The Pat Kenny Show US sprinter Dave Sime and the CIA
Sep 11, 2025
Explore the incredible journey of Dave Sime, a prodigious athlete who turned down a lucrative baseball offer for a stellar track and field career. Discover how a devastating accident altered his Olympic dreams and led him into a Cold War CIA operation with aspirations of persuading Soviet athletes to defect. If that wasn't enough, hear how he transitioned from sprinting to a successful ophthalmology career, reflecting on resilience and the delicate balance between luck and effort in shaping one's destiny.
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From Baseball Offer To Instant Sprint Star
- Dave Sime turned down a $65,000 offer from the New York Giants to attend Duke on a baseball scholarship.
- He began track in college and immediately ran 9.6 for 100 yards at his first meet, revealing elite speed.
Horsefall Cost Olympic Dreams
- Weeks before the 1956 Olympic trials Sime tried horseback riding for the first time and the horse fell on his leg, injuring his groin.
- He tore the muscle, missed the trials, and thus lost his chance to compete at Melbourne.
Olympics As Cold War Frontline
- At the 1960 Olympics Sime pursued medals and a Cold War mission to encourage Soviet athletes to defect.
- Sporting events served as intelligence platforms during the Cold War, blending athletics with espionage.
