Ira James Murchison (February 6, 1933 – March 28, 1994) was an American athlete , winner of the gold medal in 4 × 100 m relay at the 1956 Summer Olympics .
Born in Chicago, Illinois , he attended Phillips High School . Murchison was noted for his exceptional speed from the starting block, which earned him a nickname Human Sputnik .
Before the Melbourne Olympics , Murchison equalled twice the 100 m world record of 10.2 and ran in Berlin a new world record of 10.1, thus becoming one of the favourites to win the 100 m Olympic gold medal. But at Melbourne, Murchison managed to finish only in a disappointing fourth place. He also ran the leadoff leg of the 4 × 100 m relay team for the United States, and helped the American team to a gold medal in a world record time of 39.5.
He attended the University of Iowa , but later transferred to Western Michigan. In 1957, Murchison repeated the 100 yd (91 m) world record of 9.3 and, as a Western Michigan University student, won the 1958 NCAA championships in 100 yd (91 m). At the 1963 Pan American Games , Murchison finished third in the 100 m and helped the American 4 × 100 m relay team to win a gold medal.
During the 1970s, Murchison was the coach of a women's track team in Chicago. One of the women he coached was 1976 Olympic sprinter, Rosalyn Bryant.
Ira Murchison died of cancer in Harvey, Illinois , aged 61.
References
1912 : David Jacobs , Henry Macintosh , Victor d'Arcy , Willie Applegarth (GBR )
1920 : Charley Paddock , Jackson Scholz , Loren Murchison , Morris Kirksey (USA )
1924 : Loren Murchison , Louis Clarke , Frank Hussey , Al LeConey (USA )
1928 : Frank Wykoff , James Quinn , Charley Borah , Henry Russell (USA )
1932 : Bob Kiesel , Emmett Toppino , Hector Dyer , Frank Wykoff (USA )
1936 : Jesse Owens , Ralph Metcalfe , Foy Draper , Frank Wykoff (USA )
1948 : Barney Ewell , Lorenzo Wright , Harrison Dillard , Mel Patton (USA )
1952 : Dean Smith , Harrison Dillard , Lindy Remigino , Andy Stanfield (USA )
1956 : Ira Murchison , Leamon King , Thane Baker , Bobby Morrow (USA )
1960 : Bernd Cullmann , Armin Hary , Walter Mahlendorf , Martin Lauer (EUA )
1964 : Paul Drayton , Gerry Ashworth , Richard Stebbins , Bob Hayes (USA )
1968 : Charles Greene , Mel Pender , Ronnie Ray Smith , Jim Hines (USA )
1972 : Larry Black , Robert Taylor , Gerald Tinker , Eddie Hart (USA )
1976 : Harvey Glance , Lam Jones , Millard Hampton , Steve Riddick (USA )
1980 : Vladimir Muravyov , Nikolay Sidorov , Aleksandr Aksinin , Andrey Prokofyev (URS )
1984 : Sam Graddy , Ron Brown , Calvin Smith , Carl Lewis (USA )
1988 : Viktor Bryzhin , Vladimir Krylov , Vladimir Muravyov , Vitaliy Savin (URS )
1992 : Michael Marsh , Leroy Burrell , Dennis Mitchell , Carl Lewis , James Jett (USA )
1996 : Robert Esmie , Glenroy Gilbert , Bruny Surin , Donovan Bailey , Carlton Chambers (CAN )
2000 : Jon Drummond , Bernard Williams , Brian Lewis , Maurice Greene , Tim Montgomery , Kenny Brokenburr (USA )
2004 : Jason Gardener , Darren Campbell , Marlon Devonish , Mark Lewis-Francis (GBR )
2008 : Keston Bledman , Marc Burns , Emmanuel Callender , Richard Thompson , Aaron Armstrong (TTO )
2012 : Nesta Carter , Michael Frater , Yohan Blake , Usain Bolt , Bailey-Cole (JAM )
2016 : Asafa Powell , Yohan Blake , Nickel Ashmeade , Usain Bolt , Jevaughn Minzie , Kemar Bailey-Cole (JAM )
2020 : Lorenzo Patta , Marcell Jacobs , Fausto Desalu , Filippo Tortu (ITA )
1951 : D. Campbell , A. Bragg , D. Attlesey , J. Voight (USA )
1955 : R. Richard , W. Williams , C. Thomas , J. Bennett (USA )
1959 : R. Norton , R. Poynter , B. Woodhouse , H. Jones (USA )
1963 : E. Young , O. Cassell , B. Johnson , I. Murchison (USA )
1967 : J. Bright , R. Copeland , W. Turner , E. McCullouch (USA )
1971 : A. Daley , D. Quarrie , C. Lawson , L. Miller (JAM )
1975 : B. Collins , C. Edwards , L. Brown , D. Merrick (USA )
1979 : H. Glance , M. Roberson , C. Wiley , S. Riddick (USA )
1983 : B. Jackson , K. Robinson , E. Quow , S. Graddy (USA )
1987 : C. Lewis , L. McNeill , L. McRae , H. Glance (USA )
1991 : L. Peñalver , F. Stevens , J. Aguilera , J. Lamela (CUB )
1995 : J. Isasi , J. Aguilera , J. Lamela , A. García-Baró (CUB )
1999 : E. Luciano , R. Oliveira , A. Domingos , C. Quirino (BRA )
2003 : V. Lenilson , E. Luciano , A. Domingos , C. Quirino (BRA )
2007 : V. Lenilson , R. Ribeiro , B. Moraes Jr. , S. Viana (BRA )
2011 : A. Feitosa , S. Viana , N. André , B. Lins (BRA )
2015 : BJ Lee , W. Spearmon , K. Williams , R. McClain (USA )
2019 : R. Nascimento , J. Vides , D. Silva , P. Oliveira (BRA )
2023 : R. Nascimento , F. Bardi , E. Cardoso , R. Correa (BRA )
1906–1979Amateur Athletic Union 1980–1992The Athletics Congress 1993–presentUSA Track & Field Held over 60 yards from 1906 to 1986, with the exception of 1933–39 (60 meters) and 1913–15 (75 meters). Held over 55 meters from 1987–90.
Men's track and road athletes Men's field athletes Women's track athletes Women's field athletes Coaches