L-R: Arthur Wint, George Rhoden, Herb McKenley, and Les Laing
George Rhoden, born 13 December 1926.
Legendary Jamaican Athlete, world record holder, and winner of two gold medals at the 1952 Olympics in Helsinki, born Vincent George Rhoden in Kingston.
Rhoden, who lived in San Francisco, was one of the successful long sprinters from Jamaica in the late 1940s and early 1950s, along with Arthur Wint and Herb McKenley. He competed in the 1948 Summer Olympics, but did not win a medal, being eliminated in the heats of the 100m and the semi-final of the 400m. He was also a member of the heavily favoured Jamaican 4 x 400m relay team, but when Wint pulled a muscle in the final, their chances at a medal were gone. On August 22, 1950 at Eskilstuna, Sweden, Rhoden set a new world record in 400m of 45.8s. He also won the AAU championships in 400m from 1949 to 1951 and as a Morgan State University student, won the NCAA championships in 220yd (200m) in 1951 and in 440yd (400m) from 1950 to 1952.
At the 1952 Summer Olympics in Helsinki, George Rhoden was more successful. He was one of the pre-race favourites in the 400m as a world record holder. He won a close battle with his compatriot McKenley, who had also been second in the 1948 Olympic 400m. As the anchor runner of the Jamaican relay team, Rhoden added a second Olympic gold, edging the United States by a tenth of a second, and setting a new world record (3:03.9).
George Rhoden, born 13 December 1926.
Legendary Jamaican Athlete, world record holder, and winner of two gold medals at the 1952 Olympics in Helsinki, born Vincent George Rhoden in Kingston.
Rhoden, who lived in San Francisco, was one of the successful long sprinters from Jamaica in the late 1940s and early 1950s, along with Arthur Wint and Herb McKenley. He competed in the 1948 Summer Olympics, but did not win a medal, being eliminated in the heats of the 100m and the semi-final of the 400m. He was also a member of the heavily favoured Jamaican 4 x 400m relay team, but when Wint pulled a muscle in the final, their chances at a medal were gone. On August 22, 1950 at Eskilstuna, Sweden, Rhoden set a new world record in 400m of 45.8s. He also won the AAU championships in 400m from 1949 to 1951 and as a Morgan State University student, won the NCAA championships in 220yd (200m) in 1951 and in 440yd (400m) from 1950 to 1952.
At the 1952 Summer Olympics in Helsinki, George Rhoden was more successful. He was one of the pre-race favourites in the 400m as a world record holder. He won a close battle with his compatriot McKenley, who had also been second in the 1948 Olympic 400m. As the anchor runner of the Jamaican relay team, Rhoden added a second Olympic gold, edging the United States by a tenth of a second, and setting a new world record (3:03.9).
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