Arnie Sowell
Encyclopedia
Arnold M. Sowell (born April 6, 1935 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
) is a former middle distance runner
from the United States
, who represented his native country at the 1956 Summer Olympics
in Melbourne, Australia. He is best known for winning the gold medal in the men's 800 metres event during the 1955 Pan American Games
in Mexico City
. Sowell also set the world indoor record for the 880-yard run in 1957.
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh is the second-largest city in the US Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Allegheny County. Regionally, it anchors the largest urban area of Appalachia and the Ohio River Valley, and nationally, it is the 22nd-largest urban area in the United States...
) is a former middle distance runner
Running
Running is a means of terrestrial locomotion allowing humans and other animals to move rapidly on foot. It is simply defined in athletics terms as a gait in which at regular points during the running cycle both feet are off the ground...
from the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, who represented his native country at the 1956 Summer Olympics
1956 Summer Olympics
The 1956 Melbourne Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XVI Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was held in Melbourne, Australia, in 1956, with the exception of the equestrian events, which could not be held in Australia due to quarantine regulations...
in Melbourne, Australia. He is best known for winning the gold medal in the men's 800 metres event during the 1955 Pan American Games
1955 Pan American Games
The 2nd Pan American Games opened on March 12, 1955 in the University Stadium in Mexico City, Mexico, in front of a capacity crowd of 100,000 spectators....
in Mexico City
Mexico City
Mexico City is the Federal District , capital of Mexico and seat of the federal powers of the Mexican Union. It is a federal entity within Mexico which is not part of any one of the 31 Mexican states but belongs to the federation as a whole...
. Sowell also set the world indoor record for the 880-yard run in 1957.