Mel Pender facts for kids
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| Born | October 31, 1937 (age 87) Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. |
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Medal record
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Mel Pender
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| Allegiance | United States of America |
| Service/ |
 U.S. Army |
| Years of service | 1955–1976 |
| Rank | Captain |
| Unit | 82nd Airborne Division 9th Infantry Division |
| Battles/wars | Cold War, Vietnam War |
| Awards | Bronze Star |
Melvin Pender Jr. was born on October 31, 1937, in Atlanta, Georgia. He is a famous American runner who won a gold medal at the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City. He competed in two Olympic Games, in 1964 and 1968. Mel Pender was part of the 4x100 meter relay team that won gold. He trained with the Philadelphia Pioneer Track Club, where his coach, Alex Woodley, also helped other Olympic athletes.
Mel Pender's Army Life
Mel Pender joined the U.S. Army when he was 17 years old. In 1960, he was sent to Okinawa and joined the 82nd Airborne Division.
After the 1964 Olympics, he went back to the Army. In 1965, he finished Officer Candidate School. He was then sent to South Vietnam to serve with the 9th Infantry Division during the Vietnam War. Later, he was told to return to the U.S. to train for the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City.
After the 1968 Olympics, Mel Pender went back to South Vietnam. There, he received a special award called the Bronze Star Medal. In August 1970, he returned to the U.S. He worked as a track and field coach at the United States Military Academy at West Point. He later earned a college degree from Adelphi University. In 1976, he left the Army as a Captain.
Olympic Running Career
While Mel Pender was in the U.S. Army, people noticed how incredibly fast he was during football games. He was chosen to be on the 1964 Olympic Team. However, he had an injury and finished seventh in the 100 meters race in Tokyo.
When he was almost 31 years old, Pender made it to the 100 meter final again. He had a very fast start and quickly got ahead in the race. He finished sixth in that event.
In the 4x100 meter relay race, he ran the second part of the race. The American team won the gold medal and set a new world record with a time of 38.24 seconds. Mel Pender also set world records in other short races, including 50 yards (5.0 seconds), 60 yards (5.8 seconds), 70 yards (6.8 seconds), and 100 meters (9.9 seconds).
See also
In Spanish: Mel Pender para niños
