(AP) ? Milt Campbell, who became the first African-American to win the Olympic decathlon in 1956 and went on to play pro football and become a motivational speaker, has died, his family said. A native of Plainfield, N.J., Campbell was a rising high school senior when he won the silver medal in the decathlon at the 1952 Olympics in Helsinki, finishing second to Bob Mathias. "World record holder Rafer Johnson was hampered by injury, but even in full health he probably couldn't have beaten Milt Campbell in Melbourne," according to The Complete Book of the Summer Olympics by David Wallechinsky. [...] God seemed to reach into my heart and tell me he didn't want me to compete in the hurdles, but in the decathlon. Rusch said Campbell became a motivational speaker, and maintained a positive outlook despite the loss of a son to cancer and as he himself fought the disease. Rusch said Campbell was a whirlwind of activity ? playing tennis as well as riding bikes, horses and motorcycles ? until cancer treatment began slowing him down.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment