Milan Tiff
Encyclopedia
Milan Tiff is primarily known for his Triple Jump
ing, but his skills pass through several arenas. He was the Bronze medalist in the 1975 Pan Am Games. At the Pan Am Games, his name shows the additional name of Abdul Rahman, and in the 1976 Olympic Trials
he used the name Caleb Abdul Rahman but he has not gone by that name in other competitions. Tiff was an elite black athlete at UCLA at the same time as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
, in an era when converting to Islam
was happening. By 1980, he was a favorite to win the 1980 Summer Olympics
in Moscow
before the 1980 Summer Olympics boycott.
A childhood victim of Osgood-Schlatter disease
, he did not walk until he was age 8. He went on to become the first American to jump 57 feet while winning his second USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships
. He expected to retire from the sport after the Olympics, but continues to jump in Masters athletics events into his 60s. In 2009, small gust of wind is all that prevented him from equalling the M60 world record.
Growing up in Shaker Heights, Ohio
, set the national high school record for the triple jump in his senior year. He first attended college at Miami University
before switching to UCLA to work with Jim Bush
, where he was a teammate of John Smith
and Dwight Stones
. While there he won the 1973 NCAA Championship in the Triple Jump. Later he joined Bush as an assistant coach He was ranked in the world top ten twice, 1975 and 1977.
A talented painter, he spends many hours working on art. He approaches many other activities with an artistic perspective. Like several athletes of his era he acted in the 1982 movie Personal Best. Later he trained Emilio Estevez
for two of his mid-1990s film roles. He has continued to train athletes at UCLA including many NBA players. In 1991 he wrote a book on his own form of exercise called "Traveling light: an original form of exercise". He was later credited on James Ingram
's album "It's Real" as "giving us the map."
Triple jump
The triple jump is a track and field sport, similar to the long jump, but involving a “hop, bound and jump” routine, whereby the competitor runs down the track and performs a hop, a bound and then a jump into the sand pit.The triple jump has its origins in the Ancient Olympics and has been a...
ing, but his skills pass through several arenas. He was the Bronze medalist in the 1975 Pan Am Games. At the Pan Am Games, his name shows the additional name of Abdul Rahman, and in the 1976 Olympic Trials
United States Olympic Trials (track and field)
The United States Olympic Trials for the sport of Track and Field is the quadrennial meet to select the United States representatives at the Olympic Games. Since 1992, the meet has also served as the USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships. Because of the depth of competition in some events,...
he used the name Caleb Abdul Rahman but he has not gone by that name in other competitions. Tiff was an elite black athlete at UCLA at the same time as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is a retired American professional basketball player. He is the NBA's all-time leading scorer, with 38,387 points. During his career with the NBA's Milwaukee Bucks and Los Angeles Lakers from 1969 to 1989, Abdul-Jabbar won six NBA championships and a record six regular season...
, in an era when converting to Islam
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
was happening. By 1980, he was a favorite to win the 1980 Summer Olympics
1980 Summer Olympics
The 1980 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXII Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event celebrated in Moscow in the Soviet Union. In addition, the yachting events were held in Tallinn, and some of the preliminary matches and the quarter-finals of the football tournament...
in Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
before the 1980 Summer Olympics boycott.
A childhood victim of Osgood-Schlatter disease
Osgood-Schlatter disease
Osgood–Schlatter disease and or syndrome is an irritation of the patellar tendon at the tibial tuberosity....
, he did not walk until he was age 8. He went on to become the first American to jump 57 feet while winning his second USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships
USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships
The USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships is an annual track and field competition organized by USA Track & Field, which serves as the American national championships for the sport...
. He expected to retire from the sport after the Olympics, but continues to jump in Masters athletics events into his 60s. In 2009, small gust of wind is all that prevented him from equalling the M60 world record.
Growing up in Shaker Heights, Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
, set the national high school record for the triple jump in his senior year. He first attended college at Miami University
Miami University
Miami University is a coeducational public research university located in Oxford, Ohio, United States. Founded in 1809, it is the 10th oldest public university in the United States and the second oldest university in Ohio, founded four years after Ohio University. In its 2012 edition, U.S...
before switching to UCLA to work with Jim Bush
Jim Bush
Jim Bush is a National Track and Field Hall of Fame track and field coach. He is known primarily for his coaching tenure at the University of California, Los Angeles from 1965 to 1984...
, where he was a teammate of John Smith
John Smith (athlete)
John Walton Smith is a former American athlete, who competed in the sprints events during his career. He is best known for winning the men's 400 metres event at the 1971 Pan American Games....
and Dwight Stones
Dwight Stones
Dwight Edwin Stones is an American television commentator and a two-time Olympic bronze medalist and former three-time world record holder in the men's high jump. During his 16-year career, he won 19 national championships. In 1984, Stones became the first athlete to both compete and announce at...
. While there he won the 1973 NCAA Championship in the Triple Jump. Later he joined Bush as an assistant coach He was ranked in the world top ten twice, 1975 and 1977.
A talented painter, he spends many hours working on art. He approaches many other activities with an artistic perspective. Like several athletes of his era he acted in the 1982 movie Personal Best. Later he trained Emilio Estevez
Emilio Estevez
Emilio Estevez is an American actor, film director, and writer. He started his career as an actor and is well-known for being a member of the acting Brat Pack of the 1980s, starring in The Breakfast Club and St. Elmo's Fire...
for two of his mid-1990s film roles. He has continued to train athletes at UCLA including many NBA players. In 1991 he wrote a book on his own form of exercise called "Traveling light: an original form of exercise". He was later credited on James Ingram
James Ingram
James Ingram is an American soul musician. He is best known as a vocalist. He is also a self-taught musician who plays piano, guitar, bass, drums and keyboards...
's album "It's Real" as "giving us the map."