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John Rambo (athlete)

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John Rambo
John Thomas, Valeriy Brumel and John Rambo at the 1964 Olympics
Personal information
Born(1943-08-09)August 9, 1943
Atlanta, Texas, U.S.
DiedJanuary 8, 2022(2022-01-08) (aged 78)
Paramount, California, U.S.
Height2.00 m (6 ft 7 in)
Weight86 kg (190 lb)
Sport
SportAthletics
EventHigh jump
ClubSouthern California Striders, Anaheim
Achievements and titles
Personal best2.21 m (1967)
Medal record
Representing  United States
Olympic Games
Bronze medal – third place 1964 Tokyo High jump
John Rambo, Olympic bronze medalist, 1964 Tokyo Games
John Rambo, Olympic bronze medalist, 1964 Tokyo Games

John Barnett Rambo (August 9, 1943 – January 8, 2022) was an American professional basketball player and high jumper, who won a bronze medal in the 1964 Tokyo[1] Olympic Games.[2]

Basketball career

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Rambo at Long Beach Polytechnic High School, playing against Lakewood

Rambo graduated from Long Beach Polytechnic High School in 1961.[3] While studying history at California State University (CSULB), also known as Long Beach State, Rambo played on the 49ers basketball team, averaging 19.8 points and 11 rebounds per game for two years. He was the California Collegiate Athletic Association first-team all-star choice in 1963-64 and 1964–65. He scored 20.3 points per game and 12.7 rebounds per game. Against San Diego, Rambo scored 42 points and had 31 rebounds.[4]

In 1964, the year of his graduation, Rambo was a two-time NCAA High Jump Champion and won an Olympic bronze medal in the Tokyo Games.

In 1965, Rambo was drafted in the sixth round by the St. Louis Hawks of the NBA,[5] but never actually played. Then injuries forced him from the professional basketball court for several seasons.[2]

Athletic career

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In 1967, as a member of the Southern California Striders Track and Field Club, Rambo became a two-time Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) Indoor Champion in 1967 and 1969.[6]

In 1967 Rambo was chosen AAU Alumnus of the Year. His tie for the fourth place at the 1968 Olympic trials did not secure him a place on the U.S. Olympic team. On February 13, 1969, the Coronado Eagle and Journal reported, “Rambo is a co-holder of the American indoor record of 7-3 and always a colorful performer. He almost made the Rockets basketball team last year, being the last man cut.”[7]

In 1971, Rambo was named one of the National Jaycees' "Outstanding Young Men in America." Rambo was inducted into the California State University, Long Beach, Sports Hall of Fame in 1986.[8] In 2002, Rambo was inducted into the Long Beach City College Hall of Champions.[9] In 2006, the Century Club honored him for providing "One of the Best Moments in the City of Long Beach History."

Personal life

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Rambo was divorced and had four children.[10] He died from a heart attack in Paramount, California, on January 8, 2022, at the age of 78.[11][12]

References

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  1. ^ "Olympic medalist John Rambo to speak Saturday at Burnett Library • Long Beach Post Sports".
  2. ^ a b John Rambo Archived August 13, 2009, at the Wayback Machine. Sports-reference.com.
  3. ^ Krikorian, Doug (June 24, 2009). "Long Beach's Rambo is the real deal". Daily News.
  4. ^ "Men For All Seasons: Hardwood Handles Variety of Versatile Athletes". collegehoopedia.com.
  5. ^ "John Rambo Player Profile, Long Beach State, NCAA Stats, Awards - RealGM".
  6. ^ "Once Upon a Time in the Vest". onceuponatimeinthevest.blogspot.com.
  7. ^ Coronado Eagle and Journal, Volume 56 Number 7
  8. ^ "John Rambo (1986) - Hall of Fame". Long Beach State University Athletics.
  9. ^ "Athletics: LBCC Hall of Champions to welcome Class of 2012 on March 23". March 16, 2012.
  10. ^ "KRIKORIAN: Long Beach's Rambo is the real deal". Los Angeles Daily News. June 24, 2009.
  11. ^ Lopez, Julian A. (January 13, 2022). "Obituary: John Rambo Leaves Long Legacy". The 562. Retrieved January 22, 2022.
  12. ^ Archbold, Rich (January 16, 2022). "Legendary John Rambo, an Olympian and hero to many Long Beach kids, dies at 78". Press Telegraph. Retrieved January 22, 2022.
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