Milton Green facts for kids

Milton Green (born October 31, 1913 – died March 30, 2005) was an amazing athlete. He held world records in high hurdles during the 1930s. He was born in Lowell, Massachusetts, and later studied at Harvard University.

A Record-Breaking Hurdler

Milton Green was incredibly fast! In 1935, he ran the 45-yard high hurdles in just 5.8 seconds. This speed matched the world record at a big track meet. He was competing against athletes from Yale University and Princeton University.

The next year, in 1936, he tied another world record. This time, it was for the 60-meter high hurdles. He finished in 7.5 seconds during an Olympic trial race. This race took place at Madison Square Garden. Everyone thought Milton would easily make the Olympic team that year.

Standing Up for What's Right

Even though he was a top athlete, Milton Green made a very brave choice. He decided not to go to the 1936 Olympic Games. These games were held in Berlin, which was the capital of Nazi Germany at the time. Milton chose to protest against the unfair things happening there.

His rabbi (a Jewish religious leader) helped him make this difficult decision. Milton and his Harvard teammate, Norman Cahners, quietly boycotted the Olympics. Their protest was not widely known back then.

Milton later shared his thoughts in an interview: "Both Cahners and I decided that we would boycott the Olympics. We just felt it was the right thing to do." He explained that his coach tried to change their minds. The coach said it might not make a big difference. But Milton and Norman believed it was important to stand up for their beliefs.

Milton often thought about what might have happened if he had competed. He wondered if he would have won a medal. But he always felt good about his decision. He knew he had done what he believed was right.

Life After Sports

After his amazing sports career, Milton Green served in the United States Army. He fought during World War II.

When the war ended, Milton started a new career. He became a shopping center developer. He worked in this field until he retired in 1971.

Milton Green's achievements were recognized many years later. In 1961, he was added to The Harvard Athletic Hall of Fame. This honor celebrates the best athletes from Harvard University. Then, in 1997, he was also chosen for The International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame.

See also

• List of select Jewish track and field athletes