In 1964, after overcoming painful shin splints earlier in the year, the Olympic dreams of Billy Mills were in the balance as July 26 approached, the day of the West Coast USA Olympic Trials in Culver City. Contenders would run the course of the Western Hemisphere Marathon held each December. This historic marathon was the second oldest in the nation (only the Boston Marathon was older), and the treasured event of our city.
Mills knew that he would need to place first or second to make the strong USA team. Despite dealing with the challenges of Type 2 Diabetes, he stayed hydrated throughout the marathon and placed second, cashing his ticket for the Tokyo Games! Later in September, Mills again finished second in the 10,000-meter Olympic Trials!
The rest is Olympian history. On October 14, during the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, Mills shocked the world with his sprint kick in the last 100 meters of the 10,000-meter race, passing Ron Clarke and leader Mohamed Gammoudi. Billy Mills’ winning time was 28.24.4 seconds!
Mills said, “my success on the Culver City marathon course provided me with the confidence I needed at that point in time before the Tokyo Olympics’ 10,000-meter race.”
For the first time since famed Native American Olympian Jim Thorpe earned gold in 1912, a Native American again won gold, as Mills was a member of the Oglala Lakota Sioux tribe.
To say that Mills’ historic victory was an upset is an understatement! At that time, Ron Clarke was considered unbeatable. Mills’ last-minute surge to pass both runners just before the finish line is still regarded as one of the greatest upsets in Olympic history.
In the lead-up to the 1984 LA Olympics, Disney released the story of Billy Mills’ Olympic and personal triumph in Running Brave, a movie starring Robby Benson. Following the 1984 Olympics, Billy founded the nonprofit organization Running Strong for American Indian Youth. The organization helps Native American communities with self- sufficiency programs, cultural identity projects and youth activities. Mills is now in his 41st year serving as the organization’s national spokesperson, and is still going at 87 years of age.
In recognition of his contributions to Native Americans, Mills was honored in 2012 with the Presidential Citizens Medal, the highest civilian award, presented by President Barack Obama. Ten years earlier in 2002, Hall of Fame triple jumper Willie Banks and I decided to honor 20 of America’s greatest Team USA Olympians, and Billy Mills is included in this series.
Culver City had a unique role in the 1932 and 1984 Los Angeles Olympics. Local Helms Bakery became an invaluable supplier during the 1932 Games, and the Los Angeles Olympic Organizing Committee’s (LAOOC) official headquarters were at Washington Blvd. near Lincoln, where Costco stands today.
One of the greatest moments of the Olympics is when a new hero emerges with an amazing performance. In an instant, years of difficult and arduous preparations pay off to become that once-in-a-lifetime Olympic experience. I’m looking forward to Culver City being a part of athletes’ upcoming Olympic experience once again!
