Ralph Mann

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Ralph Mann ( Ralph Vernon Mann ; born June 16, 1949 in Long Beach , California ) is a former American hurdler who specialized in the 400-meter distance . He won the silver medal at the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich .

Athletic career

At the Pan American Games, he won gold in Cali in 1971 and bronze in Mexico City in 1975 .

In 1972 he won with his hand-stopped best time of 48.4 s in the US eliminations for the Olympic Games in Munich. There he won the silver medal with his electronically timed best time of 48.51 s, behind the Ugandan John Akii-Bua , who set a world record with 47.82 s, and ahead of the British David Hemery (48.52 s).

He was four times US champion over 440 yard hurdles and 400 m hurdles (1969-1971, 1975). He also won, starting for Brigham Young University , three times at the NCAA championship over 440 yards (1969-1971).

Professional career

As a Mormon , Mann accepted an athletic scholarship from Brigham Young University in Provo , Utah (1,400 m altitude), so that he was permanently in altitude training for years . He studied engineering with a focus on mechanics (Bachelor of Science 1971) and physical exercise ( Master 1973). Since he was no longer eligible to start at his university after his bachelor's degree, he then started for the Southern California Striders . After receiving his master's degree, he went to Washington State University in 1973 , where he received his doctorate in biomechanics in 1975 . Immediately afterwards he became Associate Professor of Biomechanics at the University of Kentucky before setting up his own company CompuSport Inc. in 1982 . He had developed a patent (US 4891748 A) to superimpose the videos of the real and the optimal movement execution for all kinds of sports in order to convey movements more efficiently. In 2007 he also founded SwingModel LLC in order to apply the technique he developed specifically in golf. His methodology significantly reduces the type and number of golf-specific injuries. For this he moved to Las Vegas in order to be able to work all year round under optimal financial and climatic conditions. He has also been a scientific advisor to the USA Track & Field Association since 1975 .

Book publications

  • with Fred Griffin: Swing Like a Pro. The Breakthrough Scientific Method of Perfecting Your Golf Swing. Crown Archetype, 1998, ISBN 9780767902366
  • The Mechanics of Sprinting and Hurdling. CreateSpace, 2011, ISBN 1461136318

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Arnd Krüger : American sport between isolationism and internationalism. Competitive sport. 18: 1, pp. 43-47 (1988) ; 2, pp. 47-50 . 1st March 2017
  2. ↑ https://www.google.com/patents/US4891748
  3. ↑ http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/00913847.1985.11708821

Web links
personal data
SURNAME Man, Ralph
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Man, Ralph Vernon
BRIEF DESCRIPTION American hurdler and entrepreneur
DATE OF BIRTH June 16, 1949
PLACE OF BIRTH Long Beach (California)