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Frank Loomis

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Frank Loomis
Frank Loomis at the 1920 Olympics
Personal information
BornAugust 22, 1896
Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States
DiedApril 4, 1971 (aged 74)
New Port Richey, Florida, United States
Height1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)
Sport
SportAthletics
Event400 m hurdles
ClubChicago AA
Achievements and titles
Personal best400 mH – 54.0 (1920)
Medal record
Representing the  United States
Olympic Games
Gold medal – first place 1920 Antwerp 400 m hurdles

Frank Farmer Loomis Jr. (August 22, 1896 – April 4, 1971) was an American athlete, winner of 400 m hurdles at the 1920 Summer Olympics in Antwerp.[1] His brother, Jo Gilbert Loomis, was a substitute sprinter at the same Olympics.[2]

Loomis went to school in Evanston until 1914. Upon meeting his future Oregon High School teammate Sherman Landers, he transferred to Oregon, Illinois, to continue training with him. Together, they began a rise that would take them to the 1920 Olympic Games. Although Loomis was an AAU champion in 220 yd (200 m) hurdles in 1917 and 1918 and in 440 yd (400 m) hurdles in 1920, the main favorite in Antwerp was John Norton, who had run a new world record of 54.2 just two months before the Olympics. Despite that, Loomis won the 400 m hurdles final easily in a new world record of 54.0, beating Norton to second place by 0.6 seconds.[2][3]

Landers-Loomis Field in Oregon, Illinois, is named partially in his honor.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Frank Loomis". Olympedia. Retrieved July 15, 2021.
  2. ^ a b Frank Loomis Archived September 3, 2011, at the Wayback Machine. sports-reference.com
  3. ^ Athletics at the 1920 Antwerpen Summer Games: Men's 400 metres Hurdles Archived October 4, 2015, at the Wayback Machine. sports-reference.com