Jamaican sprinter George Rhoden (© AFP / Getty Images)
World Athletics is deeply saddened to hear that Jamaica’s George Rhoden, winner of the 400m and 4x400m at the 1952 Olympics, died on Saturday (24) at the age of 97.
Born in Kingston in 1926, Rhoden spent much of his life in the US. His first taste of international success came at the 1946 Central American and Caribbean Games, where he earned bronze in the 400m and gold in the 4x400m, despite still being a teenager.
In his early twenties, he won numerous NCAA titles during his time at Morgan State University, and in 1950 he set a world 400m record of 45.8 in Eskilstuna, Sweden.
An impressive all-round talent, Rhoden competed in the 100m at the 1948 Olympics and in the 800m at the 1950 and 1954 CAC Games.
But it was over 400m where he excelled, and he headed to the 1952 Helsinki Olympics as one of the big favourites. In a thrilling showdown with Jamaican teammate Herb McKenley, Rhoden struck gold in the Finnish capital in an Olympic record of 46.09.
Two days later, Rhoden and McKenley teamed up to take gold in the 4x400m in a world record of 3:04.04.
One of his final major championship appearances came at the 1954 CAC Games, where he won four medals: silver in the 400m and 800m, plus gold in the 4x100m and 4x400m.
World Athletics