I’ve mentioned before that American’s haven’t been then cream of the crop in long distance running, and that was also the case in the 1964 Olympics when Billy Mills was representing the United States. A virtual unknown and 2nd place qualifier for the US, Mills would need to PR in the 10K by about a full *minute* to have any chance in the race. For world class runners… those kinds of PRs don’t just hang on trees.
Amazingly… Mills hung in the race, but appear to fade out of contention before the final turn... in part because he gets hockey checked into the 3rd lane by the leader as if to say 'get out of here... you don't belong here!'
When the leaders ran into a crowd of runners being lapped… Miles closed a little, and then made one of the most amazing surges I have ever seen in long distance running. You have to see it to believe it, and you can tell from the announcer’s voice, it was unbelievable. It has to be one of the most memorable calls in broadcasting history. (How many times have you heard a man squeal like a combination between a pig and a giddy schoolgirl… out of pure Joy? As my son would say… ‘awkward’)
How Mills managed that burst of speed at the end almost defies explanation. It was like he transcended the laws of physics… like some unseen force from the heavens just put their finger on his back plinked him forward. Of course… the reality is that he mustered that burst from somewhere within himself… unlocked it like a joyous smile busting from a 3 month old (and I have seen the joy of plenty of those lately) and for one moment in time… he was superhuman… passing mere mortals like there were standing still.
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