Bud Houser facts for kids
 |
|||||||||||||||||
Quick facts for kids Personal information |
|||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Born | September 25, 1901 Winigan, Missouri, United States |
||||||||||||||||
| Died | October 1, 1994 (aged 93) Gardena, California, United States |
||||||||||||||||
| Height | 6 ft 0 5 in | ||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 187 lb | ||||||||||||||||
| Sport | |||||||||||||||||
| Sport | Athletics | ||||||||||||||||
| Event(s) | Shot put, discus throw | ||||||||||||||||
| Club | LAAC, Los Angeles | ||||||||||||||||
| Achievements and titles | |||||||||||||||||
| Personal best(s) | SP – 15.42 m (1926) DT – 48.20 m (1926) |
||||||||||||||||
|
Medal record
|
|||||||||||||||||
Lemuel Clarence "Bud" Houser (born September 25, 1901 – died October 1, 1994) was an amazing American athlete. He was famous for throwing the discus and the shot put. Bud won three gold medals at the Olympic Games, making him a true sports legend.
Contents
Bud Houser's Early Life
Bud Houser was born in Winigan, Missouri. When he was about 10 years old, both his parents passed away. He then moved to Oxnard, California with his sister Martha and her husband. This move also helped them escape a bad drought in Missouri.
Bud became very strong by working hard in the fields. During summer, he would load heavy hay bales. The weather was often super hot, sometimes reaching 110 degrees Fahrenheit! This tough work helped him build the strength he needed for his future sports career.
High School Star
While at Oxnard High School, Bud became a track and field superstar. From 1920 to 1922, he competed in the California State Track Meets. He won six times in both the shot put and discus throw. Each time, he broke a state record! This made him the most successful athlete ever at these meets. He was even named "Athlete of the Meet" three years in a row.
During this time, Bud developed a special way to throw the discus. He would do one and a half quick turns in the throwing circle before letting go. Many athletes later copied his unique style. After high school, he went to the University of Southern California in Los Angeles.
Olympic Gold Medals
Bud Houser's biggest achievements came at the Olympic Games.
Paris Olympics 1924
At the 1924 Summer Olympics in Paris, Bud won two gold medals! He won gold in the shot put, beating two other American athletes. Then, he also won gold in the discus throw. He was the best, beating a Finnish athlete and another American. This was a very special moment. Bud Houser was the last athlete to win both the shot put and discus events at the same Olympics.
Amsterdam Olympics 1928
Four years later, at the 1928 Summer Olympics in Amsterdam, Bud was chosen to carry the United States flag. This is a huge honor for an athlete! He then went on to win another gold medal in the discus throw. He successfully defended his title, showing he was still the best in the world.
World Record and National Titles
Bud also won many national championships in the United States. He won the discus title in 1925, 1926, and 1928. He also won the shot put title in 1921 (while still in high school!) and 1925.
On April 3, 1926, Bud set a new world record in the discus throw. He threw the discus an amazing 48.20 meters (about 158 feet) at a college meet in Palo Alto.
Life After Sports
After his amazing sports career, Bud Houser became a dentist. He had a practice in Hollywood, California, where he treated many famous movie stars. Later, he moved to Palm Desert, California.
To honor his achievements, the stadium at Oxnard High School is named after him. This was a big surprise announcement at his high school graduation! Bud Houser is also a member of the National Track and Field Hall of Fame. He is also an original member of the Ventura County Athletic Hall of Fame.
See also
In Spanish: Clarence Houser para niños
