Josh Culbreath

Biographical information

RolesCompeted in Olympic Games
SexMale
Full nameJoshua "Josh"•Culbreath
Used nameJosh•Culbreath
Born14 September 1932 in Norristown, Pennsylvania (USA)
Died1 July 2021 in Cincinnati, Ohio (USA)
Measurements170 cm / 62 kg
AffiliationsUS Marine Corps, (USA)
NOC United States
Medals OG
Gold 0
Silver 0
Bronze 1
Total 1

Biography

Josh Culbreath first took hurdling seriously when he was attending Morgan State and won the AAU in 1953, 1954, and 1955. In the 1956 Final Trials he brought his best time for the intermediate hurdles down to 50.6 behind Glenn Davis and Eddie Southern, and the Olympic final was a repeat of the U.S. Trials with these three sweeping the medals. Culbreath, who was the first great black intermediate hurdler, won at the Pan-Am Games in 1955 and 1959 and, at Oslo in 1957, he set a world record for the 440y hurdles of 50.5. At the 1959 Pan American Games he won also a silver medal in the 4×400 metres relay (with Jack Yerman, Eddie Southern, and the non-Olympian Dave Mills). He was also a three-time champion at the Penn Relays.

After graduating from Morgan State, Culbreath served in the US Marine Corps until 1958, but later earned a masters’ degree from Temple University. Culbreath later became a track coach at Central State University in Ohio.

Personal Bests: 200 – 21.4 (1957); 400 – 47.2 (1957); 110H – 14.8y (1954); 400H – 50.2 (1957).

Results

Games Discipline (Sport) / Event NOC / Team Pos Medal As
1956 Summer Olympics Athletics USA Josh Culbreath
400 metres Hurdles, Men (Olympic) 3 Bronze

Special Notes