John Taylor (athlete) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
John Baxter Taylor Jr.
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| Born | November 3, 1882 |
| Died | December 2, 1908 (aged 26) |
| Occupation | Athlete |
| Known for | First African American to win an Olympic gold medal |
| Medal record | ||
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| Men's athletics | ||
Representing the  United States |
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| Olympic Games | ||
| Gold | 1908 London | Medley relay |
John Baxter Taylor Jr. (born November 3, 1882, in Washington, D.C. – died December 2, 1908, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) was an amazing American track and field athlete. He made history as the first African American to win an Olympic gold medal.
Early Life and Education
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John Baxter Taylor Jr. was born in Washington, D.C. His parents had been slaves before he was born. Later, his family moved to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
He went to public schools there. In 1902, he graduated from Central High School. After high school, he spent a year at Brown Preparatory School. During this time, he was known as the fastest high school quarter-miler in the country.
John then went to the University of Pennsylvania. He studied at the Wharton School of Finance. As a freshman, he became a champion in the quarter mile race for the IC4A (Inter-Collegiate Association of Amateur Athletes of America). He improved his personal best time in 1907. He was again the IC4A quarter mile champion that year.
He later transferred to the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine. He graduated from there in 1908. John was also a member of Sigma Pi Phi, which was the first black fraternity. He was recruited by the Irish American Athletic Club in New York. He became one of their most famous African American members.
1908 Olympic Games
John Baxter Taylor Jr. was part of the American team at the 1908 Summer Olympics in London. He competed in the men's medley relay race. His team won the gold medal! This made him the first African American to win an Olympic gold medal.
In the medley relay, different runners run different distances. John ran the third part of the race, which was 400 meters. His teammates were William Hamilton and Nate Cartmell. After John, Mel Sheppard ran the final leg. The team won both their first race and the final race.
John also competed in the men's 400 meters race. He won his first two heats. In the final race, something unusual happened. Another American runner, John Carpenter, was disqualified. Officials said he blocked a British runner.
Because of this, the race was ordered to be run again. But John Taylor and another American runner, William Robbins, refused to race again. They did this to protest the unfair disqualification of their teammate. So, the British runner, Wyndham Halswelle, ran the final race all by himself. He won the gold medal in what is called a "walkover." This means he won because no one else competed.
Legacy
Sadly, less than five months after returning from the Olympics, John Taylor became very sick. He died from typhoid fever on December 2, 1908. He was only 26 years old. He is buried at Eden Cemetery in Collingdale, Pennsylvania.
The New York Times newspaper wrote about him after he died. They called him "the world's greatest negro runner."
Harry Porter, who was a fellow athlete and acting President of the 1908 U.S. Olympic Team, wrote a letter to John's parents. He said that John was a great person, not just a great athlete. He described John as kind and friendly. Harry Porter also said that John's achievements in sports, school, and as a person would always be an inspiration for his race.
Images for kids
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1907 University of Pennsylvania track team, with their ICAAAA trophy.
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At the 1908 Olympic games.
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John Baxter Taylor's death certificate.
