Article: BILLY MILLS
BILLY MILLS
Billy Mills (Tamakhóčhe Theȟíla): Respects the EarthIn the past 60 years Billy Mills is the only American – the only man from the Western Hemisphere – to have won the 10,000-meter Olympic race.
Incredible Moment As Underdog Billy Mills Wins 10,000m Gold - Tokyo 1964 Olympics: Watch on YouTube
Mills was born on June 30, 1938 in Pine Ridge, South Dakota. As a member of the Oglala Lakota Nation, he grew up on the Pine Ridge Indian reservation. Mills had unfortunately become and orphan at an early age. Losing his mother at age 8 and his father 4 years later.
Much like Jim Thorpe - Mills had attended Haskell Indian School which at the time was a boarding school for Native Americans in Lawrence KS. It was at Haskell that Mills became a top runner and eventually earned a scholarship to the University of Kansas (home of the Jayhawks).
While attending KU Mills had won the individual title at the Big Eight cross-country championship in 1960. He has also won the 1959 and 1960 outdoor national championships making him a three-time NCAA All-American cross-country runner.
Mills graduated in 1962 and became a first lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps in 1964 when he competed in the Tokyo Olympics.
Despite his achievements Mills was still an unknown runner during this time. Even some of the officials didn't know who he was. But they would soon find out.
The favorite for the 10,000 m was Ron Clarke of Australia. He held the world record and the only people expected to challenge him were defending champion Pyotr Bolotnikov of the Soviet Union, and Murray Halberg of New Zealand, who had won the 5,000m in 1960
Throughout the race Mills had remained in the top 5 but stayed quiet until the final lap. In footage of the race you could hear the announcer picking out Mills but stating that "no one expected him to win".
As the bell of the final lap rang Mills made his move to the font taking the lead in front of Ron Clarke. It was Billy Mills, Ron Clarke, Billy Mills, Ron Clarke - Both battling it out shoulder to shoulder until suddenly MOHAMMED GAMMOUDI of Tunisia punched through the crack of both runners taking the lead and pulling away fast.
Clarke pushing through the wall chases after with Mills hot on his tail. As they come around the final bend they each have a length of 2 runner in between them. Clarke suddenly catches Gammoudi. It's Clarke and Gammoudi laying it all out on the track when you hear the announcer saying, "BILLY MILLS! BILLY MILLS! BILLY MILLS POURING ON THE STEAM, BILLY MILLS IS REALLY PUTTING IT ON! BILLY MILLS HAS THE LEAD FOR THE UNITED STATES!"
His winning time of 28:24.4 was almost 50 seconds faster than he had run before and set a new Olympic record for the event. No American had before won the 10,000 m, nor has any other American come close.
Billy Mills had continued to lead by example with his work in philanthropy and connection to his community.
Mills was born on June 30, 1938 in Pine Ridge, South Dakota. As a member of the Oglala Lakota Nation, he grew up on the Pine Ridge Indian reservation. Mills had unfortunately become and orphan at an early age. Losing his mother at age 8 and his father 4 years later.
Much like Jim Thorpe - Mills had attended Haskell Indian School which at the time was a boarding school for Native Americans in Lawrence KS. It was at Haskell that Mills became a top runner and eventually earned a scholarship to the University of Kansas (home of the Jayhawks).
While attending KU Mills had won the individual title at the Big Eight cross-country championship in 1960. He has also won the 1959 and 1960 outdoor national championships making him a three-time NCAA All-American cross-country runner.
Mills graduated in 1962 and became a first lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps in 1964 when he competed in the Tokyo Olympics.
Despite his achievements Mills was still an unknown runner during this time. Even some of the officials didn't know who he was. But they would soon find out.
The favorite for the 10,000 m was Ron Clarke of Australia. He held the world record and the only people expected to challenge him were defending champion Pyotr Bolotnikov of the Soviet Union, and Murray Halberg of New Zealand, who had won the 5,000m in 1960
Throughout the race Mills had remained in the top 5 but stayed quiet until the final lap. In footage of the race you could hear the announcer picking out Mills but stating that "no one expected him to win".
As the bell of the final lap rang Mills made his move to the font taking the lead in front of Ron Clarke. It was Billy Mills, Ron Clarke, Billy Mills, Ron Clarke - Both battling it out shoulder to shoulder until suddenly MOHAMMED GAMMOUDI of Tunisia punched through the crack of both runners taking the lead and pulling away fast.
Clarke pushing through the wall chases after with Mills hot on his tail. As they come around the final bend they each have a length of 2 runner in between them. Clarke suddenly catches Gammoudi. It's Clarke and Gammoudi laying it all out on the track when you hear the announcer saying, "BILLY MILLS! BILLY MILLS! BILLY MILLS POURING ON THE STEAM, BILLY MILLS IS REALLY PUTTING IT ON! BILLY MILLS HAS THE LEAD FOR THE UNITED STATES!"
His winning time of 28:24.4 was almost 50 seconds faster than he had run before and set a new Olympic record for the event. No American had before won the 10,000 m, nor has any other American come close.
Billy Mills had continued to lead by example with his work in philanthropy and connection to his community.
:%20Respects%20the%20Earth%0AIn%20the%20past%2060%20years%20Billy%20Mills%20is%20the%20only%20American%20%E2%80%93%20the%20only%20man%20from%20the%20Western%20Hemisphere%20%E2%80%93%20to%20have%20won%20the%2010,000-meter%20Olympic%20race.%0A%0A...){kind=link}
Leave a comment
This site is protected by hCaptcha and the hCaptcha Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.