Ralph Hill

Ralph Anthony Hill ( born December 26, 1908 in Klamath Falls, Oregon, † October 17, 1994 ) was an American athlete who was successful in the early 1930s. He won an Olympic silver medal.

Hill studied at the University of Oregon. The 1,80 m tall and 66 kg athlete competed for the Olympic Club of San Francisco.

Career

Ralph Hill made ​​in 1930 for the first time attention to himself, as he at one high school compared Oregon - with 4:12,4 min set a new national record on the not the program of the U.S. Championships belonging 1 miles Washington. In 1932 he won the Olympic 14:55,7 min excretion over 5000 m. Also, this route was not run at the U.S. Championships, apart from a few years around the turn of the century than had voted two or three masters over 5000 m and the shorter 2 -mile distance. It was not until 1933, when Hill was not already active, the 5000 m came into the program. In this way, him winning a championship title was denied.

For this he was compensated at the Olympic Games 1932 in Los Angeles, however, where he 14:30,0 min at No. 2 between two Finns - Lauri Lehtinen ( also in gold 14:30,0 min) and Lauri Virtanen (Bronze in 14:44,0 min) - came and also made ​​headlines because of its fairness. Hill tried in the final sprint, roll up the field from behind, but came at the leading Lehtinen not over, because this blocked him by changing the running track. The outraged viewers demanded the disqualification of the Finns. Hill, who won the lead with about six seconds ahead Lehtinen, but gave up a protest on the grounds that he could not imagine that Lehtinen had hindered him on purpose, and besides, he was satisfied with the silver medal.

After ending his playing career, Hill earned his living as a farmer.

1992 honored him Henley High School of his native city, she named the sports complex after him.

Weblink

  • Ralph Hill ( athlete ) at Sports- Reference.com (English)

Itemization

  • Americans
  • Olympian (United States)
  • Long-distance runners (United States)
  • Born in 1908
  • Died in 1994
  • Man
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