North Carolina Central University Athletics

Lee Calhoun holds gold medals from both the 1956 Olympics and the 1960 Olympics, both in the 110-meter high hurdles.

During his career at North Carolina College, between 1952 and 1956, Calhoun competed in over 100 dif­ferent meets. He came away with the high hurdles titles in most of them.

Calhoun has been head track coach at Yale University and was Dr. Walker's assis­tant coach for the 1976 Olympics.



GOLD MEDAL RUN IN 110-METER HURDLES - MELBOURNE OLYMPICS
LEE CALHOUN - LANE 2

Lee Quincy Calhoun (February 23, 1933 -- June 22, 1989) was an American athlete, a double winner of 110 m hurdles at the Olympic Games. Born in Laurel, Mississippi, Lee Calhoun, representing North Carolina Central University, won the NCAA 120 yd hurdles in 1956 and 1957. He also won the AAU championships in 110 m hurdles in 1956 and 1959 and in 120 yd hurdles in 1957. At the 1956 Summer Olympics, Calhoun surprisingly improved his personal best in 110 m by almost a full second in a final. He ran 13.5 to win the gold medal, edging teammate Jack Davis with a lunge that just got his shoulder across the line in front. He had learned the maneuver from Davis. Calhoun was suspended in 1958 for receiving gifts on "Bride and Groom," a television game show, and seemed to be past his prime for the 1960 Summer Olympics. But shortly before the Rome Olympics, he tied the world record of 13.2 and went to the Olympic Games as a main favourite. In the final, he won in 13.98, beating teammate Willie May by 0.01 seconds. After retiring from competition, he became a college track coach, first at Grambling State University, then at Yale, and finally at Western Illinois University. He was an assistant Olympic coach at the 1976 Summer Olympics. He was elected to the United States National Track and Field Hall of Fame in 1974.