May Park Beanpole

[DoubleRBar]

Happy 100th birthday today (Thursday) to an Olympic champion who won the gold medal at the age of 22. Our birthday athlete died at the age of 77.

A world record holder, this champion was from Georgia.

You can exclude everything except the hurdles for this one.

Name this Olympic champion born 100 years ago today.

[LopenUupunut]

Re: May Park Beanpole

Forrest Towns?

[DoubleRBar]

Re: May Park Beanpole

Very good, LopenUupunut. It is Forrest Towns who was born today in 1914. Of course you know he won the 110 hurdles in Berlin at 14.2. Less than a month after winning the Olympic gold medal, Forrest ran 13.7.

[Bruce Kritzler]

Re: May Park Beanpole

Forrest "Speck" Townes played high school football, but did not run track. A neighbor with connections to U of GA recommended him as a high jumper, after seeing him jump. He attended UGA on a football scholarship (must have had some extras !), and Weems Baskin taught him how to hurdle. Within 2 yrs. he was Olympic champ and world record holder.

[dukehjsteve]

Re: May Park Beanpole

re above, make that "Spec" rather than "Speck", as his nickname pertained to his wearing of glasses.