facts about glenn cunningham
1. Glenn Cunningham was a celebrated American middle-distance runner, who was born on August 4, 1909, in Atlanta, Kansas, United States.
2. Cunningham's parents lost their other three children in a fire accident which they survived, but Glenn's legs were badly burnt, and he was not expected to walk again.
3. However, with his iron-willed determination, he trained himself to walk again and eventually became a passionate runner.
4. He was a college champion and won more than 40 national championships in his career.
5. Cunningham holds the world record for the mile race in 1934, when he clocked 4:06.8 minutes.
6. Cunningham won a silver medal in the 1500 meters at the 1936 Olympic Games held in Berlin, Germany.
7. After retiring from running in 1940, he continued his involvement in athletics as a coach and administrator.
8. He was also a passionate advocate of physical fitness and wrote several books on the subject.
9. Cunningham passed away on March 10, 1988, in Menifee, California, leaving behind a legacy as one of the greatest middle-distance runners of all time.
10. Cunningham has been inducted into several sports halls of fame, including the National Track and Field Hall of Fame.