Greg Bell: Oldest living Olympic gold medallist in athletics passes away

NEW DELHI: Greg Bell, the 1956 Olympic long jump champion, passed away on January 25 at the age of 94. World Athletics paid tribute to Bell, who was the oldest living Olympic gold medallist in athletics.

Bell was a dominant figure in the men's long jump during the 1950s. His personal best of 8.10 meters, achieved in Austin, USA, in 1957, was just three centimetres shy of the world record set by Jesse Owens in 1935. He also recorded impressive jumps of 8.09 meters in 1956 and 8.10 meters again in 1959.

Born on November 7, 1930, in Terre Haute, Indiana, USA, Bell attended Garfield High School. After serving in the army, he joined Indiana University, where he remained undefeated in the long jump throughout his collegiate career, including victories at the NCAA Championships.

At the 1956 Olympic Games in Melbourne, the 26-year-old Bell jumped 7.83 meters in challenging conditions to secure the gold medal, finishing 15 centimetres ahead of his compatriot John Bennett.


He went on to win a silver medal at the 1959 Pan American Games in Chicago and retired after finishing fourth at the US Olympic Trials in 1960.

After earning his undergraduate degree from Indiana University, Bell pursued a career in dentistry. He served as the director of dentistry at Logansport State Hospital for 50 years until his retirement in 2020 at the age of 89.

Bell's achievements were recognized with inductions into the Indiana University Hall of Fame and the US National Track and Field Hall of Fame in 1988. His passing marks the end of an era for a remarkable athlete who left an indelible mark on the sport of long jump.