---
title: "Who was the first Black to get Olympics medal in Athletics?"  
description: "Who was the first Black to get Olympics medal in Athletics?"  
author: "ASHUTOSH PANDEY"  
published: 2018-09-05  
canonical: https://answers.mindstick.com/qa/49630/who-was-the-first-black-to-get-olympics-medal-in-athletics  
category: "sports"  
reading_time: 1 minute  

---

# Who was the first Black to get Olympics medal in Athletics?

Who was the first [Black](https://www.mindstick.com/articles/300145/women-designers-leather-jackets) to get Olympics medal in [Athletics](https://answers.mindstick.com/qa/35701/when-was-amateur-athletics-federation-of-india-established)?

## Answers

### Answer by UTKARSHA SINGHROUL

**John Baxter Taylor Jr.** was the first black to get Olympics [Medal](https://answers.mindstick.com/qa/39596/who-became-the-first-indian-to-win-an-international-medal-in-skiing) in Athletics. He was born on **November 3, 1882**, at **Washington D.C**. John Baxter represented **United States (U.S.)** in **Men’s Medley Relay** and won **Gold medal** in **1908 London Olympics.**

![Who was the first Black to get Olympics medal in Athletics?](https://answers.mindstick.com/QuestionAnswer/6f63c12a-0716-48e0-aab4-ae20a4f3f0c3/images/4565d697-7d05-4014-996a-fdac2426edb0.jpeg)**\**

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He ran the third leg, performing the 400 meters. John Baxter followed **William Hamilton** and **Nate Cartmell**, from the [University](https://answers.mindstick.com/qa/44761/how-can-i-apply-to-new-york-university-nyu) of Pennsylvania and **Mel Shephard** from Brown Preparatory School. His split for the final was **49.8 sec**. for this New York Times called him **“The World’s Greatest Negro Runner”**.After returning from the [Olympics](https://answers.mindstick.com/qa/40160/how-many-countries-are-taking-part-in-the-olympics) Games, [London](https://answers.mindstick.com/qa/43818/how-can-i-apply-to-ucl-university-college-london) in less than 5 months, he **died of Typhoid fever** on **October 2, 1908**, at the age of **26**.\


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Original Source: https://answers.mindstick.com/qa/49630/who-was-the-first-black-to-get-olympics-medal-in-athletics

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