Although a gold medal winner of 4 miles team race at St. Louis Olympics, Paul Pilgrim was virtually unknown until the "intercalated" Olympics of 1906.
At St. Louis, Pilgrim competed in 400 m and 800 m runs, but didn't achieve any success. He finished sixth in a four mile run, therefore aiding his club (New York Athletic Club) to win a gold.
At Athens, Pilgrim was an 11th-hour addition to the team. He travelled to Athens by his own hand, therefore missing the great wave, that washed over the deck of the ship in Gibraltar, on which the rest of the US Olympic Team travelled. The wave injured about half-dozen athletes aboard the deck, including Harry Hillman, a big favourite in 400 m.
In 400 m, Pilgrim was third before the final straight, but managed to pass Wyndham Halswelle of Great Britain and Nigel Barker of Australia to win in time of 53.2. In 800 m, to everyone's surprise, Pilgrim passed a big favourite James Lightbody on a final lap and won a close competition by 2 feet.
At 1908 Summer Olympics in London Pilgrim didn't made to the semi-finals and he never won a major competition again.
Olympic medalists in athletics (men) | Olympic Champions in Men's 400 m
Pilgrim, who runs a dry-cleaning store in the southwestern Montana city of Dillion, said he settled on the novelty item as a campaign tool in order to stand out among the three Republican candidates for sheriff.
Pilgrim bought 250 of the key chain-condom combinations and began distributing them to voters, who he said have accepted the unusual appeal for votes with good humor.
Pilgrim, whose lack of law enforcement experience makes him the long shot, describes himself as a longtime critic of drunken driving and of the dangers posed by STDs and unprotected sex.
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