Qualified for the 1948 United States Olympic Team in three events: the 80-meter hurdles, long jump and 400-meter relay team. Set world indoor record in the 50-yard hurdles in a race held at Cleveland Armory in 1947, clocking 7.2 seconds. Began her career at age 14, running for the Polish Olympic Club of Cleveland.
Earned two gold medals in the 1963 Pan-American Games, winning the 200-meter dash and running on the victorious 400-meter relay team. Won her first U.S. championship gold medal in 1960 as the leadoff runner on a 440-yard relay team representing the City of Cleveland. Competed in the 1964 Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan, running in […]
First American woman to win 800-meter race in Olympic competition, winning the gold at Mexico City in 1968. Also competed in 1972 and 1976 Olympics. Won Pan-American Games gold medal plus U.S. Indoor and Outdoor national titles at 800 meters in 1967. First national title was earned in 440-yard dash in 1965 when she set […]
Silver medalist in the high jump at the 1936 Olympic Games, he set a world record in the event at the National AAU Championships that same year, clearing 6′ 9-3/4″. Was Big Ten and NCAA high jump champion at Ohio State University after winning state high school championship at Cleveland East Tech. Also excelled in […]
A world record-holder in the 200-meter and 220-yard dashes, he was U.S. 200-meter champion in 1961, ’62 and ’63. Won silver medal in 200-meter dash and gold in 400-meter relay at 1964 Olympic Games. Was high school All-American at Cleveland Cathedral Latin, winning state championships in 100 and 200-yard dashes in 1958, then twice earned […]
First American to win an Olympic medal in the javelin, earning the bronze in the 1924 Games. Broke NCAA and AAU records in his specialty while an undergraduate at the University of Notre Dame. Also was a star tackle for the Fighting Irish, playing on the line in front of the famed “Four Horseman” backfield. […]
First man in Olympic history to win gold medals in the 100-meter dash (1948) and 110-meter hurdles (1952). Also won gold medals in the 400-meter relay in both Olympics. A state hurdles champion at Cleveland East Tech High, he later set world records in the 120-yard highs and 220-yard lows at Baldwin Wallace College. Won […]
Acclaimed as the greatest track and field star of the first half of the 20th century, Jesse Owens won four gold medals at the 1936 Olympics, winning individual titles in the 100 and 200-meter dashes and the long jump, setting Olympic records in each and running on the Olympic record-setting 400-meter relay team. As an […]
Dominant U.S. heavyweight wrestler of the 1950s. Member of 1952, 1956 and 1960 U.S. Olympic Teams. Won National AAU free style championship eight consecutive years (1953-1960) and Greco-Roman title seven straight years before finishing second in 1960, ending string of 76 straight wins in national AAU competition. Pan-American Games gold medalist in 1955. Member of […]
Pan-American Games gold medalist in 1967. NCAA 191-pound champion in 1964 and runner-up at 177 pounds in 1963 at Ohio University where he won three Mid-American Conference championships compiled a career record of 76-3 and was named the University’s Athlete-of-the-Decade, 1960-70. Was Ohio high school champion at Parma High in 1954. As head wrestling coach […]