Rod Milburn facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Rodney Milburn Jr.

Milburn c. 1972
Personal information
Nationality	American
Born	(1950-03-18)March 18, 1950 Opelousas, Louisiana
Died	November 11, 1997(1997-11-11) (aged 47) Baton Rouge, Louisiana, U.S.
Height	6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Weight	175 lb (79 kg)
Sport
Sport	Running
Event(s)	110 m hurdles
College team	Southern University
Achievements and titles
Personal best(s)	110 m hurdles: 13.24 s (Munich 1972 then WR) 120 y hurdles; 13.0 s Eugene, Oregon 1971 then WR)
Medal record Representing the  United States Olympic Games Gold 1972 Munich 110 m hurdles Pan American Games Gold 1971 Cali 110 m hurdles Bronze 1971 Cali 4×100 m relay

Rodney "Rod" Milburn Jr. (born May 18, 1950 – died November 11, 1997) was an amazing American athlete. He won a gold medal at the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich. He was famous for his speed in the 110-meter hurdles.

Rod Milburn's Amazing Track Career

Milburn in 1971

Rod Milburn was a top athlete in the early 1970s. He was especially good at the 110-meter hurdles. He even tied or broke the world record for this race five times!

Becoming a World Champion

In 1971, Rod was a student at Southern University. This was the year he became famous around the world. He set his first world record that year. He ran the 120-yard hurdles in just 13.0 seconds. Rod won the USA Championships with a time of 13.1 seconds.

He didn't lose a single race in 1971. He also won the 110m hurdles at the Pan-American Games. He showed he was good at more than one event. He won a bronze medal with the United States sprint relay team. Because of his amazing performances, people called him "Hot Rod." He also won the Track and Field News Athlete of the Year Award. His home state, Louisiana, gave him the James J. Corbett Award. He won this award again in 1973. In 1973, he was also the NCAA Indoor Champion for 60-yard hurdles.

Olympic Gold and Challenges

Everyone expected Rod to make it to the 1972 Munich Olympics. He had a tough time at the USA Olympic Trials but still qualified. He finished in third place, just barely making the team.

In Munich, Rod won the gold medal in the 110m hurdles. He tied the world record with a time of 13.2 seconds. This time was officially recorded as 13.24 seconds. It became the first world record recognized when times were recorded automatically.

Rod's victory happened during a difficult time. The hurdle races were delayed because of a serious event at the Olympic Village. Also, his final race was not the main focus. This was because of a disagreement about how two American runners behaved during their medal ceremony.

In 1973, Rod continued to be the best high-hurdler in the world. He broke the 110m hurdles world record again. He ran it in 13.1 seconds, which was 0.1 seconds faster than a record that had stood for 14 years. He also tied his own 120-yard hurdles world record of 13.0 seconds.

Life After Amateur Sports

After 1973, Rod couldn't earn money from sports as an amateur. So, he joined a new professional athletics tour. It was called the International Track Association (ITA). He won all his races in their 1974 season. The ITA tour ended in 1976. Because he ran as a professional, Rod could not compete in the Olympics. This meant he couldn't defend his gold medal in 1976.

In 1975, Rod tried to play American football. He tried out for a team called the Shreveport Steamer. But it didn't work out.

Rod returned to hurdling in 1980. He hoped to compete in the Olympics again. However, the boycott of the Olympics stopped him. He still ran as an amateur for two seasons. He did well against new, younger hurdlers.

Milburn's Special Techniques

Sports experts say Rod Milburn brought new ideas to hurdling.

• He used a "double-armed lead." This helped him spend less time in the air over the hurdles.
• He also used a special practice method. He would place dimes on top of each hurdle. Then he would try to knock off the dimes without touching the hurdle itself. This helped him be very precise.

Early Life and Training

Rod Milburn learned to run hurdles in high school. His coach, Claude Paxton, taught him at J.S. Clark High School in Opelousas, Louisiana.

High School and College Years

By his senior year, Rod was the best high school hurdler in the United States. He broke the national record for his age group. He ran the 120-yard hurdles in 13.5 seconds. He was recognized for his achievements. He was voted onto the Louisiana Sports Writers Association All-State track and field team. He earned this honor in both his junior and senior years.

After high school, he received an athletics scholarship. He went to Southern University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. There, he met Willie Davenport. Willie was the 1968 110m hurdles Olympic champion. Willie saw Rod's potential and helped him become a great athlete. Rod's college coach was Dick Hill. Coach Hill had also coached Bob Hayes, the 1964 100m Olympic champion.

Later Life and Legacy

Rod Milburn stopped competing in athletics in 1983. In 1984, his old college coach, Dick Hill, hired him. Rod became the head track coach at Southern University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. When Coach Hill left in 1987, Rod's coaching contract was not renewed.

Coaching and Beyond

After coaching, Rod faced some challenges. He took a job as a utility crewman at a paper and pulp mill. This was at the Georgia-Pacific Corporation in Port Hudson, Louisiana.

A Difficult Loss

It was while working at this plant that Rod Milburn passed away. He died after an accident at his workplace in 1997. His death was a big shock to the track and field community. Everyone remembered his amazing achievements on the track. At his funeral, a message of sympathy from President Bill Clinton and his wife, Hillary, was read.

It was tough for Rod that his best years came when athletes couldn't earn much money. Because he ran professionally, he couldn't defend his Olympic title in 1976. Then, the 1980 Olympics boycott stopped him from competing again. Even when he was allowed to compete as an amateur again, it was too late for him to try for the Olympics.

Honoring a Legend

Rod Milburn was honored as one of Louisiana's top 50 athletes of the 20th Century. This was by Sports Illustrated magazine. In 1988, he was added to the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame.

How Rod Milburn Ranked

Experts from Track and Field News ranked Rod Milburn. He was considered one of the best in the USA and the world for the 110m hurdles. This was during two periods, before and after his time as a professional athlete.

Milburn on a stamp from Umm al-Quwain

USA Championship Wins

Rod Milburn was very successful at the USA National Track and Field Championships. He competed in the 110m hurdles between 1970 and 1981. This was split by his time on the professional athletics circuit.

Rod also won the United States indoor championship four times. He won the 60m/60y hurdles in 1972–73 and 1980–81. He also set world records indoors for:

• 50-yard hurdles in 5.8 seconds
• 55-meter hurdles in 6.8 seconds
• 60-yard hurdles in 6.7 seconds