President Trump presents the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Jim Ryun at the White House.
Photo: Alex Brandon/Associated PressWASHINGTON—President Trump presented the Presidential Medal of Freedom to legendary runner and former Kansas congressman Jim Ryun, recalling his nickname as the “master of the mile.”
“Jim has personified the greatness of our country throughout his life, whether he was running on a track race, whether he was doing anything there was, running an office, running for office,” Mr. Trump said during a White House ceremony Friday. “He’s a giant of American athletics, a dedicated public servant and a man of charity, generosity and faith.”
Mr. Ryun, 73 years old, is best known as a record-setting middle distance runner, considered by some to be the greatest miler in U.S. history. He was the first high-school athlete to run a mile in under four minutes, set world records in the mile and half mile and won a silver medal in the 1500 meters at the 1968 Olympics.
In announcing the award for Mr. Ryun, the White House called him “one of the most accomplished runners in history.”
A Republican, he later served in the House of Representatives for 10 years, representing Kansas’s 2nd Congressional District.
Mr. Ryun thanked the president and praised his leadership during brief remarks.
“It is one of the greatest honors and privileges of my life to represent this country with the stars and stripes on my chest while racing in the ’60s and ’70s,” he said, thanking Mr. Trump for being a “full-throated champion of this great country.”
After Mr. Trump placed the blue-ribboned medal around his neck, Mr. Ryun told him: “You’re doing a great job, keep it up. We need four more years.”
“Thank you very much,” the president said.
The medal was established in 1963 by President John F. Kennedy. It is considered the nation’s highest civilian honor and is awarded to people “who have made especially meritorious contributions to the security or national interests of the United States, to world peace, or to cultural or other significant public or private endeavors,” according to the White House.
Write to Catherine Lucey at catherine.lucey@wsj.com
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Trump Awards Medal of Freedom to ‘Master of the Mile’ Jim Ryun - The Wall Street Journal
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