Men's Track Olympians through 2014 - Texas Legacy Support Network

Longhorn Men Olympians who represented the USA

Since Wrestling is no longer a sport covered by the University of Texas, I have not included it on the TLSN site.

However, Ralph Hammond’s great accomplishment in Longhorn sports history should not be minimized or forgotten.

Ralph Hammonds was a versatile athlete at the University of Texas, a pole vaulter on the track team and a wrestler. He was the Southwest Conference champion in the pole vault and finished tied for second at the 1927 NCAA Championships. Hammonds was AAU Champion in 1925-26 as a wrestler and competed in the first NCAA wrestling championship in 1928, where he placed second to George Rule of Oklahoma A&M. At the 1928 Olympic Trials; however, Hammonds went undefeated to earn his trip to Amsterdam, making him the first Olympian from the University of Texas.

Hammonds won AAU Champion in 1925-26 as a wrestler;

He competed in the first NCAA wrestling championship in 1928, and Hammonds was undefeated in 1928 and made the Olympic team. He entered the Longhorn Hall of Honor in 1992.

He was Southwest Conference champion in the pole vault and second at the 1927 NCAA Championships;
Hammonds won AAU Champion in 1925-26 as a wrestler;
He competed in the first NCAA wrestling championship in 1928 and
Hammonds was undefeated in 1928 and made the Olympic team.

A great link to Dean Smiths autobiography is below

https://www.facebook.com/OlympicChannel/videos/1761692244144536/

Jerry Thompson, London 1948

In 1943, Jerry Thompson was the NCAA two-mile champion, a three-time All-American in the two-mile, a member of the 1948 U.S. Olympic team in the 5,000-meter event, and the National Champion in 1943, ’44, ’45. He was inducted into the Texas Sports Hall of Fame in 1976.

Coach Littlefield said that Jerry “was born with about 90 percent more endurance than most other boys.” He…….. was talented, competitive, and unselfish.”

Dean Smith, Helsinki 1952 1 Gold

1952 Olympics Helsinki

1952-1954 – Dean Smith is a sprinter and a halfback for the Longhorns’ 1952 SWC championship football team. He is the first Longhorn track star to win an Olympic gold medal, and he was inducted into the Texas Sports Hall of Fame in 1985.

After his track career, Dean uses an important contact (Jim Baumgardner), who is an OU friend, to get a job as a Hollywood stuntman. Years Jim Baumgardner changed his Hollywood name to James Garner. Dean Smith was an instant success as a stuntman and was hired by Steve McQueen, John Wayne, and Robert Redford. John Wayne says “this guy is amazing”. “He can jump over a horse faster than you can say, Jack Robinson.”

A great link to Dean Smith is below

Eddie Southern, Melbourne 1956 1 Silver

In 1958, Eddie Southern became the first person to run the quarter mile in under 45 seconds. Southern also anchored the 4 x 110 relay team, which set two world records in four years. He was inducted into the Texas Sports Hall of Fame in 1969.

Coach Littlefield said “I was never associated with an athlete who could do so many things so well.”

Mike Burley, Montreal 1976

Michael Burley is an American modern pentathlete. He competed at the 1976 Summer Olympics and qualified for the 1980 U.S. Olympic team but was unable to compete due to the U.S. Olympic Committee’s boycott of the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow, Russia. He was one of 461 athletes to receive a Congressional Gold Medal many years later.

Johnny “Lam” Jones, Montreal 1976, 1 Gold

In 1976, Johnny “Lam” Jones won a gold medal in the 4 x 100 relay. This site has a special page for Johnny.

https://www.texaslsn.org/johnny-lam-jones

Andra Manson

Competition Results:
2008: 2nd at Olympic Trials (2.27m/7-05.25)…3rd at World Indoors (2.30m/7-6.5)…USA Indoor champ (2.30m/7-7.50)…1st at Austin, Texas (2.33m/7-7.75)
2007: NCAA Outdoor runner-up (2.29m/7-6)…4th at NCAA Indoors (2.22m/7-3.25)…tied for 11th at USA Outdoors (2.15m/7-0.50)…2nd at Lincoln, Neb. (2.30m/7-6.50)…ranked #7 in U.S. by T&FN…best of 2.30m/7-6.50.
2006: 3rd at USA Outdoors (2.24m/7-4.25)…runner-up at NCAA Outdoors (2.26m/7-5)…tied for 2nd at NCAA Indoors (2.26m/7-5)…ranked #4 in U.S. by T&FN…2.28m/7-5.75i.
2005: 12th at NCAA Outdoors (2.17m/7-1.50)…3rd at NCAA Indoors (2.23m/7-3.75)…best of 2.26m/7-5i.
2004: Tied for 8th at USA Olympic Trials (2.24m/7-4.25)…NCAA Outdoor champ (2.32m/7-7.25)…NCAA Indoor champ (2.23m/7-3.75)…Big 12 Conference Outdoor champ…ranked #3 in U.S. by T&FN…best of 2.32m/7-7.25.

Trey Hardee Beijing 2008 London 2012 1 Silver Moscow 1980

Trey Hardee participates in the 2008 and 2012 Olympic game. He receives the 2009 Jim Thorpe All-Around Award from DeLoss Dodds and in 2012 wins a silver medal in the Decathlon.

Leo Manzano

Leo Manzano participates in the 2008 and 2012 Olympic games. He receives a silver medal in the 1500 in 2012.

He wins the outdoor National Championship in 2005, 2007, and 2008, and he is a Cross Country All-American in 2007.

Marquise Goodwin, London 2012 ,

• National Champion
• Two-time All-American
• Big 12 Champion
• Three-time All-Big 12
• USTFCCCA All-Academic Team
• School Record Holder – Indoor Long Jump (26-8.50)
2010-11
Goodwin competed for a spot on the 2016 U.S. Olympic team as a long jumper (he competed in the event in the 2012 London Games) while he was also trying to make the Bills’ roster.

Byron Robinson:

• 2016 Rio Olympic Games 9th place – 400m Hurdles
• 2016 U.S. Olympic Trials Silver Medalist – 400m Hurdles
• 2017, 2016 Big 12 Champion – 400m Hurdles
• 2017, 2016, 2015 USTFCCCA Indoor All-America First Team – 4x400m Relay
• 2016 USTFCCCA Indoor All-America Second Team – 400m
• 2017 USTFCCCA Outdoor All-America Second Team – 400m Hurdles

Ryan Crouser, Rio 2016 1 Gold

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Ryan Crouser (born December 18, 1992) is an American shot putter and discus thrower. Crouser won the gold medal in the shot put at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics. He had previously won the gold medal in the boys’ shot put at the 2009 World Youth Championships and was a four-time NCAA champion in the shot put indoors and outdoors for the University of Texas.

He is a four-time NCAA shot put champion and nine-time NCAA All-American. He won gold in Tokyo in the 2021 and 2024 Olympic games. He is the first athlete to win three consecutive gold medals in the shot put.

Men’s Track Olympians through 2014