Jim Ryun facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jim Ryun
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| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Kansas's 2nd district |
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| In office November 27, 1996 – January 3, 2007 |
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| Preceded by | Sam Brownback | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Succeeded by | Nancy Boyda | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal details | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born |
James Ronald Ryun
April 29, 1947 Wichita, Kansas, U.S. |
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| Political party | Republican | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Spouse |
Anne Ryun
(m. 1969) |
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| Residence | Washington, D.C. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Alma mater | University of Kansas | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Occupation | Athlete, sports management executive | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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SilverJames "Jim" Ryun (born April 29, 1947) is an American who was once a famous Olympic runner. He was known as one of the best middle-distance runners in the world. Jim Ryun won a silver medal in the 1500-meter race at the 1968 Summer Olympics. He was also the first high school athlete ever to run a mile in less than four minutes! Later in his life, Ryun became a politician. He served in the United States House of Representatives from 1996 to 2007.
Jim Ryun's Amazing Running Career
Jim Ryun started running because he wasn't very good at other sports. He tried baseball and basketball but didn't make the teams. He even struggled with track and field at first. He prayed to find a sport he was good at. Then, he tried out for the cross-country team. He made the team and realized he was a talented runner!
Early Years as a Runner
In 1964, when Jim Ryun was in high school, he made history. He became the first high school student to run a mile in under four minutes. His time was 3 minutes and 59 seconds. This happened at the 1964 California Relays.
The next year, in 1965, he set another high school record. He ran the mile in 3 minutes and 55.3 seconds. This record lasted for 36 years! He ran five mile races in under four minutes while still in high school. One of these was the first sub-four-minute mile ever run in a high school event. It was 3 minutes and 58.3 seconds. Track & Field News magazine said he was the fourth best miler in the world. ESPN.com even called him the best high school athlete of all time!
Running After High School
In 1966, when Jim Ryun was just 19, he set two world records. He set a record in the half-mile (1:44.9) and then in the mile (3:51.3). He won many awards that year. These included Sports Illustrated magazine's "Sportsman of the Year" award. He also won the James E. Sullivan Award as the best amateur athlete in the U.S.
In 1967, Ryun set another world record. He ran the outdoor mile in 3 minutes and 51.1 seconds. This record stood for almost eight years. That same year, he set a world record for the 1,500 meters (3:33.1).
While at the University of Kansas, he continued to win. He was the NCAA outdoor mile champion in 1967. He also won the NCAA indoor mile championship three times.
Jim Ryun still holds American junior records for the mile (3:51.3) and two miles (8:25.1). He broke the American record for the mile four times in total.
Jim Ryun at the Olympics
Jim Ryun competed in three Olympic Games: 1964, 1968, and 1972. In 1964, at 17 years old, he was one of the youngest American male track athletes to ever qualify for the Olympics.
In 1968, he won a silver medal in the 1,500-meter race in Mexico City. He lost to Kip Keino from Kenya. Keino ran an amazing race and set an Olympic record. Ryun ran very fast too, but Keino was ahead. Jim Ryun felt like he had done his best. He believed he would have won if the race had been at sea level. Mexico City is at a high altitude, which makes it harder to breathe and run fast.
In the 1972 Olympics in Munich, Germany, something unfortunate happened. During a 1,500-meter qualifying race, Ryun was tripped and fell. Even though officials agreed it was a foul, he was not allowed to rejoin the competition.
One of Jim Ryun's best races was in July 1967. He set a world record in the 1,500-meter race in Los Angeles. He finished the race in 3 minutes and 33.1 seconds. This record lasted for seven years. Many people called it one of the greatest finishes ever seen in running.
Jim Ryun stopped being an amateur runner after 1972. For the next two years, he ran professionally.
Jim Ryun's World Records
| Distance | Time | Date | City |
|---|---|---|---|
| 880 yards | 1:44.9 | June 10, 1966 | Terre Haute, IN |
| 880 yards (indoor) | 1:48.3 | 1967 | |
| 1,500 meters | 3:33.1 | July 8, 1967 | Los Angeles, CA |
| One Mile | 3:51.3 | July 17, 1966 | Berkeley, CA |
| One Mile | 3:51.1 | June 23, 1967 | Bakersfield, CA |
| One Mile (indoor) | 3:56.4 | February 19, 1971 | San Diego, CA |
- The 1,500-meter record (3:33.1) was a world record for six years.
- The mile record (3:51.1) was a world record for eight years.
Athletic Awards and Honors
- He won the Track & Field News Athlete of the Year award in both 1966 and 1967. He was the first athlete to win it two years in a row.
- In 1966, he received the Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year award. He was on the cover of Sports Illustrated five times!
- He also won the 1966 James E. Sullivan Award.
- In 1980, Jim Ryun was added to the National Track and Field Hall of Fame. In 2003, he joined the National Distance Running Hall of Fame.
Jim Ryun's Personal Life
Jim Ryun was born in Wichita, Kansas. He now lives in Lawrence. He also owns a farm in Jefferson County.
He met his wife, Anne, when she asked him for his autograph. This was after he broke the world record for the mile in Berkeley. They got married in 1969. They have two sons, Ned and Drew, and seven grandchildren. Jim, Ned, and Drew have written three books together.
After college, Jim Ryun moved to Oregon and then California to continue his running career. In 1981, he and his family moved back to Lawrence, Kansas.
In 2020, President Donald Trump gave Jim Ryun the Presidential Medal of Freedom. This is a very high award given to people who have made important contributions to the United States.
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Jim Ryun's Career Before Politics
Before becoming a politician, Jim Ryun ran a company called Jim Ryun Sports. This company organized sports camps. He also worked as a speaker, giving inspiring talks to companies and groups. Jim Ryun has a 50% hearing loss. He helped a hearing aid company create a program to help children with hearing loss. Since 1973, he and his family have hosted summer running camps for young runners.
Jim Ryun in the House of Representatives
Jim Ryun became interested in politics. In 1996, he decided to run for Congress. Congress is where laws are made for the United States. He wanted to represent his home state of Kansas.
Congressional Elections
Jim Ryun was first elected in 1996. He won against other candidates to get the job. He was reelected three more times. This means he served in Congress for many years.
In 2006, he ran for reelection again. This time, he lost to Nancy Boyda. In 2007, he tried to win his old seat back but lost in the primary election.
Political Actions and Beliefs
As a member of Congress, Jim Ryun worked on committees. These included committees for the Armed Services, Budget, and Financial Services. He was known for having very conservative views. This means he believed in smaller government and less spending.
He often supported President George W. Bush's plans. However, he sometimes disagreed with the President. For example, he voted against the "No Child Left Behind" education law. He believed states should have more control over their schools. He also voted against a Medicare reform bill. He thought it would cost too much in the future.
In 2006, one group called the National Journal said Jim Ryun was the most conservative member of Congress.
Views on the Environment
Jim Ryun's voting record showed he often voted against environmental protection laws. For example, in 2005, he scored 0% on a scorecard from a group called Republicans for Environmental Protection. This group looked at votes on issues like oil drilling and protecting endangered species.
In 2006, his score improved slightly. He voted to help reduce the impact of the Army Corps of Engineers on the environment. However, he still voted against many environmental measures. These included votes on oil drilling in the Arctic and renewable energy programs.
Images for kids
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Jim Ryun
See also
In Spanish: Jim Ryun para niños
