|2002|p=4}}</ref>

==1904 Summer Olympics==

In the [[1904 Summer Olympics]] in [[St. Louis, Missouri]], Cartmell won [[silver medal]]s in both the 100 meter dash and the 200 meter straightaway. He also participated in the [[Athletics at the 1904 Summer Olympics – Men's 60 metres|60 meters event]] but was eliminated in the repechage.<ref name=r1/>

==1908 Summer Olympics==
[[File:Cartmell, Taylor, Sheppard, Hamilton 1908.jpg| thumb| The members of [[Athletics at the 1908 Summer Olympics – Men's medley relay|Men's Medley relay team]] that won [[Olympic gold medal]]s at the [[1908 Summer Olympics|1908 London Olympics]]. Left to Right, Nate Cartmell ([[University of Pennsylvania]] alumnus and future track and first basketball coach of [[University of North Carolina]]), Dr. [[John Taylor (relay runner)|John Taylor (athlete)]],  ([[University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine]] (Class of 1908), first black athlete in America to win a Gold Medal,<ref name="John Taylor"/> [[Mel Sheppard]] and [[William Hamilton (athlete)|William Hamilton]].]]
Cartmell was a member of the [[gold medal]] American [[Athletics at the 1908 Summer Olympics – Men's medley relay|medley relay]] team at the [[1908 Summer Olympics]] in [[London]].  He was the second runner on the squad, running 200 meters.  He followed [[William Hamilton (athlete)|William Hamilton]] and was followed by [[John Taylor (relay runner)|John Taylor]] and [[Mel Sheppard]].  In both the first round heat and the final Cartmell received a lead from Hamilton and built upon it before turning over the race to Taylor.  The team won both races, running the 1,600 meters in 3:27.2 in the first round and 3:29.4 in the final.  Cartmell's split for the final was 22.2 seconds.<ref name=r1/>
 
He won the [[bronze medal]] in the [[Athletics at the 1908 Summer Olympics – Men's 200 metres|200 meter race]] at the same Games, taking his second medal in the event.  In the first round, Cartmell won with a time of 23.0 seconds.  The second round resulted in a 22.6-second time and another win.  Cartmell placed third in the final with a time of 22.7 seconds.<ref name=r1/>

In the [[Athletics at the 1908 Summer Olympics – Men's 100 metres|100 meters]], Cartmell placed fourth.  He won his first round heat and semifinal with times of 11.0 and 11.2 seconds, respectively.  He ran the final in 11.0 seconds.<ref name=r1/>

===Anecdote about run-in with policeman===
While at the 1908 Olympics, Cartmell reportedly got into a fight with a policeman who "thrust himself into [Cartmell's] face and jabbered something". In response, Cartmell took the policeman's hand, pushed him and then ran off knowing that the policeman could not catch him on foot. Later, the police showed up at the hotel where the track team for the U.S. team was staying and arrested [[Charles Hollaway]], another member of the team that looked like Cartmell.  Cartmell later found out about the mistaken arrest and tried to do something about it, but by the time Cartmell got to the police station Hollaway had already been bailed out and nothing more became of it.<ref>{{harvnb|Rappoport|2002|p=5}}</ref>

==North Carolina head coach==
[[File:Bynum Gymnasium.jpg|right|thumb|Bynum Gymnasium, the first home of the North Carolina Tar Heels]]
[[File:North Carolina Tar Heels Men's Basketball 1911.jpg|right|thumb|Coach Nathaniel Cartmell and the 1910–11 men's basketball team]]
Cartmell came to UNC in 1909 as a track-and-field coach for the Tar Heels.<ref name="Powell 2005 p=9">{{harvnb|Powell|2005|p=9}}</ref>  In 1910, student Marvin Rich along with certain school officials helped lobby to create a varsity basketball squad at UNC.<ref name="Powell 2005 p=9"/>  There was no coach for this basketball program, and UNC did not have enough money at the time to hire another full-time coach for this sport.<ref name="Powell 2005 p=9"/>  Cartmell was asked to be the first coach even though he did not know much about the sport.<ref name="Powell 2005 p=9"/>  Cartmell coached his first college basketball game on January 27, 1910, when UNC's varsity basketball team played in their first intercollegiate basketball game in [[Bynum Gymnasium]] against Virginia Christian College, which later became [[Lynchburg College]].<ref name="Powell 2005 p=9"/>  The Tar Heels won their first game 42–21.<ref name="Powell 2005 p=9"/> The Tar Heels would end their first season with a 7–4 record.<ref>{{harvnb|Powell|2005|p=10}}</ref>

In 1914, Cartmell was charged with illegally playing dice with known gamblers and was fired after the 1914 season in May.<ref name="Powll at 11">{{harvnb|Powell|2005|p=11}}</ref><ref name="DTH Gamb">{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-tar-heel/133663003/|newspaper=The Daily Tar Heel|page=12|date=August 19, 1985|title=Fat-men's run gone, but football is still popular|access-date=October 18, 2023|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}} {{Open access}}</ref><ref name="DTH Gamb2">{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-tar-heel/133663064/|newspaper=The Daily Tar Heel|page=13|date=August 19, 1985|title=Fat-men's run gone, but football is still popular|access-date=October 18, 2023|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}} {{Open access}}</ref>  He would be replaced by [[Charles Doak]].<ref name="Powll at 11"/>

==Later life==
Cartmell went on to coach track and sometimes basketball at [[West Virginia University]], [[Princeton University]], [[Fordham University]], [[Manhattan College]] and [[LaSalle Military Academy]]. He also coached track and field and cross country at Penn State from 1923 to 1933 before ending his career at the [[United States Military Academy]] in 1956. Recognized as one of the most respected athletes and coaches of his era, Nathaniel John Cartmell died in his home in New York City on August 23, 1967.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20060719063331/http://www.archives.upenn.edu/histy/people/1800s/cartmell_nathl_john.html Nathaniel John Cartmell (1883–1967)]. archives.upenn.edu</ref>

Cartmell served as the track coach at his alma mater, the [[University of Pennsylvania]].<ref name=Penn>[https://web.archive.org/web/20070209202045/http://www.psu.edu/sports/olympics/family.html Penn State "Family" at the Olympics]. psu.edu</ref>

===Basketball===
{{CBB Yearly Record Start | type = | conference = | postseason = | poll = }}
{{CBB Yearly Record Subhead
 | name       = [[North Carolina Tar Heels men's basketball|North Carolina Tar Heels]]
 | conference = Independent
 | startyear  = 1910
 | endyear    = 1914
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = 
 | season       = 1910–11
 | name         = North Carolina
 | overall      = 7–4
 | conference   = 
 | confstanding = 
 | postseason   = 
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = 
 | season       = 1911–12
 | name         = North Carolina
 | overall      = 4–5 
 | conference   = 
 | confstanding = 
 | postseason   = 
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = 
 | season       = 1912–13
 | name         = North Carolina
 | overall      = 4–7
 | conference   = 
 | confstanding = 
 | postseason   = 
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = 
 | season       = 1913–14
 | name         = North Carolina
 | overall      = 10–8
 | conference   = 
 | confstanding = 
 | postseason   = 
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Subtotal
 | name       = North Carolina
 | overall    = 25–24
 | confrecord = 
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record End
 | overall = 25–24
 | legend  = no
}}
<ref name="ReferenceA">''2007–08 North Carolina men's basketball media guide'' (2007), p. 177</ref>

==See also==
*[[List of Pennsylvania State University Olympians]]

==References==

===References===
{{reflist|refs=
<ref name=r1>[https://web.archive.org/web/20200417094141/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/ca/nate-cartmell-1.html Nate Cartmell]. sports-reference.com</ref>
<ref name=r4>[http://trackfield.brinkster.net/Profile.asp?ID=1036&Gender=M Nathaniel Cartmell]. trackfield.brinkster.net</ref>
}}

===Sources===
* {{Cite book|title=University of North Carolina Basketball|first=Adam|last=Powell|publisher=Arcadia Publishing|year=2005|isbn=0-7385-4150-8|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4YhGeDCjS7wC}}
* {{Cite book|title=Tales from the Tar Heel Locker Room|first=Ken|last=Rappoport|publisher=Sports Publishing LLC|year=2002|isbn=1-58261-489-X|url=https://archive.org/details/talesfromtarheel0000rapp|url-access=registration|quote=Charles Doak basketbal.}}
* {{cite web|title=2007–08 North Carolina men's basketball media guide|publisher=UNC Athletic Communications|url=http://tarheelblue.cstv.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/100407aaj.html|access-date=September 8, 2008|archive-date=October 10, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081010200034/http://tarheelblue.cstv.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/100407aaj.html|url-status=dead}}
* {{cite book | last = Cook | first = Theodore Andrea | year = 1908 | title = The Fourth Olympiad, Being the Official Report | publisher = British Olympic Association | location = London}}
* {{cite web | last = De Wael | first = Herman | year = 2001 | url = http://users.skynet.be/hermandw/olymp/ath1908.html | title = Athletics 1908 | work = Herman's Full Olympians | access-date = July 14, 2006 | archive-date = September 27, 2006 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20060927093153/http://users.skynet.be/hermandw/olymp/ath1908.html | url-status = dead }}
* {{cite web | last = Wudarski | first = Pawel | year = 1999 | url = http://olympic.w.interia.pl/ | title = Wyniki Igrzysk Olimpijskich | access-date = July 14, 2006|language=pl}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* {{sports links}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20120205115559/http://www.databaseolympics.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=CARTMNAT01 Nate Cartmell on databaseOlympics.com]

{{Footer Olympic Champions 4x400 m Men|1908}}
{{North Carolina Tar Heels men's basketball coach navbox}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Cartmell, Nathaniel}}
[[Category:1883 births]]
[[Category:1967 deaths]]
[[Category:Basketball coaches from Kentucky]]
[[Category:American male sprinters]]
[[Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 1904 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 1908 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Olympic gold medalists for the United States in track and field]]
[[Category:Olympic silver medalists for the United States in track and field]]
[[Category:Olympic bronze medalists for the United States in track and field]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 1908 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 1904 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:College men's basketball head coaches in the United States]]
[[Category:Army Black Knights track and field coaches]]
[[Category:Fordham Rams track and field coaches]]
[[Category:Manhattan Jaspers track and field coaches]]
[[Category:North Carolina Tar Heels men's basketball coaches]]
[[Category:North Carolina Tar Heels track and field coaches]]
[[Category:Penn Quakers track and field coaches]]
[[Category:Penn State Nittany Lions cross country coaches]]
[[Category:Penn State Nittany Lions track and field coaches]]
[[Category:Princeton Tigers track and field coaches]]
[[Category:West Virginia Mountaineers track and field coaches]]
[[Category:DuPont Manual High School alumni]]
[[Category:People from Union County, Kentucky]]
[[Category:Track and field athletes from Kentucky]]
[[Category:20th-century American sportsmen]]