Legendary U.S. Track & Field Star Has Died At 75 Years Old
01/06/2025 06:05 PM
Ralph Mann, a former Olympic silver medalist and NCAA champion sprinter, died at age 75.
According to a family statement, Mann passed away Thursday from pancreatic cancer. The BYU track and field star won three consecutive NCAA titles from 1969 to 1971 and set a world record by finishing the 440-yard hurdle in 48.8 seconds in 1970.
BYU track and field director Ed Eyestone called Mann a "true legend" who "excelled as a fierce competitor."
"He helped establish BYU as a power in track and field and made his name synonymous with greatness for our athletes for over 50 years," Eyestone said. "Dr. Mann has continued to positively impact our sport by being one of the world's leading researchers and clinicians in sprint and hurdle mechanics and has generously shared his knowledge with generations of coaches and athletes. Our sport is better because of his contributions as an athlete and scientist. BYU track and field will be forever grateful for Ralph Mann."
After leading BYU to three national titles, Mann represented the United States in the 1972 Munich Games. He finished second to Uganda's John Akii-Bua in the 400-meter hurdles.
Following his decorated athletic career, Mann received his PhD in biomechanics in 1975. He was a professor at the University of Kentucky from 1975 to 1982 before working closely with athletes to optimize their performance through sports science research.
"Dr. Mann became the foremost international authority on using biomechanical analysis on elite sprinters and hurdlers to evaluate and improve their performances," the USATF wrote. "His creation of an annual USATF Sprint & Hurdles Summit educated multiple generations of elite coaches on the latest factors affecting sprint and hurdle performance. Even more innovative was his taking of the lab to the track, completing biomechanical analyses in real-time during practice sessions, which led to medal-impacting improvements in performance."
Mann trained Olympians such as Noah Lyles, who won gold in the 100 meters and bronze in the 200 meters last summer. Lyles paid tribute to the "crazy scientist" who helped turn him into a world-class athlete.
"He brought a new way of thinking to my starting blocks that help me to become a great 60m runner and 100m Olympic Champion," Lyles wrote on Instagram. "I will forever be grateful for the love and support he showed me and for sharing his craft. I will forever remember you."
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