Russ Hodge
Encyclopedia
Russell Arden Hodge (born September 12, 1939) is an American
track and field
athlete, world record holder in decathlon
from 1966, Olympic competitor from 1964, and silver medalist from the Pan American Games
(1971).
in São Paulo
, where he finished 4th in decathlon
. He competed in decathlon
at the 1964 Summer Olympics
in Tokyo, where he placed ninth. In July, 1966 he set a world record in decathlon at a competition in Los Angeles
, with 8,230 points, a record which lasted until May, 1967. Hodge received a silver medal in decathlon
at the 1971 Pan American Games
in Cali, Colombia with a score of 7314, behind winner Rick Wanamaker
.
He finished fourth in the AAU National Championship in decathlon in 1963 and in 1964, and second in 1965 and 1966. In 1970 he finished second again, as he did in 1971, after a close race with Rick Wanamaker.
Hodge did not compete at the Olympics after 1964. He became injured before the U.S. trials both in 1968 and 1972, and again in 1976.
, who competed in high jump
at the 1936 Summer Olympics
in Berlin
, where she finished equal ninth in the women's high jump event.
His father Russel "Rusty" Hodge was a semi-professional basketball
player, playing center for the Liberty Emeralds.
Historical Society "History Maker" award. They are the only mother-son Olympians in the United States' olympic history.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
track and field
Track and field
Track and field is a sport comprising various competitive athletic contests based around the activities of running, jumping and throwing. The name of the sport derives from the venue for the competitions: a stadium which features an oval running track surrounding a grassy area...
athlete, world record holder in decathlon
Decathlon
The decathlon is a combined event in athletics consisting of ten track and field events. The word decathlon is of Greek origin . Events are held over two consecutive days and the winners are determined by the combined performance in all. Performance is judged on a points system in each event, not...
from 1966, Olympic competitor from 1964, and silver medalist from the Pan American Games
Pan American Games
The Pan-American or Pan American Games are a major event in the Americas featuring summer and formerly winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Pan American Games are the second largest multi-sport event after the Summer Olympics...
(1971).
Track and field career
Hodge competed at the 1963 Pan American Games1963 Pan American Games
The 4th Pan American Games were held from April 20 to May 5, 1963 in São Paulo, Brazil.- Medal count :To sort this table by nation, total medal count, or any other column, click on the icon next to the column title.Note...
in São Paulo
São Paulo
São Paulo is the largest city in Brazil, the largest city in the southern hemisphere and South America, and the world's seventh largest city by population. The metropolis is anchor to the São Paulo metropolitan area, ranked as the second-most populous metropolitan area in the Americas and among...
, where he finished 4th in decathlon
Decathlon
The decathlon is a combined event in athletics consisting of ten track and field events. The word decathlon is of Greek origin . Events are held over two consecutive days and the winners are determined by the combined performance in all. Performance is judged on a points system in each event, not...
. He competed in decathlon
Athletics at the 1964 Summer Olympics - Men's decathlon
The men's decathlon was part of the Athletics at the 1964 Summer Olympics program in Tokyo. It was held on 19 October and 20 October 1964, with five events each day...
at the 1964 Summer Olympics
1964 Summer Olympics
The 1964 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XVIII Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event held in Tokyo, Japan in 1964. Tokyo had been awarded with the organization of the 1940 Summer Olympics, but this honor was subsequently passed to Helsinki because of Japan's...
in Tokyo, where he placed ninth. In July, 1966 he set a world record in decathlon at a competition in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, with 8,230 points, a record which lasted until May, 1967. Hodge received a silver medal in decathlon
Athletics at the 1971 Pan American Games
The athletics competition at the 1971 Pan American Games was held in Cali, Colombia.-Men's events:-Women's events:-Medal table:-References:*...
at the 1971 Pan American Games
1971 Pan American Games
The 6th Pan American Games were held in Cali, Colombia, from July 30 to August 13, 1971. The then called "Salsa World Capital", located at the foot of the Andes Mountains, hosted a total of 2,935 athletes from 32 countries, who participated in seventeen sports...
in Cali, Colombia with a score of 7314, behind winner Rick Wanamaker
Rick Wanamaker
Rick Wanamaker is an American track and basketball athlete, known principally for winning the decathlon in the 1971 Pan American Games and for blocking a shot against Lew Alcindor in the 1969 NCAA national basketball semi-finals.Rick Wanamaker attended Iowa Valley High School in Marengo, where he...
.
He finished fourth in the AAU National Championship in decathlon in 1963 and in 1964, and second in 1965 and 1966. In 1970 he finished second again, as he did in 1971, after a close race with Rick Wanamaker.
Hodge did not compete at the Olympics after 1964. He became injured before the U.S. trials both in 1968 and 1972, and again in 1976.
Family
Hodge is son of Alice ArdenAlice Arden (athlete)
Alice Jean Arden-Hodge is an American athlete who competed in the women's high jump event at the Olympic games in Berlin in 1936. Raised in Long Island, New York, Arden won ten athletic letters during her high school career across several different sports...
, who competed in high jump
High jump
The high jump is a track and field athletics event in which competitors must jump over a horizontal bar placed at measured heights without the aid of certain devices in its modern most practiced format; auxiliary weights and mounds have been used for assistance; rules have changed over the years....
at the 1936 Summer Olympics
1936 Summer Olympics
The 1936 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XI Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event which was held in 1936 in Berlin, Germany. Berlin won the bid to host the Games over Barcelona, Spain on April 26, 1931, at the 29th IOC Session in Barcelona...
in Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
, where she finished equal ninth in the women's high jump event.
His father Russel "Rusty" Hodge was a semi-professional basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
player, playing center for the Liberty Emeralds.
Awards
In August 2003, both Hodge and his mother were honoured with the Sullivan CountySullivan County, New York
Sullivan County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 77,547. The county seat is Monticello. The name is in honor of Major General John Sullivan, who was a hero in the American Revolutionary War...
Historical Society "History Maker" award. They are the only mother-son Olympians in the United States' olympic history.