Harrison Dillard facts for kids
Dillard at 1952 Summer Olympics
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| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Full name | William Harrison Dillard | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | July 8, 1923 Cleveland, Ohio, U.S. |
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| Died | November 15, 2019 (aged 96) Cleveland, Ohio, U.S. |
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| Height | 5 ft 10 in | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 152 lb | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | Athletics | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Event(s) | 100 m, 200 m 110 m, 400 m hurdles |
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| Club | Baldwin-Wallace College | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Achievements and titles | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal best(s) | 100 m – 10.50 (1948) 200 m – 20.8 (1948) 110 mH – 13.6 (1948) 400 mH – 53.7 (1942) |
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Medal record
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William Harrison "Bones" Dillard (born July 8, 1923 – died November 15, 2019) was an amazing American track and field athlete. He is the only man in Olympic history to win gold medals in both the 100-meter sprint and the 110-meter hurdles. This incredible achievement earned him titles like "World's Fastest Man" in 1948 and "World's Fastest Hurdler" in 1952.
Contents
Early Life and Athletic Journey
Harrison Dillard was born in Cleveland, Ohio on July 8, 1923. He went to East Technical High School and later to Baldwin-Wallace College in 1941. Two years later, he joined the United States Army during World War II. He served in the all-black 92nd Infantry Division, also known as the Buffalo Soldiers.
After the war, Dillard returned to college in 1946. He was greatly inspired by Jesse Owens, another famous athlete from Cleveland who also attended East Technical High School. Dillard quickly became a star in track and field. He won national college (NCAA) and amateur (AAU) titles in hurdles in both 1946 and 1947. He even tied world records in these events. From June 1947 to June 1948, Dillard had an amazing winning streak, remaining unbeaten in 82 races in a row!
Olympic Games Success
The 1948 Summer Olympics trials were tough for Dillard. He surprisingly didn't qualify for his best event, the 110-meter hurdles. However, he managed to qualify for the 100-meter sprint by finishing third.
At the 1948 London Olympics, Dillard reached the 100-meter final. The race was incredibly close, looking like a tie with another American runner, Barney Ewell. But thanks to the first-ever use of a photo finish at the Olympics, it was clear that Dillard had won! He also helped the U.S. team win another gold medal in the 4 × 100-meter relay.
Four years later, at the 1952 Summer Olympics in Helsinki, Dillard was still a top hurdler. This time, he qualified for the 110-meter hurdles and won the gold medal. He then earned his fourth Olympic gold medal as part of the 4 × 100-meter relay team again. Dillard tried to qualify for a third Olympics in 1956 but didn't make the team. Before that, he also won a gold medal in the 110m hurdles at the 1953 Maccabiah Games.
Later Life and Legacy
After his amazing athletic career, Harrison Dillard worked for the Cleveland Indians baseball team. He helped with scouting new players and public relations. He also hosted a radio talk show in Cleveland. For many years, he worked for the Cleveland City School District as its Business Manager.
Harrison Dillard passed away on November 15, 2019, at the age of 96 from stomach cancer. At the time of his death, he was the oldest living Olympic gold medalist from the United States.
Awards and Honors
Harrison Dillard received many awards and honors for his incredible achievements:
- He won four Olympic Gold Medals.
- He was inducted into the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame.
- He won the James E. Sullivan Award in 1955, which honors the best amateur athlete in the United States.
- There is a statue of him at Baldwin Wallace University, his old college.
- The track at Baldwin Wallace University is named the Harrison Dillard Track.
- He was inducted into the United States National Track and Field Hall of Fame in 1974, which was the very first year it opened.
- He was also inducted into the IAAF Hall of Fame in 2013.
World Records Achieved
During his career, Harrison Dillard set several world records:
- He set a world record for the 120-yard (110 m) hurdles with a time of 13.6 seconds in 1948.
- He also set world records for the 220-yard hurdles (on a straight course) in 1946 and 1947.
See also
In Spanish: Harrison Dillard para niños
