Ron Freeman

Ronald John Freeman III (born June 12, 1947 in Elizabeth, New Jersey) is an American former athlete. At the 1968 Summer Olympics, Freeman won a gold medal in the 4 × 400 m relay and a bronze medal in the 400 meters.^[1] Freeman ran the second leg on the American 4 × 400 m relay team, which won the gold medal with a new world record of 2.56.16. His relay leg time (43.2s) was the fastest 4 × 400 meter relay leg ever run and his time stood for more than 25 years.

Ron Freeman

Personal information
Full name	Ronald John Freeman III
Born	June 12, 1947 (1947-06-12) (age 78) Elizabeth, New Jersey, U.S.
Height	1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Weight	82 kg (181 lb)
Sport
Sport	Athletics
Event	400 m
Club	Arizona State Sun Devils track and field
Achievements and titles
Personal best(s)	220 yd – 21.2 (1963) 400 m – 44.41 (1968) 880 yd – 1:50.4 (1968)
Medal record Representing the  United States Olympic Games 1968 Mexico City 4 × 400 m relay 1968 Mexico City 400 metres [a]

Raised in Elizabeth, Freeman attended Thomas Jefferson High School and Arizona State University.^[2]

Freeman finished second behind Adrian Metcalfe in the 440 yards event at the British 1963 AAA Championships.^[3][4][5]

He is sometimes confused with Ron Freeman (born 1940), an All-American 400 metres runner in 1963 who also ran for Arizona State and set an earlier world record in the mile relay.^[6] Ron Freeman III, born seven years later from New Jersey, was an All-American five years later for the Sun Devils in 1968; the two are not related.^[7][8][9]

Awards

In August 2017, Freeman received the Athletes in Excellence Award from The Foundation for Global Sports Development in recognition of his community service efforts and work with youth.^[10]

Notes

1. Freeman ran the fastest 400 meter relay leg in the history of the Olympic Games which stood for more than 25 years.