Ron Freeman

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Ron Freeman (actually Ronald John Freeman II ; born June 12, 1947 in Elizabeth , New Jersey ) is a former American sprinter . He won two Olympic medals in Mexico City in 1968 . He was the fastest runner in the world record in the 4 x 400 meter relay , which lasted nearly 24 years.

The 1.83 m tall Ron Freeman never won an individual title at US championships and had his only outstanding season in the 1968 Olympic year. The US Olympic qualification was held at Echo Summit at an altitude of 2,250 meters above sea level to simulate the conditions in Mexico City. In the final over 400 m , Lee Evans won in 44.0 s ahead of Larry James in 44.1 s. Both remained well below the world record that Tommie Smith held with 44.5 seconds. Freeman was able to qualify as the third individual starter in 44.6 s just ahead of Vince Matthews in 44.8 s.

At the Olympic Games in Mexico City , all three Americans ran rather cautiously in the heats, but qualified without any problems for the finals on October 18, 1968. This final was then the fastest 400-meter race until then. Evans won in 43.86 s ahead of James in 43.97 s and Freeman in 44.41 s, while the other finalists crossed the finish line beyond the 45-second limit. The Lee Evans world record was only beaten in 1988 by Harry Reynolds .

The world record set by the US team in the 4 x 400 meter relay on October 20 in the final held even longer . Vince Matthews, Ron Freeman, Larry James and Lee Evans beat the old record in 2: 56.16 minutes by 3.8 seconds, under which the second-placed relay also remained. Freeman had covered the fastest part of the relay in 43.2 seconds, which not only took the Kenyan Munyoro Nyamau into the lead of around three meters, but also ran a 20 meter lead when he handed over the baton to James. At the award ceremony, the four colored Americans with berets and raised fists presented themselves as supporters of the Black Power movement .

It was not until the US relay at the 1988 Olympic Games that the world record was set, with Seoul being almost at sea level. At the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona, ​​the longest-lived world record from 1968 was then beaten.

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