Calhoun, Lee Q.
Track and field
b. Feb. 23, 1933, Laurel, MS
d. June 22, 1989
Calhoun is the only athlete to win the 110-meter hurdles at two different Olympics. Going into the 1956 Olympics, his personal best in the event was 14.4 seconds, but he ran a 13.5 to win the gold medal, edging teammate Jack Davis with a lunge that just got his shoulder across the line in front. Ironically, he'd learned the maneuver from Davis.
Representing North Carolina College, Calhoun won the NCAA 120-yard hurdles in 1956 and 1957. He was the national outdoor hurdles champion in 1956, 1957, and 1959, the champion in the indoor 60-yard hurdles in 1956 and 1957.
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 Olympics. But he won the high hurdles again in a personal best 13.4 and shortly afterward he tied the world record with a 13.2.