Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jun 21, 2026

Ron Freeman

Ronald John Freeman III is an American former athlete. At the 1968 Summer Olympics, Freeman won a gold medal in the 4 × 400 m relay and a bronze medal in the 400 meters. Freeman ran the second leg on the American 4 × 400 m relay team, which won the gold medal with a new world record of 2.56.16. His relay leg time (43.2s) was the fastest 4 × 400 meter relay leg ever run and his time stood for more than 25 years.

Last revised
Jun 21, 2026
Read time
≈ 2 min
Length
473 w
Citations
11
Source
Wikipedia ↗
Ron Freeman
Personal information
Full nameRonald John Freeman III
BornJune 12, 1947 (1947-06-12) (age 79)
Elizabeth, New Jersey, U.S.
Height1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Weight82 kg (181 lb)
Sport
SportAthletics
Event
400 m
ClubArizona State Sun Devils track and field
Achievements and titles
Personal best(s)220 yd – 21.2 (1963)
400 m – 44.41 (1968)
880 yd – 1:50.4 (1968)
Medal record
Representing the  United States
Olympic Games
Gold medal – first place 1968 Mexico City 4 × 400 m relay
Bronze medal – third place 1968 Mexico City 400 metres a

Ronald John Freeman III (born June , 1947 in Elizabeth, New Jersey) is an American former athlete. At the 1968 Summer Olympics, Freeman won a gold medal in the 4 × 400 m relay and a bronze medal in the 400 meters.1 Freeman ran the second leg on the American 4 × 400 m relay team, which won the gold medal with a new world record of 2.56.16. His relay leg time (43.2s) was the fastest 4 × 400 meter relay leg ever run and his time stood for more than 25 years.

Raised in Elizabeth, Freeman attended Thomas Jefferson High School and Arizona State University.2

Freeman finished second behind Adrian Metcalfe in the 440 yards event at the British 1963 AAA Championships.345

He is sometimes confused with Ron Freeman (born 1940), an All-American 400 metres runner in 1963 who also ran for Arizona State and set an earlier world record in the mile relay.6 Ron Freeman III, born seven years later from New Jersey, was an All-American five years later for the Sun Devils in 1968; the two are not related.789

Awards

In August 2017, Freeman received the Athletes in Excellence Award from The Foundation for Global Sports Development in recognition of his community service efforts and work with youth.10

Notes

Notes

  1. Freeman ran the fastest 400 meter relay leg in the history of the Olympic Games which stood for more than 25 years.
References

References

  1. Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Ron Freeman". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on 2020-04-17.
  2. Denman, Elliott. "From Banishment to the Hall", Armory Track, December 7, 2011. Accessed September 11, 2020. "the Hudson and down the ‘pike there was Ron Freeman at Thomas Jefferson High School n Elizabeth, N.J."
  3. "AAA, WAAA and National Championships Medallists". National Union of Track Statisticians. Retrieved 5 May 2025.
  4. "AAA Championships (men)". GBR Athletics. Retrieved 5 May 2025.
  5. "Carroll sprints in". Ireland's Saturday Night. 13 July 1963. Retrieved 5 May 2025 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  6. Ron Freeman (born 1940) at Track and Field Statistics
  7. "Ron Freeman". njsportsheroes.com.
  8. "400 meters at the NCAA Division I Men's Outdoor Track and Field Championships". USTFCCCA. Retrieved 28 December 2024.
  9. "Devils Set Busy Pace This Weekend". The Arizona Republic (Phoenix, Arizona). 25 Feb 1966. p. 76. Retrieved 29 August 2025.
  10. "Ten Athletes Selected to Receive The Foundation for Global Sports Development's 2017 Athletes in Excellence Award". aroundtherings.com. Retrieved 2017-08-09.