Russ Hodge

Russell Arden "Russ" Hodge (born September 9, 1939) is an American track and field athlete, world record holder in decathlon from 1966, Olympic competitor from 1964, and silver medalist from the Pan American Games (1971).

Track and field career

Hodge competed at the 1963 Pan American Games in São Paulo, where he finished 4th in decathlon. He competed in decathlon at the 1964 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, where he placed ninth.cite news|last = McMillan|first = Ken |title = He never wasted his ability|publisher = Times Herald-Record|date = 2006-08-13|url = http://www.rhbvitamins.com/rhb/Likemotherlikeson.php|accessdate = 2008-08-30] cite news|last = Conway|first = John|title = Catskills Olympian earned place in history|publisher = Times Herald-Record|date = 2003-03-28|url = http://www.rhbvitamins.com/rhb/Likemotherlikeson.php|accessdate = 2008-08-30] cite web|last = Gjerde|first = Arild|coauthors = Jeroen Heijmans, Bill Mallon, and Hilary Evans|title = Russ Hodge Biography and Statistics|work = Olympics|publisher = Sports Reference.com|date = 2008|url = http://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/ho/russ-hodge-1.html|accessdate = 2008-08-30] In July, 1966 he set a world record in "one hour decathlon" at a competition in Los Angeles, with 8,230 points, a record which lasted until May, 1967. Hodge received a silver medal in decathlon at the 1971 Pan American Games in Cali, Colombia with a score of 7314, behind winner Rick Wanamaker. [http://www.gbrathletics.com/ic/pag.htm Pan-American Games] , "Athletics Weekly" 2007. Accessed 2008-08-30.]

He finished fourth in the AAU National Championship in decathlon in 1963 and in 1964, and second in 1965 and 1966. [http://www.trackandfieldnews.com/tfn/archive/results.jsp?sex=M&disciplineId=25&id=1 History of US Nationals Results: Decathlon] , "Track and Field News" Archive, 2005. Accessed 2008-08-30.] In 1970 he finished second again, as he did in 1971, after a close race with Rick Wanamaker. [http://vault.sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1084986/1/index.htm Ho, Ho, Ho Went The Jolly White Giant] , "Sports Illustrated", 1971-06-21. Accessed 2008-08-30.]

Hodge did not compete at the Olympics after 1964. He became injuried before the U.S. trials both in 1968 and 1972, and again in 1976.cite book | last= Zarnowski |first= Frank | title= Olympic Glory Denied: And a Final Opportunity for Glory Restored|publisher= Griffin Publishing Inc. | location= |language= |year=1996-08 | isbn= 1-882180-70-4 | pages=]

Family

Hodge is son of Alice Arden, who competed in high jump at the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin, where she finished equal ninth in the women's high jump event.cite web|last = Gjerde|first = Arild|coauthors = Jeroen Heijmans, Bill Mallon, and Hilary Evans|title = Alice Arden Biography and Statistics|work = Olympics|publisher = Sports Reference.com|date = 2008|url = http://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/ar/alice-arden-1.html|accessdate = 2008-08-30] cite news|last = Mcmillan|first = Ken|title = McMillan: Olympians - a title reserved for few|work = Sports|publisher = Times Herald-Record|date = 2008-08-24|url = http://www.recordonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080824/SPORTS/808240326|accessdate = 2008-08-30]

His father Russel "Rusty" Hodge was a semi-professional basketball player, playing center for the Liberty Emeralds.

Awards

In August 2003, both Hodge and his mother were honoured with the Sullivan County Historical Society "History Maker" award.cite news|last = Hust|first = Dan|title = Historical Society Honors Residents|publisher = Sullivan County Democrat|date = 2003-08-15|url = http://www.sc-democrat.com/archives/2003/news/08August/15/history.html|accessdate = 2008-08-30] They are the only mother-son Olympians in the United States' olympic history.

References