Bob Schul

Robert "Bob" Schul (born September 28, 1937) is a former American long distance runner. As of 2004, he is the only American to have won the Olympic gold medal in the 5000 m, at the 1964 Summer Olympics in Tokyo.

Schul, born and raised on a farm in West Milton, Ohio, started running in high school. His results through his collegiate career at Miami University in Ohio were not remarkable. He joined the air force in 1959 and continued to train. In 1961, Max Truex introduced Schul to Hungarian coach Mihaly Igloi. Under Igloi's training, he finished third at the national championships in the 3000 m steeplechase. Injuries prevented a real breakthrough until 1964, which was to become his only successful year.

He first broke the American record in the 5000 m, and then set a new world record in the 2 miles, covering the distance in 8:26.4 on August 29, 1964. He easily qualified for the Olympic team with a win at the U.S. Olympic Trials. In Japan, Schul ran the final, which was held in heavy rain. In the last lap, the Frenchman Michel Jazy appeared poised to take the gold, but he faded on the last stretch, while Schul was gaining quickly. He caught Jazy 50 m before the finish line, to win the first and only major victory of his career. In 1965, Schul did win the national title in the 3 mile, but never managed to regain his 1964 level.

At present, Schul is still involved in track and field as a coach.

Further reading

• Schul, Bob with Laura Rentz Krause (2000). In the Long Run. Landfall Press. ISBN 0-913428-82-5. 

See also

• Olympic medalists in athletics

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