Rod Milburn

Rod Milburn, actually Rodney Milburn Jr., ( born March 18, 1950 in Opelousas, Louisiana, † November 11, 1997 in Port Hudson, Louisiana) was an American hurdler, who was on the 110-meter distance 1972 Olympic champion.

In 1971 he set a world record in the 120 - yards hurdles at 13.0 s.

In 1972, he was slow in shape and could only barely qualify for the Olympic Games in Munich. There he won in a world record time of 13.24 s with 0.1s lead over Guy Drut of France. Since 1972 still officially hand times were performed as a world record, Milburn presented with his time the world record of 13.2 s only one. Only in 1977 the 13,24 were recognized as the first world record with electronic timing.

In 1973 Milburn is a his world record on the yard distance before 13.1 s in Zurich the world record improved in early July on the metric distance. In order for the world record of Martin Lauer was undercut after fourteen years and that as Lauer's record at the Zurich world class in Letzigrund. This world record in Zurich confirmed Milburn shortly thereafter in Siena.

In 1975 he was again years World Bester, but in 1976 he could not qualify for the Olympic Games. Then he took some years participated in an attempt to establish professional athletics. In 1980 he left to reamateurisieren and then took until 1984 regular competitor.

Rod Milburn was 1.83 m tall and weighed 79 kg in his playing days. In 1997, he died at age 47 from poisoning, which he had contracted while working in a paper mill.