Larry Young (athlete)
Larry Young ( Lawrence Dean Young, born February 10, 1943 in Independence, Missouri ) is a former American track and field athlete and two -time Olympic gold medalist in the 50 km walk.
Young is regarded as the most successful American skiers in history. After high school he served until 1965 in the United States Navy before he turned to competitive sports. He soon recognized his talent for the longer distances. At its parade route, the 50 kilometers, he dominated in the following years, the national championships here and celebrated 1966-1977 nine victories in twelve sweeps ( 1966-1968, 1971-1972, 1974-1977 ). He also won once each over 20 km and on the track in the 10,000 meters, 5000 meters (both 1972) and two miles ( 1971).
His first international medal winning Young at the Pan American Games in 1967 in Winnipeg. At his comfortable victory over 50 kilometers, he scored a national record of 4:26:21 hours. In the 1968 Olympics he won the bronze medal in 4:32:55 hours behind the East Germans Christoph Höhne ( 4:20:14 hours) and the Hungarian Antal Kiss ( 4:30:17 hours). Young went to the race comparatively slowly and was able to in the last kilometers to overtake many of its competitors, who had underestimated the impact of high altitude in Mexico City.
The following year, Young took an art course with a focus on sculpture at the Columbia College of Missouri. He was the first goer, who received a scholarship athlete at an American university.
Young defended at the Pan American Games 1971 in Cali his title successfully. At the Olympic Games in Munich in 1972, he finished in a personal best of 4:00:46,0 hours, about half an hour as in Mexico City, again in third place. It won the West German Bernd Kannenberg ( 3:56:11,6 hours) prior Veniamin Soldatenko from the Soviet Union ( 3:58:24,0 hours). In addition, Young was tenth in the 20 -kilometer competition. Over this distance, he won the bronze medal at the Pan American Games in 1975 in Mexico City. Then enter him no more podium finishes at major international events. About 50 kilometers, he finished in the World Cup 1976 in Malmö the 21th Place and in the World Cup of 1977 walkers in Milton Keynes on the 13th Place.
Larry Young is 1.78 m and had a competition weight of 67 kg. After the end of his performance sporting career he worked as a sculptor.
Bests
- 20 km: 1:30:10 h, 1974
- 50 km: 4:00:46 h, 3rd September 1972 in Munich