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Ralph Boston
Track and Field

Ralph Boston

Olympian 1960, 1964, 1968

  • 1

    GOLD

  • 1

    SILVER

  • 1

    BRONZE

Athlete Bio#

Ralph Boston

Age

Died (Aged 83)

1939-2023

Hometown

Laurel, MS

Education

Oak Park High School (Laurel, Miss.) Tennessee State University

Quick Facts
  • Son of Peter and Eulalia Boston
  • Youngest of 10 children
  • Became interested in athletics after watching his older brother, Peter, excel
  • Attended Oak Park High School in Laurel, where he participated in football and track among other sports
  • Set a national high school record in the 180-yard low hurdles event in 1956
  • Broke the world record in long jump during the U.S. Olympic Trials prior to the Olympic Games Rome 1960
  • Served as an administrator at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville following his athletic career
  • Advised the African American Student Liberation Force organization at UT, and chaired the Tony Wilson Memorial Fund
  • Served as a sportscaster with Marvin Sugarman Productions and ESPN
  • Inducted into the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics Hall of Fame, as well as the U.S. Track and Field Hall of Fame
  • Was the first African American inducted into the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame.
Olympic Experience
  • 3-time Olympian; 3-time Olympic medalist (1 gold, 1 silver, 1 bronze)
    • Olympic Games Mexico City 1968, bronze (Long Jump - Men)
    • Olympic Games Tokyo 1964, silver (Long Jump - Men)
    • Olympic Games Rome 1960, gold (Long Jump - Men)
Hall Of Fame Bio #

Ralph Boston was the first man to jump more than 27 feet (8.23 meters) in the long jump. Born in Laurel, Mississippi, Boston attended Tennessee State University, where he excelled in long jump, high jump, triple jump and hurdles. He set his first world record in 1960 with a long jump of 26 feet, 11.25 inches (8.21 meters), breaking the existing record of Jesse Owens by three inches. Boston then won the gold medal at the Olympic Games Rome 1960, setting an Olympic record for long jump. Boston was subsequently named World Athlete of the Year and North American Athlete of the Year. He won the silver medal at the Tokyo 1964 Games and the bronze medal at the Mexico City 1968 Games. After retiring from his sport, Boston became a television sports commentator for ESPN and an administrator at the University of Tennessee. 

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