Mathias, former Olympic decathlon champ dies

Sep 3, 2006, 10:04 GMT

Colorado Springs, CO - Bob Mathias, a two-time Olympic gold medalist, competing in the sport of decathlon at the 1948 and 1952 Summer Games, passed away Saturday at his home in Fresno, Calif. He was 75.

It was in 1948, at the age of 17 that Mathias became the youngest Olympic gold medalist in a track and field event. It was only his third decathlon competition, having qualified for the Olympic Games by winning two earlier events in the United States.

Mathias cemented his Olympic legacy four years later at the 1952 Olympic Games in Helsinki, Finland, taking gold again, becoming the first athlete to repeat as Olympic champion in the event.

'Bob Mathias was one of those rare individuals with the ability to inspire a nation through his determination and perseverance,' United States Olympic Committee Chairman Peter Ueberroth said in a statement. 'He was a champion in every aspect of life, and he embraced the values that make our country and the worldwide Olympic movement special.

'With his passing earlier today, the Olympic movement has lost a loyal friend, and America has lost a true hero.'

Mathias later served as a Republican congressman for California from 1967-74. Following his political career, Mathias returned to the U.S. Olympic Movement and served as the first director of the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs.

© 2006 The Sports Network