Rodney Milburn

Rodney Milburn overcame asthma as a child to become an Olympic gold medalist alongside fellow Southern University track and field legend Willie Davenport. During his career at Southern, he dominated as a track star and set world records indoors in the 50-yard hurdles with 5.8, the 55-meter hurdles with 6.8, the 60-yard hurdles with 6.7, and the 120-yard hurdles with 13.3, and outdoors with 13 seconds flat in the 120-yard and 110-meter hurdles. The record he cherished most was his 13 seconds flat in the 1971 National AAU semifinals at Eugene, Oregon, the first time he or anyone else achieved it without the benefit of a tailwind. As a U.S. Olympian, he won the gold medal at the 1972 Munich Olympics, tying the world record in the 110-meter hurdles with a time of 13.24.

Baton Rouge, Louisiana · United States