 Corbitt, bib number 999, running in the marathon at the 1952 Summer Olympics in Helsinki, Finland | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | January 31, 1919 Dunbarton, South Carolina |
| Died | December 12, 2007 (aged 88) Houston, Texas |
| Alma mater | New York University |
| Occupation | Physical Therapist |
| Sport | |
| Sport | Long distance running |
| Club | New York Road Runners |
| Achievements and titles | |
| Olympic finals | Marathon, 44th place [1] |
Ted Corbitt (January 31, 1919 – December 12, 2007)[2][3][4] was an American long-distance runner. The first African-American to run the marathon at the Summer Olympics (the 1952 Olympics in Helsinki, Finland) and the founding president of New York Road Runners, Corbitt is often called "the father of American long distance running."[5] He was also an ultramarathon pioneer, helping to revive interest in the sport in the United States in the 1960s and 1970s. New York Times columnist Robert Lipsyte called Corbitt a "spiritual elder of the modern running clan".[6] In a Runner's World feature honoring lifetime achievement, writer Gail Kislevitz called Corbitt a "symbol of durability and longevity".[2] Corbitt was among the first five runners to be inducted into the National Distance Running Hall of Fame, and the first to be inducted into the American Ultrarunning Hall of Fame.
- ^ "Ted Corbitt, Forever an Olympian". New York Road Runners. July 27, 2020.
- ^ a b "Heroes of Running", interview by Gail Kislevitz in Runner's World, December 2007, p. 70. Corbitt confirmed 1919 to the interviewer as his year of birth.
- ^ Corbitt: The Story of Ted Corbitt, Long Distance Runner. John Chodes, Tafnews Press, 1974. The year of birth given in this book, 1920, and related age data, are erroneous per the preceding source (the athlete himself) and the cited obituaries.
- ^ Distance running inspiration Ted Corbitt passes away at 88
- ^ mmirhashem (2021-03-06). "Celebrating the Father of American Distance Running". Outside Online. Retrieved 2022-08-19.
- ^ Lipsyte, Robert (1994-10-21). "MARATHON; Miles to Go and Promises to Keep". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2022-08-24.