Louis Woodard "Lou" Jones (January 15, 1932 – February 3, 2006) was an American athlete. He won a gold medal in the 4x400 m relay at the 1956 Summer Olympics.
![]() | This article includes a list of references, related reading or external links, but its sources remain unclear because it lacks inline citations. (July 2015) |
Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Born | (1932-01-15)January 15, 1932 New Rochelle, New York, USA | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Died | February 3, 2006(2006-02-03) (aged 74) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
|
Born in New Rochelle, New York, Jones graduated from Manhattan College in 1954. He won the 400 m at the 1955 Pan-American Games, where he set a new world record of 45.4. He was also a member of the gold medal-winning American 4 × 400 m relay team.
Just four months before the Melbourne Olympics, Jones broke his own 400 m world record, clocking 45.2 at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in the US Olympic Trials, thus becoming a main favorite at this event in Melbourne. But in the Olympic 400 m final, Jones was off form, and managed to finish only in a disappointing fifth place, 1.50 seconds behind teammate Charles Jenkins. A few days later, Jones partly compensated for his disappointment, running the second leg in the gold medal-winning American 4 × 400 m relay team.
Pan American Champions in men's 400 metres | |
---|---|
|
Pan American Champions in men's 4 × 400 metres relay | |
---|---|
|
US National Championship winners in men's indoor 600-yard dash | |
---|---|
1906–1979 Amateur Athletic Union |
|
1981–1992 The Athletics Congress |
|
1993–present USA Track & Field |
|
Notes | *Distances have varied as follows: 600 yards (1906–1986), 500 meters (1987–1993) except 600 meters (odd numbered years since 2015) |
1956 USA Olympic track and field team | ||
---|---|---|
Men's track and road athletes |
| ![]() |
Men's field athletes |
| |
Women's track athletes |
| |
Women's field athletes |
| |
Coaches |
|