Olympic Games Gold Medalist Athlete. He won the gold medal in the steeplechase event at the 1952 Summer Olympic Games in Helsinki, Finland, and was a World Record Holder. Considered a long shot in the 1952 steeplechase event, he came from behind on the last lap when his Russian opponent, Vladimir Kazantsev, stumbled coming out of the water hazard. He set an Olympic record and unofficial world record for the event. Prior to this, he competed for Penn State, winning the NCAA 2 mile event in 1948 and 1949 and the 4 X 1 mile relay at the Penn Relays in 1949, with two of his brothers. He won the Millrose Games 2 mile event five times from 1952 to 1955 and 1957. He attempted to defend his Olympic title in 1956 in Melbourne but finished sixth. He won the Sullivan Award as the nation's top amateur athlete in 1952 and was named to the USA Track and Field Hall of Fame in 1975. He served in the United States Army Air Force as a pilot and gunnery instructor during World War II and was an FBI agent at the time of his Olympic win, though he later went into sales with Engelhard Industries. Penn State's indoor track and field facility was named for him in 2001. A grandson followed in his footsteps as a Penn State track and field athlete.
Olympic Games Gold Medalist Athlete. He won the gold medal in the steeplechase event at the 1952 Summer Olympic Games in Helsinki, Finland, and was a World Record Holder. Considered a long shot in the 1952 steeplechase event, he came from behind on the last lap when his Russian opponent, Vladimir Kazantsev, stumbled coming out of the water hazard. He set an Olympic record and unofficial world record for the event. Prior to this, he competed for Penn State, winning the NCAA 2 mile event in 1948 and 1949 and the 4 X 1 mile relay at the Penn Relays in 1949, with two of his brothers. He won the Millrose Games 2 mile event five times from 1952 to 1955 and 1957. He attempted to defend his Olympic title in 1956 in Melbourne but finished sixth. He won the Sullivan Award as the nation's top amateur athlete in 1952 and was named to the USA Track and Field Hall of Fame in 1975. He served in the United States Army Air Force as a pilot and gunnery instructor during World War II and was an FBI agent at the time of his Olympic win, though he later went into sales with Engelhard Industries. Penn State's indoor track and field facility was named for him in 2001. A grandson followed in his footsteps as a Penn State track and field athlete.
Bio by: Kenneth Gilbert
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