Emporia State University Athletics

John Kuck was a world-class performer in the weight events while competing on the track teams in the mid 1920s.  During his career he held more than 20 world records, including the world intercollegiate record for the shot put and javelin.  He was a world-record holder both indoors and outdoors for the 8, 12, and 16-pound shot put.  In the 1928 Olympics in Amsterdam, Kuck set an Olympic and world record and won the gold medal in the shot put.  He had numerous record-setting performances in the state and conference meets in the shot put and javelin during his four-year career at Emporia State University.  As a sophomore, he won gold medals in the two events at the Kansas and Drake Relays and set records in both events at the Drake meet.