Bob McMillen

Biographical information

RolesCompeted in Olympic Games
SexMale
Full nameRobert Earl "Bob"•McMillen
Used nameBob•McMillen
Born5 March 1928 in Los Angeles, California (USA)
Died1 April 2007
Measurements180 cm / 68 kg
AffiliationsLAAC, Los Angeles (USA) / San José State Spartans, San José (USA)
NOC United States
Medals OG
Gold 0
Silver 1
Bronze 0
Total 1

Biography

After falling three times in the heats of the 1948 Olympic steeplechase, Bob McMillen wisely gave up the event and turned his attentions to miling. He won the NCAA 1,500 m for Occidental in 1952 and, after winning the Final Trials, his devastating finishing burst narrowly failed to net him the Olympic gold. McMillen’s time of 3:45.2 in Helsinki was a new U.S. record and he had a best time for the mile of 4:07.8, which he clocked in finishing second to Jim Newcomb at the 1950 Southern Pacific AAU meet. In the 1955 Pan American Games 1500 metres McMillen finished fourth.

Personal Bests: 1500 – 3:45.2 (1952); 3000S – 9:18.7 (1948).

Results

Games Discipline (Sport) / Event NOC / Team Pos Medal As
1948 Summer Olympics Athletics USA Bob McMillen
3,000 metres Steeplechase, Men (Olympic) 8 h1 r1/2
1952 Summer Olympics Athletics USA Bob McMillen
1,500 metres, Men (Olympic) 2 Silver