Black Americana sat world records
As the Relentless "T ic k-lo cks o f the clock move closer to the twentieth
renewal o f the O lym pic pageant at Los Angeles next summer, the question
How ard P. Drew was a sprinter in the 1912 Olympics and a favorite to
win the gold, but tragedy hit him and he never ran in the finals. Drew was
stricken with a leg injury after winning the semi-finals in the 100 meters. A l
though he suited up for the finals, he never ran, as the injury was too pain
ful.
Perhaps the most hard luck story o f the Olympics happened in Munich in
1972 when Ray Robinson and Eddie H a rt, then two o f Am erica’s standout
sprinters, were disqualified as they failed to report at the starting post on
time for the second heat o f the 100 meters.
Six Olympic gold medal winners were honored last year as they were
among the 20 charter members o f the U .S. Olympic H a ll o f Fame. The list
was topped by Jesse Owens, winner o f four gold medals at the Berlin O lym
pics, and the lone boxer was Cassius Clay, now known as M u h a m m a d
A li, who won the light-heavyweight title in Rome in I960.
Others include W ilm a Rudolph, winner o f three gold medals in the O lym
pic W om en’s events in I960; Rafer Johnson, I960 decathlon champion;
Bob Beamon. 1968 long jum p victor with a still-standing world record o f 29
feet. 2 H inches; Harrison D illard, four-tim e gold medal winner in sprints
o f " W h a t becomes o f Olympic gold medal winners" persists.
Likewise we reflect on the past and wonder where they are and what they
are doing. W e. too. reflect on what has happened in past Olympiads, and
we find:
That more than 20,000 athletes have competed since the modern renewal
or the Olympics began in 1896 am id the particularly smiling aspects o f the
Gay-Nineties.
That one o f the m ajor highlights o f the global competition, o f course, has
been the tremendous trium phs Black athletes have recorded under the
swirling Old G lory, our Star-Spangled Banner, during the past 87 years.
That in individual running and jumping events. Blacks have accounted for
a total o f 41 gold medals; 6 o f them prevailing today as all-tim e Olympic
standards. The record follows:
In the historic words o f Baron deCouterteu, who is considered the father
o f M odem Olympics; "T h e important thing in the Olympic Games is not
winning but taking part. The essential thing is not conquering, but fighting
well.
This may have been fine when the Modern Games were renewed in 1896,
but the simple fact is now the athletes and the nations "g o for the gold” be
cause winners o f gold Olympic medals find gold— real gold—easier to ob
tain once that gold medal is dangling on a ribbon around your neck.
Thus, some o f the gold winners have gained success, and some o f them
have been like Tennyson’s snowflake— " A moment white on water, then
gone forever” — but the story o f those who have survived the OlvmDics and
moved into successful careers in a part o f history— Black history particular
ly— that we can never overlook.
Clocking
Jim Hincs(100 meters)
Tom m ieSm ith(200 meters)
Lee Evans(400 meters)
Rod M ilb u rn fl lOhigh hurdles)
W y omia TysotM 100 m eten)
Bob Beamon(long jum p)
9 .9 s
19.8 s
43.8 s
13.24 s
11.0
400 Meter Hurdles (M en
1 9 7 6 ,.., Edwin Moses
Long Jump (M en)
1 9 2 4 ... . D eHart Hubbard
1 9 3 2 ... . Ed Gordon
1 9 3 6 ... . Jesse Owens
1 9 4 8 ... W illie Steele
1 9 5 6 ... . Gregory Bell
I9 6 0 ... Ralph Boston
1 9 6 8 ... Robert (Bob) Beamon
1 9 7 6 ... . Arnie Robinson
1300 Meters (M en )
1 9 6 8 ... Kit Keino
Namc/event
1 9 6 8 .... W illie Davenport
1972___ Rod M ilburn
High Jump (M en)
1 9 3 6 .... Cornelius Johnson
1 9 5 6 ... . Charles Dumas
400 Meters (M en)
1936.. . . Archie W illiams
1932.. . . George Rhoden
1936.. . . Charlie Jenkins
1960.. . . Otis Davis
1968.. . . Lee Evans
1972.. . . Vince Matthews
800 Meters (M en)
1936.. . . Johnny W o o d ru ff
1948.. . . M ai W hitfield
1952. . . . M a i W hitfield
and hurdles in 1948 and 1932.
It should be remembered that coaching techniques are imperceptibly
altered as time goes on, making it impossible for any clocking to remain un
challenged. Jesse Owens, for example, was not permitted to use the modern
starting block. H e had to break the tape, but today the dash man need only
make contact with the tape. Perhaps the Owens’ 9.4 o f 1936, today, would
be a probable 9.1.
200 Meters (M en)
1932.. . .E d d ie T o la n
1936___ Jesse Owens
1932___ Andrew (A ndy) Sunfield
1968.. . . Tom mie Smith
1976.. . . Don Quarrie
Decathlon (M en)
1936.. . . M ilto n Campbell
1960.. . . Rafer Johnson
110 Meter Hurdles (M en)
1932.. . . Harrison Dillard
1936.. . . Lee Calhoun
I9 6 0 ----- Lee Calhoun
1964.. . . Hayes Jones
Marathon
1964. . . . A bebe Bikila
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* Black History Month *
29 feet. 2 h inches
Healthy Body — Healthy Mind
4 '
Black Children — Education
v
Guard Our Youth Concept
Black American Gold Medalists-
Track and Field
Investment in our
children for their
future.
100 Meters (M en)
1932
Fdd ieT olan
1936___ Jesse Owens
1948.. . . Harrison Dillard
1964___ Robert (Bob) Hayes
1968.. . . James (Jim ) Hines
1976___ Hasley Crawford
People to People Ministries
Box 22344, Milwaukie, OR 97222
6630131
■w vww- aMflgni xr
•«» ♦’«» ’•»"«♦•krt
•
TIIE YEAH OF THE
PARENT
Success m the held ot science
demands outstanding ettort in one 8
discipline and the discipline to make
one s effort outstanding
Before this scientist was a teen her
parents had already measured her
intelligence, tested her talents and
researched her potential
We salute the successful scientist,
but. more than that, we salute the
guardians ol genius who guide the
growth of tomorrow the parents
Success Is no surprise when you consider the source
The foundation for futfUhnont l i provided by our first leechers,
most concerned coaches, closest counselors and beat fnsnds
our parents
The Seven-Up Company salutes the real sources of success
parents and guardlana who quids the growth of tomorrow by
providing love snd affection today
As we compete in Me s race toward
high achievement, even the most
agile athlete cannot get around the
need lor all star parents
Practicing teamwork in the tom e,
and enercising patience in the
parenting process mom and dad
successfully provided the groundwork
lor a moral victory before any material
medals are collected
Without demanding super stardom
yet encouraging e.cellence the
parents ran the first leg providing a
firm anchor m the relay of reality
Befixe we lace our ma|<x
missions m Me. our childhood is full
of significant simulations guided by
Ibe command center ot horn««
Parents provide our countdown Io
success Their examples guide <>ur
paths their sacrifice and supervision
launch our careers their care and
confidence reduce the weight ot
youthful stress and help us Io lace
foe pull ol gravity in adult world
situations
Sugar Ray Leonard, who became the
great professional champion, won the
1976 Light-welterweight championship
in Montreal.
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V.
Franklin
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1
Portland Observer, February 2 2,198 4 Section II Page 11
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