Here Are The 7 Most Famous Olympians From Kansas, From Track And Field Stars To Basketball Phenoms
By Lisa Sammons|Published May 24, 2024
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Lisa Sammons
Author
Lisa loves animals and has dogs, rats, cats, guinea pigs, and snakes. She is passionate about animal rescue and live music - traveling across the country to see a favorite band is a pretty regular occurrence! Being out hiking in the woods enjoying the scenery with her beloved dogs is another favorite hobby, and also checking out the Pokemon Go scene in whatever city she happens to be in at any given time (coffee and dog leash in hand). You can reach Lisa at lsammons@onlyinyourstate.com
Even if you don’t know much about sports (I’ll admit it: I’m guilty!), practically everyone in the world is aware that the Winter and Summer Olympics showcase the best of the best. These superstar athletes are the epitome of fitness and skill, and even those who don’t bring home a medal are still among the most incredible sportsmen to ever live. There are quite a few Olympians from Kansas throughout history, and if you’ve ever wondered about the best Olympians from Kansas, I’ve got you covered with seven of the greatest athletes the Sunflower State has ever seen. These famous people from Kansas are the best of the best and they proved it on the world’s biggest stage: the Summer Olympics.
"Joe" McCracken was actually born in Tennessee, but his family moved to Kansas when he was eight. He was an exceptional athlete from a young age, performing well in football, gymnastics, and track and field all the way through college. He would eventually graduate from the University of Pennsylvania with a degree in medicine. In 1898, he set a world record in the hammer throw competition. In the 1900 Summer Olympics, he earned both a silver and bronze medal in shot put competitions, despite refusing to compete in any events held on Sunday due to religious objections. After his retirement, he served as a football referee and a physician, working internationally to establish hospitals in China.
John Kuck was born in Wilson, KS and lived there for the majority of his life, attending Emporia State University. He won a gold medal in shot put at the 1928 Summer Olympics, setting a world record in the process. In 1926, he set a U.S. record in the javelin throw. After his retirement, he served as an assistant track and field coach at the University of Kansas, then later owned a resort in Idaho. He was among the first inductees to be admitted into the Kansas Sports Hall of Fame.
Michael Andrew is not technically a native Kansan - he was born in Minnesota - but his family moved to Kansas when he was a teenager. There, his parents built a training pool in the backyard and his father coached him. He did so well that he turned professional at the age of just 14. He went on to win a gold medal in the 2020 Summer Olympics and set multiple records in the process.
Glenn Cunningham was born in Atlanta, KS and lived in Elkhart throughout his youth. He is considered one of the greatest milers of all time. This was quite the accomplishment, as his legs were badly burned in a childhood accident that killed his older brother. While in college at the University of Kansas, he found great success as a track and field star, and he competed in the 1500 m event at both the 1932 and 1936 Summer Olympics. There's a park in Elkhart named for him today.
Jim Ryun was born in Wichita, and today he's best known for his tenure as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives. However, several decades ago he had an immensely successful career as a middle-distance runner, earning a silver medal in the 1968 Summer Olympics. He is still the last American to hold the world record for a mile run.
Forrest "Phog" Allen was an immensely successful basketball coach nicknamed the "Father of Basketball Coaching." Though born in Missouri, he is undoubtedly an honorary Kansan! His 39 seasons as coach of the Kansas Jayhawks men's basketball team resulted in 24 conference championships and three national titles. While he never played at an Olympic level, he did receive a gold medal in 1952 as a member of the U.S. basketball team's coaching staff.
Bryce Hoppel was born in Texas, but attended the University of Kansas, where he was a five-time All-American and two-time National Champion runner. While he didn't compete in the 2020 Summer Olympic final, he did qualify for the team and finished third in that year's Olympic trials. He's considered one of the top 800m runners in the world.
Do you know of any other Olympians from Kansas? Share your knowledge in the comments!
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