(Stars and Stripes)
Oct. 14, 1964, Tokyo: Billy Mills, a U.S. Marine, wins the gold medal in the 10,000 meters at the Tokyo Olympics in 1964. Mills won a dramatic, elbow-jabbing, traffic-jam stretch run, beating out Mohammed Gammoudi of Tunisia, who got silver, and world record holder and favorite Ron Clarke of Australia, who captured the bronze. He is the only American man to win the event in the Olympics.
The opening ceremonies for the 2024 Olympics in Paris begin Friday, July 26. Stars and Stripes will be tracking a handful of U.S. soldiers who will be competing in Paris. Follow along on our sports page.