Mel Patton

Olympic medal record
Men's athletics
Competitor for the United States
Gold	1948 London	200 metres
Gold	1948 London	4x100 m relay

Melvin Emery "Mel" Patton (born November 16, 1924) is an American track and field athlete, who won two gold medals at the 1948 Summer Olympics.

Biography

Born in Los Angeles, California, Mel Patton or Pell Mell, as he was nicknamed in the late 1940s, made his mark in track and field while a student at the University of Southern California, where he was coached by the famous Dean Cromwell. He also attended University High School in Los Angeles.

Patton won the NCAA 100 yard dash in 1947 and in 1948 and 1949 completed the 100 and 220 yd sprint double at that same meet. In 1947, he tied the 100 yd dash world record of 9.4, then lowered it to 9.3 the following year. In 1949, he set a 220 yd world record on a straightaway of 20.2, breaking a Jesse Owens record.

In the Olympic Trials, he suffered a rare loss to Barney Ewell in the 100 m final, then in the Olympic Games placed only fifth in the 100 m. He atoned for that disappointment by taking two gold medals in the 200 m and the 4 x 100 m relay.

After retiring from competition, he was a track coach before entering the electronics industry.

External links

• An Olympian’s Oral History - Melvin Patton