Fordham Track Great Tom Courtney to Be Honored at the New York Athletic Club

Former Olympic Gold Medalist to be Honored on Thursday

Jan. 26, 2011


New York, N.Y. - Fordham track great Tom Courtney (FCRH '55) will be honored at "Millrose Olympians Night" on Thursday, January 27th, at the New York Athletic Club in Manhattan.

Courtney, who is among the greatest track athletes Fordham ever produced, will be honored along with eight other Olympic Gold medalists in track & field. All honorees have competed in the Millrose Games, which takes place on Friday, January 28th, at Madison Square Garden.

While at Fordham, Courtney was on the two-mile team, which set the World Record in California in 1954. The next year, he graced the cover of Sports Illustrated in his Fordham gear.



Tom Courtney crosses the finish line to win the gold medal at the 1956 Olympics in Melbourne, Australia.


After graduating from Fordham, Courtney made the Olympic team and won the gold medal and set a world record in the 800 meter run at the 1956 Olympics in Melbourne, Australia. He went on to set many other world records in 1956 and 1957 before retiring from competition. He later became assistant track coach at Harvard for one year before obtaining his M.B.A. from Harvard Business. Courtney was inducted into the Fordham Athletics Hall of Fame in 1971 as a part of the inaugural class.
Fellow alumnus, Norbert Sander, M.D., (FCRH '64), will host the reception along with officers from the New York Athletic Club.

A significant contingent of one of Fordham's greatest Track & Field squads, Classes 1963-65, will hold a reunion at the 104th edition of the Millrose Games at the Garden on Friday night to celebrate Fordham's rich history of success at these historic Games.

Special Thanks to Gina Vergel for her help.


Courtesy Fordham