Herb McKenley facts for kids

Herb McKenley in 1948
Quick facts for kids Personal information
Born	10 July 1922 Pleasant Valley, Clarendon, Jamaica
Died	26 November 2007 (aged 85) Kingston, Jamaica
Height	1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Weight	72 kg (159 lb)
Sport
Country	Jamaica
Sport	Sprint running
Club	Illinois Fighting Illini
Medal record Olympic Games Gold 1952 Helsinki 4×400 m Silver 1948 London 400 m Silver 1952 Helsinki 100 m Silver 1952 Helsinki 400 m Pan American Games Bronze 1951 Buenos Aires 100 m Bronze 1951 Buenos Aires 200 m Bronze 1951 Buenos Aires 400 m Central American and Caribbean Games Gold 1950 Guatemala City 200 m Gold 1950 Guatemala City 400 m Silver 1950 Guatemala City 100 m Silver 1950 Guatemala City 4×100 m relay

The Hon. Herbert Henry McKenley OM (10 July 1922 – 26 November 2007) was a super-fast Jamaican runner. He was known as a sprinter because he ran short, fast races. Herb competed in the Olympics in 1948 and 1952. He won an amazing four medals: one gold and three silver! He was a true legend in track and field.

Early Life and College Success

Herb McKenley was born in Pleasant Valley, Clarendon, Jamaica. He moved to the United States for college. He studied at the University of Illinois. While there, he became a star athlete.

He won national college championships in 1946 and 1947. These were for the 220-yard and 440-yard races. He also won the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) championship. This was for the 440-yard dash in 1945, 1947, and 1948.

In 1947, Herb McKenley achieved something incredible. He had the world's fastest times in three different races. These were the 100 meters, 200 meters, and 400 meters. No other person has ever done this before or since!

Olympic Dreams and Records

Just before the 1948 London Olympics, Herb McKenley set a new world record. He ran the 440-yard race in 46.0 seconds. A month later, he broke his own record, running it in 45.9 seconds.

At the London Olympics, he won a silver medal in the 400-meter race. His teammate, Arthur Wint, won the gold. Herb also made it to the final in the 200-meter race. He finished fourth. He is the only runner ever to reach the finals in all three sprint events. These are the 100m, 200m, and 400m races at the Olympics.

Herb was known for his unique running style. He would start a 400-meter race very fast. Sometimes, he would slow down a bit near the end. In 1947, he ran a 440-yard race in 45.0 seconds. This was on a special straight track. Many believe he was the first person to run 400 meters in under 45 seconds.

Pan American and Olympic Medals

In 1951, Herb McKenley competed in the first Pan American Games. This event was held in Buenos Aires, Argentina. He won three bronze medals there. He placed third in the 100m, 200m, and 400m races. He is the only person to achieve this feat at the Pan American Games.

At the Helsinki Olympics in 1952, Herb won two more silver medals. He was second in the 100-meter race. It was a very close finish, with the top four runners all clocking 10.4 seconds. He also took silver in the 400-meter race.

Finally, he won his first Olympic gold medal! He was part of the Jamaican 4 × 400-meter relay team. A relay race is where a team of runners each run a part of the total distance. His team set a new world record of 3 minutes and 3.9 seconds. Herb's part of the race was incredibly fast, at 44.6 seconds. This amazing effort helped Jamaica win the gold. It is still remembered as one of the greatest relay performances ever.

Life After Running

After he stopped competing, Herb McKenley continued to help Jamaican athletics. He became a coach for the Jamaica national team. He coached from 1954 to 1973. He also served as the president of the Jamaica Amateur Athletics Association.

For all his important contributions to track and field, he received a special award. In 2004, he was given the Jamaican Order of Merit. This is a very high honor in Jamaica.

Herb McKenley passed away on November 26, 2007. He was 85 years old. He died at the University Hospital of the West Indies. The cause of his death was complications from pneumonia. He is remembered as a true pioneer and champion in the world of sprinting.