Olympic hero is dead: He wrote sports history in the supreme discipline

He made sports history, his record held for 15 years. Now Jim Hines, the world's first sprinter to run the 100 meters in under ten seconds, is dead.

Dumas – It's rare to have a career like his. First Jim Hines was a baseball player, then he sprinted twice to Olympic gold - and in the end he also left his footprint in the US professional football league NFL. Now the former world record holder has passed away at the age of 76.

Jim Hines is dead: The first sprinter in the world to officially run the 100 meters under ten seconds

The American had once written sports history and was one of the first great athletics idols. James Ray Hines, born on September 10, 1946 in Dumas, Arkansas, was the first sprinter in the world to officially run the supreme discipline over 100 meters under ten seconds.

Hines had initially played baseball until a track and field coach recognized his running talent and developed him into a world-class runner. As a 17-year-old, he was already one of the 20 fastest sprinters in the world over 100 yards (91.44 meters).

Jim Hines (right, second from left), here in the 1968 Olympic semi-finals, made sports history at the Games in Mexico – and won two gold medals. © Horstmüller / Imago / EPU / AFP

Jim Hines, Ronnie Ray Smith, Charles Greene and the "Night of Speed"

Hines beat the ten seconds in the 100 meters for the first time on June 20, 1968 at the U.S. Trials in Sacramento. Since two other athletes, Ronnie Ray Smith and Charles Greene, achieved the same feat within a few minutes, the evening in California went down in athletics history as the "Night of Speed".

Four months later, the then 22-year-old Hines also became Olympic champion in the 100 meters in Mexico City – this time in 9.95 seconds, which was electronically stopped. It was a record that would stand for 15 years. It was not until 1983 that compatriot Calvin Smith was two hundredths of a second faster and replaced Hines as the world record holder.

Double Olympic champion and NFL pro: The exciting career of Jim Hines

Hines won a second gold medal in Mexico in 1968: In the 4x100 meter relay he ran with Charles Greene, Mel Pender and Ronnie Ray Smith in 38.2 seconds to the second world record and second Olympic victory. Subsequently, he adhered to the credo "Stop when it's at its best" – and left athletics behind at the age of 22.

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Instead, Hines acted as a wide receiver in American football. The Miami Dolphins had drafted him in the sixth round, 1968th overall, after the 146 Olympics. In 1970, he was traded to the Kansas City Chiefs, where he only played once. After that, he ended his career.

Jim Hines is dead: "Legendary Sprinter" dies at the age of 76

On Saturday, June 3, Hines passed away at the age of 76. This was announced by the World Athletics Association (WA). Among other things, the announcement spoke of a "legendary Sprinter".

Another Olympic heroine recently had to cope with a heavy blow of fate: The husband of cross-country skiing legend Justyna Kowalczyk died in an avalanche accident. (akl)