Harold Osborne and the 1924 Olympics

Eighty-five years ago today, Illinois' Harold Osborne captured the Olympic gold medal in the decathlon. The Butler native competed at Hillsboro as a prep athlete, participating in track and field, basketball and football. After practice, he walked four miles to his home. At 5-foot-10, 172 pounds, Osborne matriculated to the University of Illinois and learned under immortal coach Harry Gill. The 1924 Olympic Games in Paris were well stocked with internationally known athletes, including American swimmers Johnny Weissmuller and Duke Kahanamoku, tennis star Helen Wills and Finland's Paavo Nurmi. However, Osborne's 7100 points in a world-record victory against U.S. teammate Emerson Norton in the decathlon allowed him to accomplish something no other man or woman in history has done or has ever been able to do – win gold in the decathlon and the high jump. The impressive double resulted in worldwide press coverage, hailing Osborne as the "world's greatest athlete." His decathlon victory is especially impressive when realized that the competition was conducted just four days after the high jump competition, and in extremely hot and humid weather conditions over two days at the end of the Games. Osborne also competed in the 1928 Olympic high jump but placed fifth. Altogether, Osborne won three AAU decathlon titles and 18 AAU titles in nine different events. He later became an osteopath in Champaign-Urbana and helped coach the UI track team. Osborne died on April 5, 1975, eight days before his 76th birthday.

Illini Birthdays

Today Jeff Harp, wrestling (45)

Monday C.J. Schroeder, basketball (57)

Tuesday Kim Brombolich, basketball (47)

Wednesday Kristy Weeks, soccer (23)

Thursday Shane Lamb, football (45)

Friday Antoineo Harris, football (30)

Saturday Don Freeman, basketball (65)

Next Sunday: Otto Vogel

By Mike Pearson, Author of Illini Legends, Lists & Lore, Assistant Athletic Director at Miami University