Jim Ryun, former Republican Representative from Kansas, speaks throughout a television interview outside the White House in Washington D.C., U.S. on Friday, July 24, 2020. Ryun, a three-time Olympian, will receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Donald Trump today. Photographer: Stefani Reynolds/Bloomberg through Getty Images
” Hes a giant of American athletics and devoted public servant and a male of charity, generosity and faith,” Trump stated in a White House ceremony where Ryun was joined by his household. “Hes an excellent male, actually. Jim, thank you so much for your never-failing dedication to our country.”
Nicknamed the “master of the mile,” Ryun, 73, ended up being the first high school athlete to run a mile in under 4 minutes and was the last American to hold the world record in the mile run. He went on to end up being an Olympic silver medalist before relying on public service as a five-term congressman from Kansas.
” I want we had him now,” Trump said of Ryuns service in the House of Representatives.
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Trumps previous honorees have consisted of conservative radio host Rush Limbaugh, golf player Tiger Woods, previous NBA basketball star Jerry West, previous New York Yankees pitcher Mariano Rivera, car racing leader Roger Penske, Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, and Dr. Miriam Adelson, an Israeli-American benefactor and prominent GOP donor.
Trump honored individuals posthumously, consisting of the late Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, music legend Elvis Presley and baseball terrific Babe Ruth.
The Presidential Medal of Freedom is the nations highest civilian honor. Presidents typically honor Americans who have made exceptional contributions to the security or nationwide interests of the United States, to world peace, or to other or cultural significant public or personal undertakings.
President Trump Friday awarded the Governmental Medal of Liberty to Jim Ryun, a three-time Olympian and previous GOP congressman from Kansas, calling him a “famous runner” and “true American patriot.”
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Jim Ryun applauded Trumps patriotism and presidency.
” In a day and age when numerous think its suitable to dishonor our flag, I will tell you, it is among the biggest honors and privileges of my life to represent this amazing nation and to use the stars and stripes on my chest while racing in the 60s and 70s,” Ryun stated. “There was such pride and love of country, and I can not tell you, Mr. President, how much I value your full-throated promoting of this terrific country.”.
Jim Ryun responds after President Donald Trump provided the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Ryun, in heaven Room of the White House, Friday, July 24, 2020, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon).
” When ESPN ranked the greatest high school professional athletes of all time, all sports, they listed Jim Ryun as number one. Thats not bad for a man who could not make his baseball group,” Trump stated.
After sports, Ryun was a Republican member of Congress from Kansas, serving from 1996 to 2007.
” God, undoubtedly, did show up in a big way,” Ryun said Friday in the White House event.
Ryun discovered distance running and went on to become a world-class athlete and among the most accomplished American runners.
In junior high, Ryun was cut by his churchs baseball team and the junior high basketball group and couldnt even make the junior high track team.
The young Ryun would go to bed every night, wishing assistance.
” Dear God, I d like my life to amount to something,” Ryun stated Friday, recalling the prayer.” I believe you have a strategy for my life. I d really value it.
At the event, Ned honored his papas sincerity, humbleness and integrity and stated he d desire be “half the man that he is.”.
He made the Wichita East High School track group as a sophomore and as a 17-year-old old junior in 1964 he ended up being the very first high schooler to clock a time of 3 minutes and 59 seconds.
” Hes a giant of American sports and dedicated public servant and a male of charity, kindness and faith,” Trump said in a White House event where Ryun was signed up with by his household. Jim, thank you so much for your never-failing dedication to our nation.”
Jim Ryun, former Republican Representative from Kansas, speaks during a tv interview outside the White House in Washington D.C., U.S. on Friday, July 24, 2020. Ryun, a three-time Olympian, will get the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Donald Trump today.” Dear God, I d like my life to amount to something,” Ryun stated Friday, remembering the prayer.
His child, Ned Ryun, has actually been active in politics, too. Hes creator and CEO of American Majority, a group that trains conservative activists.
Ryun went on to complete in the 1964 Olympic Games in Toyoko and break world records for the indoor half-mile and outside mile while at the University of Kansas. He won the silver medal at the 1968 Mexico City Olympic Games and completed in the 1972 Munich Games.
President Donald Trump provides the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Jim Ryun, in the Blue Room of the White House, Friday, July 24, 2020, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon).
Ryun made the cover of Sports Illustrated magazine seven times– all prior to the age of 25.
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For Ryun, his start in sports was a rocky one.
