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Bob Schul, a Singular U.S. Olympian in 5,000-Meter Race, Dies at 86

Growing up on an Ohio farm, Bob Schul battled asthma and allergies. But he loved to run.

He raced against his three brothers on the farmland and then ran the mile in high school and at Miami University of Ohio.

On a rainy day in Tokyo in October 1964, he won the Olympic 5,000-meter race, besting what was considered the strongest field ever assembled for that event.

Schul, who died at 86 on Sunday at a nursing home in Middletown, Ohio, became the only American to win Olympic gold in the 5,000 and did it with a remarkable sprint in the final yards on a muddy cinder track.

Going into the 1960s, the U.S. running program had been known mainly for its sprint champions. That changed with a pair of storied achievements in Tokyo.

Bob Schul, center, after receiving his gold medal in Tokyo. With him were Harald Norpoth, left, of Germany, who won the silver medal, and Bill Dellinger, of the United States, who took the bronze. Credit…The Asahi Shimbun, via Getty Images

Billy Mills staged one of the most spectacular upsets in Olympic track history by winning the 10,000-meter run. A few days later, Schul got his own gold medal.