Morgan Taylor facts for kids
Morgan Taylor at the 1928 Olympics
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| Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||
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| Full name | Frederick Morgan Taylor | |||||||||||||||||||
| Born | April 17, 1903 Sioux City, Iowa, United States |
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| Died | February 16, 1975 (aged 71) Rochester, New York, United States |
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| Height | 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 75 kg (165 lb) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | Athletics | |||||||||||||||||||
| Club | Illinois Athletic Club, Chicago | |||||||||||||||||||
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Medal record
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Frederick Morgan Taylor (born April 17, 1903 – died February 16, 1975) was an amazing American athlete. He was a hurdler, which means he ran races and jumped over barriers called hurdles. He made history by being the first athlete to win three Olympic medals in the 400-meter hurdles race. He even carried the American flag for the United States team at his last Olympics in 1932.
Morgan Taylor: An Olympic Star
Morgan Taylor was a very fast runner. In 1924, he won the Olympic tryouts for the 400-meter hurdles. He ran so quickly that he set a new best time for the United States.
At the 1924 Paris Olympics, he won the gold medal in the 400-meter hurdles. He ran the race in the same super-fast time. Even though he touched one hurdle, his amazing speed helped him win the gold.
He continued his success at the Olympics. He won a bronze medal at the 1928 Olympics in Amsterdam. Then, at the 1932 Olympics in Los Angeles, he won another bronze medal. This made him the first person to win three Olympic medals in this challenging event!
Morgan Taylor also set a world record in 1928. He ran the 400-meter hurdles in 52.0 seconds. This record was officially accepted by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), which is the world's governing body for track and field.
Life Beyond the Track
Before becoming an Olympic champion, Morgan Taylor went to Grinnell College. He was a talented athlete there. He competed in both track and field and football.
In 1927, he won a major college championship. He was the best in the 220-yard hurdles for the NCAA. He also showed his skills in the long jump, finishing second in 1925.
After graduating from college, Morgan Taylor worked as a salesman. Later, he became a teacher and an athletics coach. He helped other young athletes learn and improve their skills. His son, F. Morgan Taylor Jr., also became a track and field athlete. He competed in the long jump, following in his father's athletic footsteps.
