Greg Bell, a renowned American long jumper and the oldest living Olympic gold medallist in Athletics, passed away on January 25 at 94.
World Athletics announced his death, expressing profound sadness at losing the 1956 Olympic long jump champion.
Greg Bell dominated the men’s long jump during the 1950s, capturing the Olympic gold in Melbourne. His best jump of 8.10 meters, achieved in Austin, USA, in 1957, was a mere three centimetres shy of Jesse Owens’ world record of 8.35 meters. Bell also matched this personal best in 1959 and recorded a jump of 8.09 meters in 1956.
Born November 7, 1930, in Terre Haute, Indiana, Bell’s athletic journey began at Garfield High School. After a stint in the army and working, he attended Indiana University, where he remained undefeated in the long jump throughout his collegiate career, securing victories at the NCAA Championships.
At 26, Bell soared to victory at the 1956 Olympic Games with a leap of 7.83 meters, overcoming challenging conditions to finish 15 centimetres ahead of fellow American John Bennett. He excelled, earning a silver medal at the 1959 Pan American Games in Chicago and concluding his competitive career with a fourth-place finish at the US Olympic Trials in 1960.
Following his athletic career, Bell pursued academics, earning his undergraduate degree from Indiana University. He later became a dentist and served as the director of dentistry at Logansport State Hospital for 50 years, retiring in 2020 at 89.
Bell’s legacy extends beyond his athletic achievements, as he was inducted into the Indiana University Hall of Fame and the US National Track and Field Hall of Fame in 1988, commemorating a remarkable career that has left a lasting impact on the world of athletics.
