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Medal record
Men’s Athletics
Competitor for the  United States
Olympic Games
Gold	1972 Munich	110 m hurdles
Pan American Games
Gold	1971 Cali	110 m hurdles

Rodney ("Rod") Milburn, Jr. (March 18, 1950 – November 11, 1997) was an American athlete who won gold at the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich in the 110m hurdles.

Career

During the early 1970s, Milburn dominated the 110m hurdles, tying the world record three times.^[1] After going through 1971 undefeated, including winning the 110m hurdles event at the 1971 Pan-American Games, the Opelousas, Louisiana athlete earned the nickname "Hot Rod", and was awarded the Track and Field News Athlete of the Year Award. At the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich, Milburn won the gold medal in the 110m hurdles, tying the world record of 13.2 seconds, finishing ahead of Guy Drut and Thomas Hill. This time, which was recorded as 13.24 to the hundredth of a second, would become the first fully automatic time ratified as a record in the event when those times were mandated from 1977.^[1]

Milburn hoped for an Olympic comeback in 1980, but was ruled ineligible to compete at the United States Olympic Track and Field Trials for having previously competed as a professional.

Later life

Milburn spent some time coaching young athletes at Southern University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, but often found himself without a job. The "Hot Rod's" life went quickly downhill, and he ended up in a homeless shelter. Milburn died after being overcome by sodium chlorate fumes while working at a paper plant in Port Hudson, Louisiana.

His death came as a huge shock to a track and field community that vividly remembered his achievements on the track.

See also

• Olympic medalists in athletics

References

• Profile

Records
Preceded by Willie Davenport	Men's 110m Hurdles World Record Holder September 2, 1972 — August 21, 1977	Succeeded by Alejandro Casanas
Awards and achievements
Preceded by Randy Matson	Track & Field Athlete of the Year 1971	Succeeded by Lasse Virén
Sporting positions
Preceded by Thomas Hill	Men's 110m Hurdles Best Year Performance 1971 — 1973	Succeeded by Guy Drut