The US mourns two-time Olympic gold medallist

The US has bid farewell to Otis Davis, star of the 1960 Rome Olympics. Davis died at the age of 92.

Davis’ passing was announced by the Oregon Ducks athletic program, where Davis had spent his collegiate career.

Davis was a key figure for the United States at the 1960 Rome Olympics, where he ran in both the 400m and 4x400m, winning gold medals in both events.

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Davis’ medals were made if more impressive by the fact that he broke two world records in the process. His individual time of 44.9 was the first 400m ever run sub-45 seconds, per The Daily Mail.

Davis was honored by his alma mater, the University of Oregon, following the end of his collegiate career by having his image added to the tower near Oregon’s track and field stadium, Hayward Field.

Davis’ achievements are remarkable given the circumstances of his birth. Born in Tuscaloosa, Alabama in 1932, Davis was unable to race for his hometown University of Alabama due to ongoing racial segregation.

When Davis was honored by the University of Oregon, he told the school’s website, “Segregation, it didn't stop me, because I always believed I could be something.”

Before his athletic career began in earnest, Davis spent four years as part of the US military, fighting in the Korean War.

Davis’ impact on US athletics was such that he was honored during the 1996 Atlanta Olympics after he was asked to be the torchbearer during the opening ceremony.

So far, there has been no reports of a cause of death for Davis.

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