John Rambo (athlete) facts for kids
John Thomas, Valeriy Brumel and John Rambo at the 1964 Olympics
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Quick facts for kids Personal information |
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| Born | August 9, 1943 Atlanta, Texas, U.S. |
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| Died | January 8, 2022 (aged 78) Paramount, California, U.S. |
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| Height | 2.00 m (6 ft 7 in) | ||||||||||
| Weight | 86 kg (190 lb) | ||||||||||
| Sport | |||||||||||
| Sport | Athletics | ||||||||||
| Event(s) | High jump | ||||||||||
| Club | Southern California Striders, Anaheim | ||||||||||
| Achievements and titles | |||||||||||
| Personal best(s) | 2.21 m (1967) | ||||||||||
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Medal record
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John Barnett Rambo (born August 9, 1943 – died January 8, 2022) was an American athlete. He was a professional basketball player and a high jumper. John Rambo won a bronze medal in the high jump at the 1964 Tokyo Olympic Games.
Contents
John Rambo: An Olympic Athlete
John Rambo was a talented athlete who excelled in two sports: basketball and high jump. He is best known for winning an Olympic medal.
College Basketball Career
While studying history at Long Beach State, John Rambo played on the 49ers basketball team. He was a great player, scoring about 19.8 points and getting 11 rebounds in each game for two years.
He was chosen as a first-team all-star in the California Collegiate Athletic Association in 1963-64 and 1964-65. In one amazing game against San Diego, Rambo scored 42 points and grabbed 31 rebounds!
High Jump Success
In 1964, the same year he finished college, Rambo became a two-time NCAA High Jump Champion. This means he was the best college high jumper in the country twice. That year, he also won his bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics.
After college, in 1965, the St. Louis Hawks basketball team drafted him for the NBA. However, injuries kept him from playing professional basketball for several seasons.
Athletic Achievements and Honors
In 1967, John Rambo joined the Southern California Striders Track and Field Club. He became an Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) Indoor Champion twice, in 1967 and 1969. The AAU recognized him as their Alumnus of the Year in 1967.
Even though he tied for fourth place at the 1968 Olympic trials, he did not make the U.S. Olympic team that year.
John Rambo received many honors for his achievements. In 1971, he was named one of the "Outstanding Young Men in America" by the National Jaycees. He was inducted into the California State University, Long Beach, Sports Hall of Fame in 1986. Later, in 2002, he joined the Long Beach City College Hall of Champions. In 2006, the Century Club honored him for creating "One of the Best Moments in the City of Long Beach History."
Later Life
John Rambo was a father to four children. He passed away from a heart attack in Paramount, California, on January 8, 2022. He was 78 years old.
Images for kids
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John Rambo, Olympic bronze medalist, 1964 Tokyo Games
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John Rambo, Long Beach, California basketball star
See also
In Spanish: John Rambo (atleta) para niños
