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Robert Bruce Mathias was born in Tulare, California and took up the decathlon at the suggestion of his coach, Virgil Jackson, at Tulare High School early in 1948. During the summer, he qualified for the United States Olympic team for the 1948 Summer Olympics held in London.
In the Olympics, Mathias' naivete for the decathlon was exposed. He was unaware of the rules in the shot put and nearly fouled out of the event. He almost failed in the high jump but was able to recover. Mathias overcame his difficulties and won the Olympic gold medal easily. He was the youngest gold medalist to win a track and field event.