 |
| At the 1964 Olympics, Billy Mills shocked the world when he came from behind to win the gold medal in the 10k race. |
In 1964, track and field runner Billy Mills was a virtual unknown.
With only 100 meters left in the 10,000-meter race, he pulled ahead of the competition, set an Olympic record and took home a gold medal. It was one of the greatest upsets in Olympic history. He became a household name and his story was captured in the movie Running Brave.
As a Native American runner, Mills phenomenal Olympic victory was even more amazing because he faced open hostility, racism and cultural barriers. Mills will share his story, Your Gift from the Creator, on Tuesday, April 10, from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. in the Bronco Student Center's Ursa Major Rooms.
A reception, sponsored by the Native American Student Center, will immediately follow the lecture in the Union Plaza's Rainbow Weaver Room (Building 26, Room 104). Mills will also meet with the Cal Poly Pomona track and field team.
Both the lecture and reception are free and open to the public.
“His story is about overcoming challenges and the barriers of culture. It is a human story that is inspirational, and everyone will come away uplifted” says event host Charlene Teters, the Hugh O. La Bounty Chair of Interdisciplinary Applied Knowledge.
For more information, call Teters at (909) 869-2327.