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Thomas Edward "Eddie" Tolan ( September 29 , 1908 – January 31 , 1967 ) was an American Athlete , winner of two gold medals at the 1932 Summer Olympics . Biography Born in Denver, Colorado , Eddie Tolan, also an American Football player, won Michigan state championships as a high school boy. When he studied at the University Of Michigan , Tolan set a World Record of 9.5s in the 100 Yd dash, which gained him instantaneous fame in his home country. That same year, he also equalled the World Record in the 100 M on numerous occasions. In 1932 , by then winner of several AAU Championships, Tolan qualifies for the 100 m and 200 m in the 1932 Summer Olympics . Ralph Metcalfe beat him twice in the Olympic Trials, however; the finishing order at the Games themselves was the other way round; Tolan set two Olympic Records to win both sprint events. Remarkably, neither Tolan nor Metcalfe was part of the American 4 x 100 m relay team, which nevertheless won that event in a new World Record. After the Games, Tolan quit running, although he did use his talent to run in several professional races later on. Tolan later became a Vaudeville performer and, eventually, a school teacher. He died in Detroit, Michigan at age 58 of a Heart Attack . Tolan was a member of Alpha Phi Alpha , the first intercollegiate Greek-letter Fraternity established for African Americans. {Link without Title} External links |