Ray Barbuti facts for kids
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| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||
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| Full name | Raymond James Barbuti | ||||||||||||||||
| Born | June 12, 1905 Brooklyn, New York, U.S. |
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| Died | July 8, 1988 (aged 83) Pittsfield, Massachusetts, U.S. |
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| Height | 6 ft 0 in | ||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 181 lb | ||||||||||||||||
| Sport | |||||||||||||||||
| Sport | Running | ||||||||||||||||
| Club | NYAC, New York | ||||||||||||||||
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Medal record
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Raymond James Barbuti (born June 12, 1905 – died July 8, 1988) was an amazing American athlete. He was a talented American football player and a very fast sprint runner. Ray Barbuti won two gold medals at the 1928 Summer Olympics in Amsterdam, Netherlands.
He first went to the Olympics to compete in the 400-meter sprint. After winning gold in that race, the head of the US Olympic committee, Major General Douglas MacArthur, asked him to run in the 4x400-meter relay the very next day. Ray was celebrating his win when MacArthur asked him to prepare for the relay. At first, Ray didn't want to run because he didn't want to take another runner's spot. But MacArthur kept asking, and Ray finally agreed. The team went on to win another gold medal!
Contents
Early Life and Sports Achievements
High School Football Star
In 1924, while playing fullback for Lawrence High School on Long Island, Ray Barbuti set an amazing record. He scored eight touchdowns in a single game! This New York state record still stands today.
College Athletics and Football
Ray Barbuti attended Syracuse University. There, he continued to shine in both football and track. In 1928, he won the IC4A championship in the 400-meter sprint. His winning time was 48.8 seconds. That same year, he also won the AAU Championship in the 400-meter dash.
He played fullback for the Syracuse football team from 1926 to 1928. Ray was also the captain of both the football and track teams at Syracuse.
Olympic Glory and World Records
Ray Barbuti's trainer, Peter Poole, usually didn't let him run his two favorite distances in the same competition. These were the 200-yard and 400-yard races. For the 1928 Summer Olympics, Ray chose to compete in the 400-meter and the 4x400-meter relay.
He won gold in both events! In the relay, his team set a new world record with a time of 3:14.2. Just one week later, he helped set another world record. This was in London, for the 4x440-yard relay, with a time of 3:13.4. This record was set during a competition against Great Britain.
Military Service and Later Career
Serving in World War II
During World War II, Ray Barbuti served in the US Air Force. He was part of the 83rd Bombardment Squadron. This squadron was part of the 12th Bombardment Group, also known as the "Earthquakers." For his service, he was awarded the Air Medal and the Bronze Star.
While stationed in Gambut, Libya, Ray helped organize a special event. It was called the Western Desert Track and Field Championships. This competition brought together track athletes from his Bombardment Group, members of the British Royal Air Force (RAF), and Australian troops. With Ray's skills as a runner and a coach, his team won first place in 8 out of 11 events!
Life After the War
Ray Barbuti retired from the military with the rank of major. After his military service, he became the deputy director of the Civil Defense Commission for New York State. He also directed the New York State Office of Disaster Preparedness. In his free time, he stayed involved in sports. He worked as a referee for more than 500 college football games.
Images for kids
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Ray Barbuti, Emerson Spencer, Fred Alderman and George Baird at the 1928 Olympics
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Barbuti (right) winning the 400 m event at the 1928 Olympics
