Mack Robinson (athlete) facts for kids
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| Personal information | |||||||||||
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| Full name | Matthew MacKenzie Robinson | ||||||||||
| Nationality | American | ||||||||||
| Born | July 18, 1914 Cairo, Georgia, U.S. |
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| Died | March 12, 2000 (aged 85) Pasadena, California, U.S. |
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| Alma mater | University of Oregon | ||||||||||
| Height | 6 ft 1 in (185 cm) | ||||||||||
| Weight | 170 lb (77 kg) | ||||||||||
| Sport | |||||||||||
| Sport | Track and field | ||||||||||
| Event(s) | Sprint, Long jump | ||||||||||
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Medal record
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Matthew MacKenzie "Mack" Robinson (born July 18, 1914 – died March 12, 2000) was an amazing American track and field athlete. He is famous for winning a silver medal at the 1936 Summer Olympics. In that race, the 200 meters, he even broke the Olympic record! However, he finished just behind the legendary Jesse Owens. Mack was also the older brother of Jackie Robinson, a famous baseball player.
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Growing Up and Early Sports
Mack Robinson was born in Cairo, Georgia, in 1914. When he was young, his father left the family. His mother, Mallie Robinson, worked hard to support Mack and his siblings. She moved the family to Pasadena, California, when the children were still small.
When Mack started middle school, doctors found he had a heart murmur. This meant he should only play sports where there was no physical contact. He stayed in Pasadena for school and became a fantastic athlete. At Pasadena Junior College, he set national records in the 100-meter sprint, 200-meter sprint, and the long jump.
The 1936 Olympics
In 1936, Mack placed second in the 200 meters at the United States Olympic Trials. This earned him a spot on the American team for the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin.
At the Olympics, Mack won the silver medal in the 200-meter race. He finished just 0.4 seconds behind Jesse Owens. Both Mack and Jesse were African-American athletes. Their journey to the 1936 Olympics was shown in the 2016 film Olympic Pride, American Prejudice.
Life After the Olympics
Mack Robinson went to the University of Oregon and graduated in 1941. While at Oregon, he won many championships in track meets. He is known as one of the most distinguished graduates of the University of Oregon. He is also a member of the University of Oregon Hall of Fame and the Oregon Sports Hall of Fame.
Later in his life, Mack worked as a park director in Los Angeles. He also became well-known for fighting against street crime in his hometown of Pasadena.
Honoring Mack Robinson
A special memorial in Pasadena honors both Matthew and Jackie Robinson. It was dedicated in 1997. Mack also helped to install a statue of his brother Jackie at Jackie Robinson Stadium at UCLA.
Several places are named after Matthew Robinson. The stadium at Pasadena City College was named in his honor in 2000. In the same year, the United States Postal Service named the new post office in Pasadena the Matthew 'Mack' Robinson Post Office Building.
Mack Robinson passed away on March 12, 2000, in Pasadena, California, at the age of 85. He is buried in Mountain View Cemetery and Mausoleum in Altadena, California.
See also
In Spanish: Matthew Robinson para niños
