James Ronald Ryun (born April 29, 1947) is an American former Republican politician and Olympic track and field athlete, who at his peak was widely considered the world's top middle-distance runner. He won a silver medal in the 1500 m at the 1968 Summer Olympics, and was the first high school athlete to run a mile in under four minutes.

FUN FACT: Jim Ryun was the first athlete to set a Mile world record by running every lap under 60 seconds: (57.9, 57.6 [1:55.5], 59.8 [2:55.3], 56.0), clocking 3:51.3 in Berkeley, CA on July 17, 1966.

2016年7月15日 · Fifty years ago, July 17, 1966, Jim Ryun of Kansas University broke the world record for one mile. His 3:51.3 at UC Berkeley was more than two seconds faster than Michel Jazy’s one-year-old...

2014年6月4日 · Soon the stadium and the whole world were acclaiming his 3:59.0; he was the youngest runner and first high school athlete to run a mile faster than 4 minutes. At the U.S. Olympic trials three...

While at the University of Kansas, he became world record holder in the 800 yards and one-mile run at age 19 and gained the 1500m record the following year. In all, Ryun set six world records and held the world mile record for nine years and U.S. mile record for 14 years.

Jim Ryun achieved Olympic success in 1968 when he won a silver medal in the 1500 meters at the Mexico City Olympics. His remarkable performance solidified his place as one of the greatest middle-distance runners in American history. Jim Ryun’s …

When Olympian, All-American, United States Congressman (retired) & 2020 Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient Jim Ryun speaks from experience about dreaming big and how failures can guide you to your true gifting, you can't help but be inspired.

(b. 29 April 1947 in Wichita, Kansas), track and field runner who, after becoming the first high school runner to break the four-minute mile in 1964, emerged as the greatest middle-distance runner in the history of the sport during a decade notable for producing great running stars.

2017年7月31日 · Jim Ryun, in my opinion, is the finest middle distance runner in American history. The accomplishments over 800 meters, 1500 meters, and the mile are phenomenal when one considers he set records on cinder tracks without the use of pacing rabbits.

Jim Ryun. By running the first sub-4:00 mile by a schoolboy in 1964, and setting a record the following year that stood until 2001, Jim Ryun became a high school running legend who greatness strongly resonates still today 52 years after his prep career concluded. Training under the demanding Bob Timmons — a legend himself — at Wichita East ...