One of America’s great 400m hurdlers, Cochran is best known for winning the gold medal in that event at the 1948 Olympic Games in London by a margin of more than five meters in the Olympic record time of 51.1. The ninth of ten children, Cochran ran the third leg of the U.S. gold medal winning 4x400m relay in London. Cochran won U.S. 400m hurdles titles in 1939 and 1948, in addition to winning at the Olympic Trials that same year. Cochran posted the 440-yard hurdles world record when he ran 52.2 in 1942. He was ranked #1 in the world in the 400m hurdles in 1939 and 1948. Cochran was an All-American at Indiana University, where he won four Big Ten Conference titles. Cochran died September, 26, 1981.
Championships 1948 Olympic Games: 400 m hurdles - 51.10 (1st) 1939 USA Outdoor Championships: 400 m hurdles - 51.90 (1st) 1948 Olympic Trials: 400 m hurdles - 51.83 (1st) 1948 USA Outdoor Championships: 400 m hurdles - 52.30 (1st)