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Ron Freeman

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Ron Freeman
Personal information
Full nameRonald John Freeman III
BornJune 12, 1947 (1947-06-12) (age 77)
Elizabeth, New Jersey, U.S.
Height1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Weight82 kg (181 lb)
Sport
SportAthletics
Event400 m
ClubArizona State Sun Devils, Phoenix
Achievements and titles
Personal best(s)220 yd – 21.2 (1963)
400 m – 44.41 (1968)
880 yd – 1:50.4 (1968)
Medal record
Representing the  United States
Olympic Games
Gold medal – first place 1968 Mexico City 4 × 400 m relay
Bronze medal – third place 1968 Mexico City 400 metres [a]

Ronald John Freeman III (born June 12, 1947 in Elizabeth, New Jersey) is an American former athlete. At the 1968 Summer Olympics, Freeman won a gold medal in the 4 × 400 m relay and a bronze medal in the 400 meters.[1] Freeman ran the second leg on the American 4 × 400 m relay team, which won the gold medal with a new world record of 2.56.16. His relay leg time (43.2s) was the fastest 4 × 400 meter relay leg ever run and his time stood for more than 25 years.

Raised in Elizabeth, Freeman attended Thomas Jefferson High School.[2]

Freeman finished second behind Adrian Metcalfe in the 440 yards event at the British 1963 AAA Championships.[3][4][5]

Awards

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In August 2017, Freeman received the Athletes in Excellence Award from The Foundation for Global Sports Development in recognition of his community service efforts and work with youth.[6]

Notes

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  1. ^ Freeman ran the fastest 400 meter relay leg in the history of the Olympic Games which stood for more than 25 years.

References

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  1. ^ Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Ron Freeman". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on 2020-04-17.
  2. ^ Denman, Elliott. "From Banishment to the Hall", Armory Track, December 7, 2011. Accessed September 11, 2020. "the Hudson and down the ‘pike there was Ron Freeman at Thomas Jefferson High School n Elizabeth, N.J."
  3. ^ "AAA, WAAA and National Championships Medallists". National Union of Track Statisticians. Retrieved 5 May 2025.
  4. ^ "AAA Championships (men)". GBR Athletics. Retrieved 5 May 2025.
  5. ^ "Carroll sprints in". Ireland's Saturday Night. 13 July 1963. Retrieved 5 May 2025 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  6. ^ "Ten Athletes Selected to Receive The Foundation for Global Sports Development's 2017 Athletes in Excellence Award". aroundtherings.com. Retrieved 2017-08-09.