St. Aug's grad, gold-medal sprinter Antonio Pettigrew dies

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St. Aug's grad, gold-medal sprinter Antonio Pettigrew dies

Aug 11, 2010

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Chapel Hill, N.C. — Antonio Pettigrew, a graduate of St. Augustine's College in Raleigh who was stripped of an Olympic gold medal after admitting to using performance-enhancing drugs, was found dead early Tuesday, authorities said.

Two friends found Pettigrew in his 2008 White Dodge Aspen on a bridge on N.C. Highway 751 near Jordan Lake at about 3:15 a.m. and called Chatham County deputies for help. The friends went looking for Pettigrew after he did not show up for work Monday, authorities said.

Pettigrew was last seen at his Apex home at 10:30 a.m. Monday, and his wife had reported him missing, authorities said.

Deputies determined Pettigrew was dead but found no signs of trauma. His body has been sent to a medical examiner for an autopsy.

St. Augustine's Athletic Director George Williams said Pettigrew died of a hemorrhage, but Maj. Gary Blankenship of the Chatham County Sheriff's Office said authorities believe the cause of death was either a suicide or an accidental overdose.

Blankenship said Pettigrew had taken Unisom, a drug to help people sleep. Investigators were interviewing friends and relatives to determine Pettigrew's recent state of mind, he said.

Pettigrew, 42, had coached sprinters, hurdlers and relay teams at UNC since the 2006-07 season.

"Although we are still learning the circumstances, we are deeply saddened to learn of Antonio's death," UNC Athletic Director Dick Baddour said in a statement. "I was particularly impressed with the relationships he established with his student-athletes and the pride he took in representing the University of North Carolina. Our deepest condolences go out to Antonio's family, particularly his wife and son."

Pettigrew was part of the 4x400-meter relay team that won gold at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia. Two years ago, the International Olympic Committee stripped him and other team members – Alvin Harrison, Calvin Harrison, Angelo Taylor, Jerome Young and Michael Johnson – of their medals after Pettigrew testified in federal court that he took human growth hormone and EPO, which boosts oxygen, between 1997 and 2001.

The admission came during the trial of former track coach Trevor Graham, who was banned from working with athletes by the U.S. Olympic Committee because of his links to performance-enhancing drugs.

Pettigrew was a 1993 graduate of St. Augustine’s, where he was a 10-time All-American and four-time NCAA Division II champion in the 400 meters.

“Besides being a great athlete, Antonio Pettigrew was a friend and colleague who represented himself, his family and his community on the international track and field stage,” Williams, who coached and mentored Pettigrew, said in a statement. “He will not only be remembered for his accomplishments on the track but for the thousands of lives his success impacted. He was a role model and mentor who will be sorely missed. His contributions to the success of the Saint Augustine’s College track and field program will never be forgotten.”

While coaching at UNC, Pettigrew helped coach eight NCAA regional qualifiers, an ACC champion 4x400 men's relay team and an American record-setting and indoor national champion distance medley relay squad.

Before joining the Tar Heels, he coached state championship teams in girls and boys track and field and cross country at Cardinal Gibbons High School in Raleigh and at his alma mater.

Web Editors: Jodi Leese Glusco, Erin Summers, Matthew Burns

Most Recent Comments

RE: St. Aug's grad, gold-medal sprinter Antonio Pettigrew dies

What a great comment from jasonrouser. Thanks for your insight and your ability to forgive, move on and appreciate this man.

RE: St. Aug's grad, gold-medal sprinter Antonio Pettigrew dies

I thought that I would take a brief moment to promulgate a communique regarding many of the semantics that have transpired in these postings. First, let me do the noble thing by extending my condolences to the family of the decedent. Life is very fragile and more importantly, many of the negative words spoken in some of these posting will not change what transpired in the past. Those of us who think outside of the box and are critical thinkers are fully cognizant that we can not hurt the dead. Many of us believe that we are exempt from being punished in this life for the vindictive things that we might assert or denote. Ironically, none of us live in glass houses. I just finished watching the Funeral Service on line and let me simply state that in the end, "the only thing that matters is what we do for Christ." Jesus Christ is the only one that can be regarded as perfect. Life is not about proving anything to another human being. Antonio might have made a bad decision at one point in his life as we all have done, but he also made a contribution to society. Life teaches individuals who are not cerebally challenged to learn from both the successes and failures of others. No matter what we achieve in life, we are all a work in progress. Fame and fortune in any sports will never glorify what God has called us to do. Antonio,rest in peace because,for there is nothing that no man or women can say to hurt you or your legacy. More importantly he/she who is without sin, let them cast the first stone. The end is near and we must stop living vicariously through others. Harsh words simply can not change the complexities that we are currently encountering in this world. Antonio, thanks for your contributions to the UNC-CH community.

RE: St. Aug's grad, gold-medal sprinter Antonio Pettigrew dies

Antonio gave more than he took, and sometimes more than he could afford to give. My condolences
go out to his wife and son, Antonio will be missed.

RE: St. Aug's grad, gold-medal sprinter Antonio Pettigrew dies

Antonio & I had some classic battles going back to Lawrence, Kansas indoors 1989. I was the guy who took 2nd to him OFTEN! He had ran 44.2 that year & won TAC Nationals then a few years later World Champion. I feel what some of you have posted because I felt that way after he admitted to doping from '97 on. I felt cheated, missed opportunities @ the top of the podium, $$$ to be made in Europe because I took second to him (when MJ thought he could run the 100m ha ha! back on topic now.) I had to repent & ask the Lord for forgiveness. Then I had to forgive Pettigrew for the admitting doping & my missed opportunities if he hadn't took PEDs. Since then he was doing something positive & in the USA when you do "man" things like admit that you were wrong & take your "medicine" for the wrong doing you deserve a second chance. Just think how many times you screwed up & the Lord gives you another chance to make it right. I surely will miss him & a WHOLE host of USA track and field family will miss him dearly, too. R.I.P. Antonio. I will be lifting your family up in prayer.

RE: St. Aug's grad, gold-medal sprinter Antonio Pettigrew dies

Im not from the U.S and maybe I will be attacked as meh2 for this but are you ignorant? Coach George Williams by all accounts has stated that he was a great role model and mentor, for what exactly? I competed at the highest level in track going to 2 olympics and 5 world champs and he disgusts me, he may have been a great father, husband and employee but he is being reported on because of what he did on track otherwise he would be another random guy. He stole from individuals something they will never get back, the right to stand on top of the podium and hear their anthem, he stole financial rewards he stole prestige over these years for being a champion. The athletes that do recieve the accolade now becasue of him cheating don't recieve a fanfait they recieve a post it medal, your a champ. Stop rewarding a man who cheated, he stole he never showed remorse he did it for 6 years, if you don't work out your doing something wrong in that time there is something seriously wrong with you. Maonneal9 you remorse is touching but he was the architect of his own dowmfall, not anyone else he was weak, he cheated because he couldn't face athletes on an even playing field and he took the easy way out again of you believe what you read if it is suicide, tell me what admirable? I grieve for his family as once again he has stolen something from somebody else.
- Posted by rotherhamrocket

rotherhamrocket, you being an admitted athlete, I get where you are coming from...maybe you were one of those people that came in second to him. Do yourself a favor; don't put yourself in the same category as Meh2. You ask about what Coach Williams is talking about, is it not possible that until he admitted that he was taking performance enhancing drugs, that he was a great role model/mentor? Many people have spoken about how he touched their lives. Outwardly everyone thought that he was doing it the natural way and wanted to be like him and attain the goals he had......that doesnt change, kids still want to break his records or hear their anthem but they now see just what cheating will cost them and hopefully be deterred from doing so themselves.

You do not have to walk in a man shoes to learn from his mistakes. Now if the man tested positive and lied about the banned substance use until the end that would be a different story. He made bad choices, told bad stories, and clearly paid the price, by having his whole lifes worth chalked up to a few good races that have since been called into question. Some of these comments have inspired me to look at his records.....all of his great times save 2-3 were prior to his enhancement use, so in all fairness he probably didnt need them in the first place. This is an open forum so I respect your right to express your opinion, but at the end of the day it's no longer about him because he can't read this,unfortunately his family can.
- Posted by justmecl

VERY WELL PUT, Justmecl! And I agree... don't put yourself in the boat with the JERK Rother! I think the media should have printed this story about an athlete passing and save the dirt for something else!

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