Ralph Mann
Encyclopedia
Ralph Mann was an American
athlete who competed mainly in the 400 meter hurdles. He was an undergraduate at Brigham Young University
, and later earned a Ph.D.
in Biomechanics
from the Washington State University
. His son, Randall Mann
, is an award-winning poet and literary critic.
In 1969, Mann won his first NCAA 440 intermediate hurdles championship with a time of 49.6 seconds. Tying the NCAA and American records, the time was three-tenths of a second off the world record. A year later in Des Moines
, Iowa
, Mann captured his second NCAA championship and set a new world record time of 48.8 seconds for the 440 intermediate hurdles.
During his collegiate career Ralph was NCAA champion three times. He was a three-time All-America
n, and in 1970 was second in the voting for the Sullivan Award
.
He competed for the United States
in the 1972 Summer Olympics
held in Munich
, Germany
, in the 400 meter hurdles where he won the silver medal. Ralph was a five-time AAU
champion. He received the AAU’s DiBenedetto Award for the single most outstanding career, most notably for his Olympic silver medal
.
Ralph Mann co-wrote the book "Swing Like a Pro: The Breakthrough Scientific Method of Perfecting Your Golf Swing" with Fred Griffin. This book was the culmination of Dr. Mann's expertise in the field of biomechanics and Griffin's experience of teaching golf as a PGA
Professional
for many years.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
athlete who competed mainly in the 400 meter hurdles. He was an undergraduate at Brigham Young University
Brigham Young University
Brigham Young University is a private university located in Provo, Utah. It is owned and operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , and is the United States' largest religious university and third-largest private university.Approximately 98% of the university's 34,000 students...
, and later earned a Ph.D.
Ph.D.
A Ph.D. is a Doctor of Philosophy, an academic degree.Ph.D. may also refer to:* Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*Piled Higher and Deeper, a web comic strip*PhD: Phantasy Degree, a Korean comic series* PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
in Biomechanics
Biomechanics
Biomechanics is the application of mechanical principles to biological systems, such as humans, animals, plants, organs, and cells. Perhaps one of the best definitions was provided by Herbert Hatze in 1974: "Biomechanics is the study of the structure and function of biological systems by means of...
from the Washington State University
Washington State University
Washington State University is a public research university based in Pullman, Washington, in the Palouse region of the Pacific Northwest. Founded in 1890, WSU is the state's original and largest land-grant university...
. His son, Randall Mann
Randall Mann
Randall Mann is an American poet.He was born in Provo, Utah in 1972, the only son to Olympic Track and Field medalist, Ralph Mann. He is the author of Breakfast with Thom Gunn , Complaint in the Garden , winner of the 2003 Kenyon Review Prize in Poetry, and co-author of the textbook Writing Poems...
, is an award-winning poet and literary critic.
In 1969, Mann won his first NCAA 440 intermediate hurdles championship with a time of 49.6 seconds. Tying the NCAA and American records, the time was three-tenths of a second off the world record. A year later in Des Moines
Des Moines, Iowa
Des Moines is the capital and the most populous city in the US state of Iowa. It is also the county seat of Polk County. A small portion of the city extends into Warren County. It was incorporated on September 22, 1851, as Fort Des Moines which was shortened to "Des Moines" in 1857...
, Iowa
Iowa
Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...
, Mann captured his second NCAA championship and set a new world record time of 48.8 seconds for the 440 intermediate hurdles.
During his collegiate career Ralph was NCAA champion three times. He was a three-time All-America
All-America
An All-America team is an honorary sports team composed of outstanding amateur players—those considered the best players of a specific season for each team position—who in turn are given the honorific "All-America" and typically referred to as "All-American athletes", or simply...
n, and in 1970 was second in the voting for the Sullivan Award
Sullivan Award
Sullivan Award may refer to:* Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award or Mary Mildred Sullivan Award; awarded at 29-grantee institutions of the Algernon Sydney Sullivan Foundation...
.
He competed for the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in the 1972 Summer Olympics
Athletics at the 1972 Summer Olympics
At the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich, 38 events in athletics were contested, 24 for men and 14 for women. There were a total number of 1324 participating athletes from 104 countries.-Men's events:-Women's events:-Medal table:-References:*...
held in Munich
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, in the 400 meter hurdles where he won the silver medal. Ralph was a five-time AAU
Amateur Athletic Union
The Amateur Athletic Union is one of the largest non-profit volunteer sports organizations in the United States. A multi-sport organization, the AAU is dedicated exclusively to the promotion and development of amateur sports and physical fitness programs.-History:The AAU was founded in 1888 to...
champion. He received the AAU’s DiBenedetto Award for the single most outstanding career, most notably for his Olympic silver medal
Silver medal
A silver medal is a medal awarded to the second place finisher of contests such as the Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games, and contests with similar formats....
.
Ralph Mann co-wrote the book "Swing Like a Pro: The Breakthrough Scientific Method of Perfecting Your Golf Swing" with Fred Griffin. This book was the culmination of Dr. Mann's expertise in the field of biomechanics and Griffin's experience of teaching golf as a PGA
Professional Golfers' Association of America
Founded in 1916, the Professional Golfers' Association of America is headquartered in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, and is made up of more than 28,000 men and women golf professional members...
Professional
Professional golfer
In golf the distinction between amateurs and professionals is rigorously maintained. An amateur who breaches the rules of amateur status may lose his or her amateur status. A golfer who has lost his or her amateur status may not play in amateur competitions until amateur status has been reinstated;...
for many years.