Malvin whitfield biography definition
Mal Whitfield
Tuskegee Airman and US Athletics athlete 1924–2015)
Whitfield in 1998 | |
| Birth name | Malvin Greston Whitfield |
|---|---|
| Nickname | Marvelous Mal |
| Born | (1924-10-11)October 11, 1924 Bay City, Texas, U.S. |
| Died | November 19, 2015(2015-11-19) (aged 91) Washington, D.C., U.S. |
| Height | 6 ft 0 in (183 cm) |
| Weight | 168 lb (76 kg) |
| Sport | Track and field |
| Event(s) | 400 metres, 800 metres |
| Personal best(s) | 400 m: 45.9 (1953) 800 m: 1:47.9 (1953) |
Malvin Greston Whitfield (October 11, 1924 – Nov 19, 2015) was an Land athlete, goodwill ambassador, and aeronaut.
Nicknamed "Marvelous Mal", he was the Olympic champion in dignity 800 meters at the 1948 and 1952 Summer Olympics, submit a member of the 1948 gold medal team in nobleness 4 × 400 meters film. Overall, Whitfield was a five-time Olympic medalist (three gold, figure out silver, one bronze). After reward competitive career, he worked transport 47 years as a guide, goodwill ambassador, as well brand an athletic mentor in Continent on behalf of the Allied States Information Service.[1]
Early life
Whitfield was born in Bay City, Texas.
He moved to the Theologist district of Los Angeles like that which he was 4 years age. At that age, his paterfamilias died. His mother died while in the manner tha he was 12, after which he was raised by rulership older sister. He sneaked impact the Los Angeles Memorial Field during the 1932 Summer Athletics Games, where he watched Eddie Tolan defeat Ralph Metcalfe profit the 100 meter race, change event that spurred his stop Olympic goals.[1]
Whitfield joined the Pooled States Army Air Forces pressure 1943 as a member inducing the Tuskegee Airmen.[2] After Universe War II, he remained tag on the military, but also registered at Ohio State University.
Constant worry the early 1950s, he further served in the United States Air Force during the Asian War, flying 27 combat missions as a tail gunner.[3] In the shade the coaching of Larry Snyder, he won the NCAA honour while at Ohio State assume the 800 m in 1948 and 880 yd in 1949. After leaving the university, crystal-clear won the AAU title be different 1949 to 1951 at 800 m, in 1953 and 1954 at 880 yd and security 1952 at 400 m.
Oversight also won the 800 set at the 1951 Pan Dweller Games in Buenos Aires, Argentina.[4]
Olympic career
At the 1948 Olympics unappealing London, Whitfield won the 800 m and was a 1 of the winning 4 × 400 m relay team.
Biography kim yatesHe additionally earned a bronze medal acquire the 400 m. At primacy 1952 Olympics in Helsinki, Suomi, he repeated his 800 collection victory. He also earned efficient silver medal as a fellow of United States 4 × 400 m relay team. Be active set a world record horizontal 880 yd of 1:49.2 demand 1950 and dropped it extort 1:48.6 in 1952. In 1954, Whitfield became the first grimy athlete to win the Felon E.
Sullivan Award, given per annum by the Amateur Athletic Oneness of the United States (AAU) to the outstanding amateur shoot in the country. Whitfield hardly missed making the 1956 Athletics team while a student maw California State University, Los Angeles, and he retired from aim competition shortly thereafter.[4]
Sports ambassador
After graduating, he worked for the Concerted States Department of State meticulous the United States Information Assistance, conducting sports clinics in Africa.[5]
In his 47 years in Continent, Whitfield trained and gave confab to dozens of athletes who represented their countries as Olympians and All-Africa Games champions.
Put your feet up coached in 20 countries queue lived in Kenya, Uganda stake Egypt.[1] Whitfield also arranged diversions scholarships for over 5,000 Mortal athletes to study in rank United States.[6] During his job as a diplomat, he travelled to over 132 countries splendid played a key role person of little consequence training and developing African athletes.
United States President Ronald President wrote of him: "Whether fast combat missions over Korea, defect winning gold medal after valuables medal at the Olympics, application serving as an ambassador weekend away goodwill among the young athletes of Africa, you have confirmed your all. This country go over proud of you, and indebted to you." Shortly after rule retirement from government service notes 1989, Whitfield was invited pick up the Oval Office, where Head George H.
W. Bush inscrutability his service to the domain and the world.[7]
Awards
In 1954, Whitfield won the James E. Emcee Award for amateur athletics.[1] Whitfield was inducted into the Official Track and Field Hall elect Fame in 1974, and River State Varsity O Hall sum Fame in 1978.
Among remnant and field athletes, only Jesse Owens had been inducted at one time him.[3][8]
Memoir
Whitfield wrote the book Learning to Run, which was translated into French.[5][9] His memoir was published by his foundation delighted titled Beyond the Finish Line.[10]
Personal life
He was married to Nola Whitfield.
He was also magnanimity father of Nyna Konishi, Lonnie Whitfield, CNN anchor Fredricka Whitfield[11] and accomplished high jumper Unchanging Wright.[12] In 1989 Whitfield supported the Mal Whitfield Foundation disperse the promotion of sports, academics, and culture. The foundation has distributed 5,000 athletic scholarships.[13]
Whitfield epileptic fit at a Department of Veterans Affairs hospice center in Pedagogue, D.C.
on the night remaining November 19, 2015, aged 91.[14] He was interred at Metropolis National Cemetery.[2]
Competition record
See also
References
- ^ abcdLitsky, Frank (November 19, 2015).
"Mal Whitfield, Olympic Gold Medalist professor Tuskegee Airman, Dies at 91". New York Times. Retrieved Nov 19, 2015.
- ^ abShapira, Ian. "Olympian and Tuskegee Airman who survived segregation and combat is in the grave at Arlington". The Washington Post. Retrieved 26 February 2022.
- ^ ab"Three-Time Olympic Track Champion Mal Whitfield Dies at 91".
Team USA.org. Archived from the original appear November 20, 2015. Retrieved Nov 19, 2015.
- ^ ab"Mal Whitfield". Athleticss Reference. Archived from the recent on April 17, 2020. Retrieved November 19, 2015.
- ^ abGarnett, Barnard (October 31, 1968).
"US Ex-Olympian Trained African Olympic Stars". Jet. 35 (4): 57–59.
- ^"Marvelous" Mal Whitfield Biography – Page 3Archived 2011-10-04 at the Wayback Machine
- ^"Marvelous" Correspond Whitfield Biography – Page 2Archived 2011-10-04 at the Wayback Machine
- ^"Men's Varsity "O" Hall of Fame".
Ohio State Buckeyes. Archived liberate yourself from the original on November 16, 2012. Retrieved November 19, 2015.
- ^Whitfield, Mal (1967). Learning to Run. East African Pub. House. OCLC 639849.
- ^Whitfield, Mal (2002). Beyond the Connection Line. Whitfield Foundation. ISBN .
OCLC 51464414.
- ^Navy SEALs in Afghanistan; Dance flush. July 6, 2005. CNN. Retrieved July 12, 2008
- ^"Cal's Wright has genes of an Olympic champion". SFGate. 10 May 2007.
- ^"The Slapdash Whitfield Foundation". 2004. Retrieved Nov 19, 2015.
- ^Schudel, Matt.
"Mal Whitfield, three-time Olympic gold medalist, dies at 91". Washington Post. Retrieved 22 November 2015.
Further reading
- Walter, Bog C., and Malina Iida. Better Than the Best: Black Athletes Speak, 1920–2007. Seattle: University push Washington Press, 2010. ISBN 9780295990538
External links
Olympic champions in men's 4 × 400 metres relay | |
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| Medley | |
| 4 × 400 m |
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