Milt Campbell facts for kids

Medal record
Men's athletics
Representing the  United States
Olympic Games
Gold	1956 Melbourne	Decathlon
Silver	1952 Helsinki	Decathlon

Milton Gray Campbell (born December 9, 1933 – died November 2, 2012) was an amazing American athlete. He was best known as a decathlon champion in the 1950s. In 1956, he made history by becoming the first African American to win a gold medal in the decathlon at the Summer Olympic Games.

Early Life and Sports Journey

Milt Campbell was born in Plainfield, New Jersey. From a young age, he loved sports and often competed with his older brother, Tom. His talent for sports was first noticed when he attended Plainfield High School.

At high school, Milt played football, ran track, and even swam. At that time, many people thought African Americans couldn't swim well. But Milt proved them wrong with his skills. He was recognized as "All-State" in both football and swimming.

Becoming a Decathlon Star

Milt's coach believed he could become the best athlete in the world. To do this, his coach told him he needed to win the Olympic decathlon. Milt had never heard of the decathlon before, so he looked it up.

He found out the decathlon is a tough event with ten different track and field challenges. Milt decided to take on this challenge. He trained hard to represent the United States in the 1952 Olympic Games in Helsinki, Finland.

Olympic Achievements

At just 18 years old, Milt Campbell earned a spot on the 1952 Olympic team for the decathlon. This was his very first time competing in a decathlon event! He won a silver medal, finishing second to Bob Mathias. Mathias was the gold medalist from the previous 1948 London Games.

When Milt returned home to New Jersey, he was celebrated for his silver medal. However, Milt was determined to win gold. He knew he needed to practice even harder for the next four years. His goal was to win the 1956 Olympics in Melbourne, Australia.

Winning Olympic Gold

Between the 1952 and 1956 Olympics, Milt went to Indiana University. There, he continued to play football and run track. This helped him prepare even more for the upcoming Games.

By the summer of 1956, Milt was ready. He went to Melbourne and showed incredible skill. He won the gold medal in the decathlon. He also set a new record of 13.4 seconds in the 120-yard hurdles event.

Football Career

After his amazing Olympic win, Milt Campbell continued his sports career in football. He was drafted by the NFL Cleveland Browns in 1957. He played as a halfback alongside famous player Jim Brown.

However, Milt's NFL career was cut short due to unfair treatment. He was released from the team. After leaving the NFL, Milt moved to Canada. He joined the Canadian Football League (CFL).

Playing in Canada

In the CFL, Milt played for several teams. These included the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, Kitchener-Waterloo Dutchmen, Montreal Alouettes, and Toronto Argonauts. He played in the CFL until he retired from football in 1964.

Judo and Later Life

After his football career, Milt Campbell wanted to stay active. He started practicing Judo, a Japanese martial art. He quickly became very good at it. His Judo instructor believed Milt had a strong chance to make the 1972 Olympic team for Judo.

However, Milt was not allowed to compete in the Olympics for Judo. This was because he had played professional football. Milt found this unfair, as professional track runners were allowed to compete in the Olympics.

In 2008, Monmouth University in New Jersey honored him with a special degree.

Milt Campbell's Legacy

Even with all his amazing achievements, Milt Campbell was not as famous as some other athletes of his time. Other Olympic decathlon winners, like Bob Mathias and Bruce Jenner, received many endorsements and appeared on cereal boxes. Milt, however, did not get the same recognition.

Milt Campbell once said that "America wasn't ready for a black man to be the best athlete in the world." He is sometimes called the Olympic superstar who is "famous" for not being famous. Despite this, his accomplishments were truly remarkable.

Honors and Recognition

Milt Campbell has been honored in many ways for his incredible sports career.

• In 1982, he was inducted into the Indiana University Athletics Hall of Fame.
• In 1992, he joined the United States Olympic Hall of Fame.
• In 2012, he was voted into the New Jersey Hall of Fame.
• He is also in the National Track and Field Hall of Fame.
• He is in the International Swimming Hall of Fame.
• Milt Campbell is the only person to be in both the National Track and Field Hall of Fame and the International Swimming Hall of Fame.

Milt Campbell passed away on November 2, 2012, at the age of 78, after a long illness. He left behind his wife, children, and great-grandchildren.

See also

In Spanish: Milt Campbell para niños