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Athlete Bio#
Age
Died (Aged 56)
1933-1989
Hometown
Laurel, MS
Education
North Carolina Central College
Quick Facts
- Seven-time national champion
- Held world records in the hurdles at 110-, 70-, 60- and 50-meters
- Was the first man to win successive Olympic hurdle titles
- Was voted to the Olympic Dream Team in 1983 alongside Renaldo Nehemiah and Rod Milburn
- Inducted into the International Track and Field Hall of Fame and the National Track & Field Hall of Fame in 1974
- Father to two children, Brenda and Daniel.
Olympic Experience
- 2-time Olympian; 2-time Olympic medalist (2 gold)
- Olympic Games Rome 1960, gold (110m Hurdles - Men)
- Olympic Games Melbourne 1956, gold (110m Hurdles - Men)
Hall Of Fame Bio #
Lee Calhoun was the first person to win the 110-meter hurdles at successive Olympic Games. Leading American podium sweeps on both occasions, Calhoun won his first gold medal at the Olympic Games Melbourne 1956 and his second gold at the Rome 1960 Games. Born in Laurel, Mississippi, Calhoun competed at North Carolina Central College, where he won national championships in 1956 and 1957 for the 120-yard hurdles event, and was a national champion for outdoor hurdles on three different occasions. Following Calhoun’s competitive track career, he became a college track coach, completing stints at Grambling University, Yale University and Western Illinois University. He was also asked to be an assistant U.S. Olympic coach in 1976, and North Carolina Central College hosts an annual Lee Calhoun High School Invitational in his honor. Calhoun passed away on June 21, 1989 in Erie, Pennsylvania.
