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 athlete and a former soldier. Mel Pender competed as a runner in the Olympic Games in 1964 and 1968. He won a gold medal in the 4 × 100 meter relay at the 1968 Summer Olympics. He was part of the Philadelphia Pioneer Track Club. There, he was coached by Alex Woodley, who helped many athletes reach the Olympics.
Mel Pender's Army Career
Mel Pender joined the U.S. Army when he was 17 years old. In 1960, he was sent to the 82nd Airborne Division on Okinawa. After the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, he went back to his military duties. He finished Officer Candidate School in 1965.
Later, he served in South Vietnam with the 9th Infantry Division. This was in the Mekong Delta area. He was then told to return to the U.S. to train for the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City.
After the 1968 Olympics, Pender went back to South Vietnam. He earned a special award called the Bronze Star Medal. In August 1970, he returned to the U.S. He worked as an assistant track and field coach. Later, he became the head track coach at the United States Military Academy at West Point. He also earned a college degree from Adelphi University. Mel Pender retired from the Army in 1976. He held the rank of Captain.
Mel Pender: Olympic Athlete
While Mel Pender was serving in the U.S. Army, his amazing speed was noticed. This happened during camp football games. He was chosen for the 1964 Olympic Team. However, an injury held him back. He 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 gained speed. He was in the lead halfway through the race. He finished sixth in that race.
In the 4 × 100 meter relay, he ran the second part of the race. The American team won the gold medal. They also set a new world record with a time of 38.24 seconds. Mel Pender also set world records in other short races. These included 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
