US mourns America’s only Olympic 5,000m champion who stunned Kenyan legend Kipchoge Keino in 1964

America’s Bob Schul when he won 5,000m gold at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics. Photo: Imago

US mourns America’s only Olympic 5,000m champion who stunned Kenyan legend Kipchoge Keino in 1964

Joel Omotto 20:15 - 18.06.2024

America is mourning the death of legendary athlete Bob Schul, the country only Olympic 5,000m champion, who claimed gold at the expense of Kenya’s Kipchoge Keino at Tokyo 1964 Games.

Bob Schul, the only American distance runner to win gold in the 5,000 meters at the Olympics, has passed away at the age of 86.

Miami University in Ohio, where Schul excelled in track and was inducted into the school's hall of fame in 1973, announced his death on Sunday, though no cause was provided.

Schul famously predicted his victory leading up to the 1964 Tokyo Olympics and delivered on his promise.

Despite the rainy conditions, he completed the final lap in a remarkable 54.8 seconds, clinching the gold medal with his white shorts muddied by the finish line. His win followed the gold-medal performance of his teammate Billy Mills in the 10,000 meters at the same Games.

Schul's journey to Olympic success was remarkable and unexpected. He battled an asthmatic condition as a child and joined Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, as a walk-on athlete.

Before dedicating himself fully to running, Schul served in the Air Force and trained under coach Mihaly Igloi.

In 1964, Schul set an American record in the 5,000 meters with a time of 13 minutes, 38 seconds.

The men’s 5,000 meters at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics was one of the most competitive and star-studded events of the decade. The field was packed with some of the greatest distance runners of the era, making Bob Schul's victory even more impressive. Among the contenders were:

Michel Jazy of France, who held the world record in the 3,000 meters and would go on to break the mile world record a year later.

Ron Clarke of Australia, the world record holder in the 10,000 meters, who would set a new world record in the 5,000 meters the following year.

Kipchoge Keino of Kenya, who would establish a world record in the 5,000 meters in 1965 and win Olympic golds in the 1,500 meters in 1968 and the steeplechase in 1972.

Despite the presence of these formidable opponents, Schul secured his place in history with a stunning performance, completing the final lap in a remarkable 54.8 seconds to win the gold.

His victory was a testament to his determination and skill, as he outpaced some of the greatest distance runners of his time.

Over his career, he held five American and NCAA records in the two-mile, three-mile, and 5,000-meter events.

Schul's contributions to the sport were further recognized with his induction into the USA Track and Field Hall of Fame in 1991. Additionally, he co-authored a book titled "In the Long Run."

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