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Bob Mathias

Full name: Robert Bruce "Bob" Mathias
Gender: Male
Height: 6'3" (190 cm)
Weight: 203 lbs (92 kg)
Born: November 17, 1930 in Tulare, California, United States
Died: September 2, 2006 in Fresno, California, United States
Affiliations: Olympic Club / Stamford University
Country: USA United States
Sport: Athletics

Medals: 2 Gold (2 Total)

Biography

American decathlete Bob Mathias was the first of only two men (with Daley Thompson) to win successive Olympic decathlon titles. His first gold medal came in 1948 when, as a 17-year-old, he became the youngest-ever winner of an Olympic track & field event. He set his third world record in defending his title in 1952 but the following year he forfeited his amateur status by starring in a film of his life. He won four AAU titles, 1948-50, and 1952. Although then a professional, he was, as a Marine officer, eligible to compete in the 1956 Inter-Services championships when he won his 11th and final decathlon competition to maintain his unbeaten record in the event. He was also an outstanding running back on the Stanford football team and in 1952 became the only man to compete in the Olympics and the Rose Bowl in the same year. Mathias had a brief movie career and among the films he made was his life story. He later became a congressman representing California’s 18th District, serving in the 91st, 92nd, and 93rd Congresses. As a congressman he served on the Agriculture Committee, the Foreign Affairs Committee, and as a delegate to the House NATO Conferences. In 1973, he introduced legislation to amend the U.S. Olympic Charter that effectively created a Bill of Rights for amateur athletes.

Personal Bests: 100 – 10.8 (1952); 400 – 50.2 (1952); 110H – 13.8 (1952); HJ – 6-2¾ (1.90) (1952); PV – 13-1½ (4.00) (1952); LJ – 23-5½ (7.15) (1952); SP – 51-11 (15.82) (1953); DT – 173-4 (52.83) (1951); JT – 204-1 (62.20) (1952); Dec – 7,592 (1952).

Results

Glossary ▪ CSV ▪ PRE
Games Age City Sport Event Team NOC Rank Medal
1948 Summer 17 London Athletics Men's Decathlon United States USA 1 Gold
1952 Summer 21 Helsinki Athletics Men's Decathlon United States USA 1 Gold WR

Men's Decathlon

Glossary ▪ CSV ▪ PRE ▪ Event History ▪ Mouseover for column descriptions
Games Age City Sport Country Phase Unit Rank P(1952T) P(1985HT) P(1985AT) T(H) T(A) D P(1985T) H P(1934T) T
1948 Summer 17 London Athletics United States Final Standings 1 6.628 7,139
1948 Summer 17 London Athletics United States 100 metres 3T 765 787 11.2
1948 Summer 17 London Athletics United States 100 metres Heat Four 2 11.2
1948 Summer 17 London Athletics United States Long jump 13 6.615 723 703
1948 Summer 17 London Athletics United States Shot put 5 13.04 670 719
1948 Summer 17 London Athletics United States High jump 1T 679 1.86 859
1948 Summer 17 London Athletics United States 400 metres 4 732 780 51.7
1948 Summer 17 London Athletics United States 400 metres Heat Eight 1 51.7
1948 Summer 17 London Athletics United States 110 metre hurdles 4 740 818 15.7
1948 Summer 17 London Athletics United States 110 metre hurdles Heat Seven 1 15.7
1948 Summer 17 London Athletics United States Discus throw 1 44.00 746 834
1948 Summer 17 London Athletics United States Pole vault 2T 482 3.50 692
1948 Summer 17 London Athletics United States Javelin throw 11 50.32 593 593
1948 Summer 17 London Athletics United States 1,500 metres 24 498 354 5:11.0
1948 Summer 17 London Athletics United States 1,500 metres Heat Six 2 5:11.0
1952 Summer 21 Helsinki Athletics United States Final Standings 1 WR 7,887 7.589 7.580
1952 Summer 21 Helsinki Athletics United States 100 metres 2 948 830 843 10.9 11.08
1952 Summer 21 Helsinki Athletics United States 100 metres Heat Eight 1 948 830 843 10.9 11.08
1952 Summer 21 Helsinki Athletics United States Long jump 6 779 6.98 809
1952 Summer 21 Helsinki Athletics United States Shot put 1 912 15.30 808
1952 Summer 21 Helsinki Athletics United States High jump 3 900 714 1.90
1952 Summer 21 Helsinki Athletics United States 400 metres 1 828 799 797 50.2 50.38
1952 Summer 21 Helsinki Athletics United States 400 metres Heat One 1 828 799 797 50.2 50.38
1952 Summer 21 Helsinki Athletics United States 110 metre hurdles 2 894 857 14.7 14.91
1952 Summer 21 Helsinki Athletics United States 110 metre hurdles Heat Seven 1 894 857 14.7 14.91
1952 Summer 21 Helsinki Athletics United States Discus throw 1 OB 838 46.89 806
1952 Summer 21 Helsinki Athletics United States Pole vault 3 745 617 4.00
1952 Summer 21 Helsinki Athletics United States Javelin throw 1 715 59.21 726
1952 Summer 21 Helsinki Athletics United States 1,500 metres 8 328 614 612 4:50.8 4:51.11
1952 Summer 21 Helsinki Athletics United States 1,500 metres Heat Three 4 328 614 612 4:50.8 4:51.11