Washington, Jan 29: Greg Bell, the renowned American long jump athlete and the oldest living Olympic gold medallist in athletics, has passed away at the age of 94.
Bell took his final breath on January 25, as reported by World Athletics, which honored the legacy of the 1956 Olympic long jump gold medallist.
“World Athletics is heartbroken to learn that Greg Bell, the 1956 Olympic long jump champion, died on Saturday at the age of 94. He was the oldest living Olympic gold medallist in athletics,” the organization stated.
Bell was recognized as the top men’s long jumper of the 1950s. Alongside his Olympic victory in Melbourne, his personal record of 8.10m, achieved in Austin, USA in 1957, was a mere three centimeters shy of the world record set by Jesse Owens in 1935.
He also recorded a jump of 8.09m in 1956 and equaled his best of 8.10m once more in 1959.
Born in Terre Haute, Indiana, on November 7, 1930, Bell attended Garfield High School.
After beginning his career and serving in the military, he enrolled at Indiana University, where he maintained an undefeated record in the long jump throughout his college tenure, including victories at the NCAA Championships.
At the 1956 Olympic Games, Bell, then 26, managed to jump 7.83m under difficult conditions, winning by 15cm against fellow American John Bennett.
He later earned a silver medal at the Pan American Games in Chicago in 1959 and retired after placing fourth in the US Olympic Trials in 1960.
After receiving his undergraduate degree from Indiana University, Bell went on to become a dentist. He served as the director of dentistry at Logansport State Hospital for 50 years before retiring in 2020 at the age of 89.
In addition to being a member of the Indiana University Hall of Fame, Bell was also inducted into the US National Track and Field Hall of Fame in 1988. (PTI)
