Jim Hines, the 1968 Olympic 100-meter champion and NFL receiver, passed away on June 5th, 2020 at the age of 76.
Hines was born in Shreveport, Louisiana in 1944 and was a multi-sport athlete in high school. He attended the University of Southern California where he was a two-time NCAA champion in the 100-meter dash. He was also a member of the 1964 U.S. Olympic team, but did not compete due to an injury.
In 1968, Hines made history by becoming the first man to break the 10-second barrier in the 100-meter dash at the Mexico City Olympics. He won the gold medal in a time of 9.95 seconds and set a world record that stood for 15 years.
After his Olympic success, Hines went on to play in the NFL for the Miami Dolphins and the San Diego Chargers. He played wide receiver and kick returner and was part of the Dolphins’ 1972 undefeated season. He retired from football in 1975 and went on to become a successful businessman.
Hines was inducted into the National Track and Field Hall of Fame in 1984 and the USATF Hall of Fame in 1995. He was also honored with a bronze statue at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in 2017.
Hines’ legacy will live on through his achievements in track and field and football. He will be remembered as one of the greatest athletes of all time and an inspiration to many. His passing is a great loss to the sports world and he will be deeply missed.
