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Tom Brokaw interviews Olympian Billy Mills
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- čas přidán 19. 08. 2024
- Billy Mills, a Native American of the Oglala Lakota Tribe, took gold in the 10,000 meter run in the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, overcoming impossible odds, and attributing his win to destiny.
I'm Native American, Navajo Tribe. I remember Billy Mills come to our high school on our tribal reservation. He spoke at our school assembly. He showed us the clip of his victory of his 1964 Olympic Gold in the 10,000 meter. His story and inspirational speech never gets old. I was so inspired by Billy Mills I became a long distance runner myself in high school. And I ran a 4:48 in mile at Arizona 2A track meet. I ran my fastest in my life. I came in fourth place in the field of a bunch of runners. Billy Mills was my inspiration as a runner. I ran track and cross country back in my high school days. Billy Mills inspirational speech gave me the strength to be proud of my heritage. We Native American people of all tribes in the United States love Billy Mills. He's awesome! His story never gets old. Many Native American people in America Rose from impoverish life and succeeded in education, sports, and leadership. Billy Mills inspirational story will forever stay in our minds, and future generations of native Americans will continue to be inspired.
Thank you for your post, Mr. Deal. I honor you as a Native American and a runner. You and your perspective are valuable. A 4:48 mile is lightning fast, and few attain it.
I know it’s 3 years ago, but I want to salute a great post.
4:48 minute mile! Wow!!! Beautiful story. Thanks for sharing! Mills inspired me when I ran my marathons. He did, as a matter of fact, run the Tokyo Olympic marathon about a week after striking gold at the 10,000-meters.
Jim Thorpe also. Ira Hayes is on the Iwo Jima memorial.
Fo Fotey Eight is fast
That German runner that cleared the path when he saw Billy charging was awesome. 100% pure sportsmanship at it's finest. 🎖
well, lol, because they lapped him, would be pointless to do otherwise
God bless him, such sportsmanship and selflessness.❤
Billy Mills was our neighbor when we moved to San Diego in 1968. He and his wife Pat lived less then a block from Lake Murray. We all were so impressed to have this man who had won the Gold medal for the 10,000 meter in the Olympics just 4 years earlier as our neighbor (my sister use to baby sit regularly for them). I remember seeing him many times running by our house on his way to the lake for his run for the day. Whenever possible I would yell: “Hey Mr. Mills, how far are you gonna to run today?” He would often reply: “Oh, not too far, just an easy seven or eight.” Sometimes he said he was going to run “10 or so.” Me and my friends were always utterly flabbergasted that anyone could run that far. He was a hero to all the boys in the neighborhood. He was always so nice to all the kids in the neighborhood and I still have and cherish his autograph. I never grow tired of watching the video of his win in Tokyo. I get excited and feel such admiration with each viewing. He was such quality person.
Thanks for sharing your first-hand experience that helps us appreciate Mr. Mills even more. He must have enjoyed running in addition to being good at it. Think of the self discipline.
Comanche
@@RalphIrvine Billy is Lakota
@@dreamcatcher5502 ..referring to Comanche as baddest of the Plains Indians
I met Mr. Mills on the reservation in northern MN. He signed a card I had with his 1964 winning picture in Tokyo. Such a sweet, humble man, what an honor and privilege to have met him. Thank you, Sir!!!!!❤🇺🇲🥇👊
One of the most inspirational moments in sports history. After running over 6 miles, Mills ran the last 100 meters in 10.38 seconds. Amazing!
He had a running start on that 100m! 🎉😂❤
@@TheOsfania Yep...he also had 5.97 miles on those legs and lungs.
So interesting. My thought watching him run those last meters is that he looked just like Bob Hayes anchoring the 4 x 100 that same year.
This is my favorite Olympic story. A Native American who persevered and won a gold medal against all odds. Billy Mills is an inspiration.
When I was a child I was lucky enough to listen to Mr. Mills in person a few times. After hearing his calming voice and inspiring words I felt like I could run through walls. While in H.S. I met him again as a decent runner he pulled me aside and said "push as hard as you can, we are all proud of you". From there I worked harder but more importantly recruited more Natives to run with me. He is a inspiration for all peoples of the world.
Thank you so much for your comment, Reymundo
@@Dtruthseek Thank you sharing this true American come back story. At these times it is nice to see uplifting stories.👏🏽👏🏽👍🏽
@@reymundodiaz6587 Amen to that! Mills didn't give up!
To me, this is still the greatest finish to any track race I’ve ever seen in my life. Billy Mills. What an inspiring story his whole life has been.
Love this story. I've watched the movie many times. We drove through his tribal hometown in fall '22. I imagine running lots of lonely miles out there with the wind blowing and eagles soaring
The loneliness of a long distance runner, but we can invite God / Jesus along on the run
I found in a different one of Mr. Mills’ interviews that the steps that his Dad told him to follow in order to someday have wings of an eagle were to “Look beyond the hurt, the hate, the self-pity all of those emotions will destroy you. Look deeper and way down deeper where the dreams lie son/sad (I couldn’t make out exactly what the last word was). Find your dream. Its the pursuit of a dream that heals broken souls.”
Thanks for your comment, it's a good one. Looking beyond those things that drag us down...
Can't believe I've never heard of this guy, as a Cree from Mistawasis First Nation,( up in Saskatchewan) this brought tears to my eyes.
Over and over again, I watch Billy Mills' story and no matter how many times I witness this story, I still remain in awe. My goose bumps are real. It is 2018 and yet I still remain in awe of what he accomplished and what he stands for. HOPE. Hope, graciousness among discouragement, honor among dishonor, hope beyond despair, and wings of an eagle. I remain hopeful that passion has it's own destiny!
Thanks for your heartfelt comment :)
PERFECTLY said. He's a hero.
Same here. 👍
funny, i just showed it to someone on here yesterday, the guy hadnt seen it or knew about it cos hes younger. he jumped with joy when Billy came up from behind and kept going into finish!
I was the fastest runner in my elementary school, i wish I had found cousin Billy to learn I could have done things with those blue ribbons other than letting my well-meaning grandmother throw them in the trash while scolding me for not getting straight A's in school. Been great to learn about my heritage on my biological mothers side. I was raised by my dad and paternal grandparents. Hey, Cuz, Billy, if you see my comment, please respond. I am SO proud of you. Semper fi! Idk why my daughter, who my aunt, your closer cousin says looks like Pocahontas, chose to go into the marine corps for 12 years. went to school on her G.I. bill & now saves Covid patients in Southern California. We have a great heritage. so glad we all, including cousin Jared Young, found each other.
I remember hearing the story when the buss was taking all of the 10,000m runners from the village to the track and they were all trying to guess who would win. Somebody asked Billy who he thought would win and he replied I think I can win. Everybody laughed come on Billy who really. An amazing athlete with an amazing life story.
Good comment
I think I can win. and there you have it.. this guy was big on visualization. nothing negative all positive. He visualized himself winning over and over in his mind and then did it
Billy Mills was a driven man who trained so hard prior to Tokyo that he was DETERMINED to win. He won by running 50 seconds faster than he had ever previously run at the 10,000 meter distance.
Thank you Billy Mills for your inspiration!! I remember that race as a young man, wow, what a finish!!!!
Amazing feat.
I believe his PR was 2:30 slower.
What a great story. Whenever he talks he sounds enlightened and spiritual. The world needs more of his type.
When I joined the cross country team in high school, my mom bought me a copy of Running Brave for inspiration
Your Mom sounds like a cool person
Still one of my favorite men to watch run! OLYMPIC CHAMPION Billy Mills!
Thank you for your comment, John. I felt something supernatural in his win. Mills certainly had been dealt challenging cards in life with the passing of his Mom and encountering racism. I apologize for the poor quality of the recording. I thought it was important to get his story out there. Also felt Tom Brokaw interviewed him well.
Dan McKinnon Thank you. I just found a commemorative brass belt buckle in items of my deceased sister. I wanted to learn about him. Thanks for this!
You're welcome, Ms. Lanter. I'm sorry for your loss.
We all love you Billy and Family. 💖
This guy is an absolute inspiration! I've seen the race before but had never heard his story. Gives me chills.
@@Dtruthseek Yes, forgive the terminology I initially used as it was absolutely intended as a compliment. The accomplishment and the story are absolutely awesome, and thank you for posting it.
@@akarilotube I took out my comment in light of your edit. Appreciate you, man :)
Thanks for Sharing this remarkable story for a generation that 99% know nothing about. I'm 67 and his story is still inspiring to me
I didn't do much! Just recorded it (on VHS tape? I forget, I think in 2004) I displayed on the tv and reshot using digital camera and uploaded. Poor quality on my part but the story gets out there, which as you say is the point. I couldn't find a better copy in the online NBC VOD archives, so I'm hoping my poor quality one isn't the only copy left. NBC has got to have it somewhere...
One of the most awe-inspiring races in Olympic history.
This man deserves a statue in his honor.
Sifu Slim tells below about the racism that plagued Mills in his life. Yes, a statue for his achievements, and even more acclaim for achieving them in such adversity.
love ya billy....this video never gets old
I watched this interview live and recorded it on my VCR. I’ve been trying to find it online for years now. Thanks for uploading it!
I really apologize for the poor quality. I recorded it during the 2004 Summer Olympics on my vcr also. I converted that to DVD using questionable software, then played it on my tv and shot it with a decent Canon digital camera and uploaded it. (You can see me walking around in the bg. My bad) Great story, great men. Also love Jim Lampley as a sports commentator, but don't see him much anymore.
Damn, I just love these great moments in life. One thing I have learned in life is that you get back at doubters and those holding you back by achieving the so called impossible, not by hurting yourself.
This is a great story..thank you Mr. Mills !!! and thank you to those who made this report possible and the sharing on CZcams..
Incredible person and performance. Very inspirational.
Such an EMBARRASSMENT that the Jenner monster is more famous than this guy. This is what an American hero looks like. Guy screaming "Look at Mills, Look at Mills!!!" deserved a medal too. Instead, he was fired. Don't even know his name, but that's the best dam commentary I've ever heard.
clevelandcbi: Agreed. I always complain about U.S. commentators in track and field. How ironic that THIS was the best commentary I ever heard. No BS and straight from the heart, and he was fired.
I posted this video because it was very inspirational to me, all of it. Your positive comment about Mills is framed by your negative comment about someone else. To me that is unnecessary, distracting and takes away from what is important here. Philippians 4:8
His name is Dick Bank
The announcer who started screaming it’s Mills It’s Mills was Dick Bank. Dick was not the announcer, he was the track expert who was supposed to provide the information to the announcers. I never saw Dick express any emotion but this one time, he got so excited that he grabbed the mike and started screaming. One of the great moments in track and field and he made it even more special.
I didn't know that guy was fired. That's ridiculous. He should have been feted for showing his unbridled joy for sport.
One of the greatest stories ever and one if not the greatest races ever ran! I watched the movie with the great Robbie Benson as a boy and as a life long KU fan born in Kansas and a United States Marine Corps veteran. I am so very proud of Billy Mills. He is an American Legend. Semper Fi Mr Mills🙏❤️❤️❤️
That a Native American can survive the Marine Corps, wow. I can't imagine the grit this must have taken...
I have watched "Running Brave" in my high school student.
I respect him !
That was awesome! I cried. Thanks! Good job!
such a graceful Runner amazing win in the Olympics never seen anything like it congrats Billy you can run from behind and when great story
This was Awesome ! One's man journey can be inspirational to others !
Thanks for your positive comment, Jeff. I uploaded it for that very reason.
Ge is an American hero! And a wonderful human being.
He was a great man and runner
So beautiful in many ways , what an amazing story
Billy Mills is my hero
MAY HIS PEOPLE LIVE LONG AND PROSPER
I agree
In 2012 President Obama saw fit award Billy Mills the Presidential Medal of Freedom. That says a lot about both of these men, particularly Billy Mills (of course).
Thanks for your comment Daniel Hurley. Not long ago I heard a report of what it was like for a Black man (a friend of a friend of mine) to experience the inauguration of President Obama. It was proof that people of color are stakeholders in this country, and very moving and transformational for him. For me the most poignant line in this video occurs at about 2:12 when Mr. Mills asks his coach at the U of K (and MIlls honors Mr. Easton just before) "Why are you not addressing these racial issues?" This video has a lot going on. On one level it is about a race. On another, a remarkable story of a nonwhite person who joined the Marines and became an officer, and yet even with that struggled against racism.
I can’t believe it took so long but it was fitting that it came from Obama.
That was such and amazing win.
God bless you billy mills
Olympics,gold medal it was just meant to be😊
Billy saw that eagle when he needed to see that eagle. Inspiring.
And saw his wife when he needed to see his wife.
My grandma went to boarding school with him, Haskell Nation.
Today i learnt his name,Glory for this man
Billy mills courage change my life iwas a distance runner in the 80s and 90s
This just proves that the spirit is so powerful!
Thank you for posting this.
My pleasure. Sorry it's not a better reproduction.
Native American Legend. USA 🇺🇸
Gold 🥇 Olympic 1964
Have yet to find the complete race on video of this 10,000 final. Also never mentioned or seen is the U.S. Olympic trials 10,000 meters. Mills was 2nd and only the first 3 make the team. That is such an important race! It's not in the movie, and of course Tom Brokaw didn't ask him about it.
Thanks for your comment.
Great finish !!
Total Inspiration.
Mills and Brokaw, two South Dakotans. Hoka!
My Dad’s people are South Dakotans
I have fond memories of it
Thanks for pointing this out
Love you Billy!!
Inspiring! Hoop dancers often place their hoops in "Olympic ring" fashion to demonstrate an eagle, he did see the wings of the eagle.....
Interesting 😮
The Marines did what college couldn't.
The psychological impact alone of hearing your three mile time one second off your personal best, and knowing you're only at the midpoint of your race, that alone had to have less than positive effects on his thinking and feelings about the race. THAT is tough, and only distance runners can know what that feeling is like. Am I going to fade and "die"? (have to jog to finish), Am I going to at least make this look like a race? He never says it, but I believe his going through Marine Officer's training had a lot to do with his 'never quit' psyche. Marines never quit and they train that way and drill that 'never quit' attitude into each Marine. I'd like to have heard him speak to that.
Oh, dear Billy! The eagle on the singlet made me cry. I know it was his parents.
BILLY MILLS SHOULD HAVE BEEN THE PRESIDENT of AMERICA. IT's His BIRTH RITE. A VERY HONORARY GREAT MAN
What an amazing life
Yes
Glenn Cunningham, Billy Mills and Jim Ryun were chronologically my running heroes growing up. Billy's 10,000 meter gold at Tokyo was particularly amazing when one considers his 3-mile time (not quite halfway through the race) was within one second of his best 3-mile time! I wonder if anyone has a comparable story at that level of competition?
Yes, when I hear that 3 mile time being within one second of his fastest, well the whole race just becomes supernatural and incomprehensible.
We have Amazon Prime and there's a free documentary named the 41st Day featuring the runner Ryan Hall. Enjoyed that one. I am also a Christian.
When it's meant to be, it's meant to be. I ran my fastest 10k ever in the first half of a 20k race, so when it's your day, it's your day, and you never know when it's going to happen. But when it does, you have to recognize it, trust it, and be bold.
Very beautiful man
Beautiful
That wasn't just good, it was incredible.
Look at Mills! Look at Mills!
Semper Fi Marine.
Mills may not have cried when he told that story, but I did.
Thank you - it is a story that goes back and through much pain and alienation (that we can not comprehend, though Native Americans can)
@@Dtruthseek My pleasure. I'm doing a bunch of work on a native reservation these days-working directly with the people.
Semper Fidelis. Always faithful to God, Country, and the Marine Corps. Run the race so as to win the prize. Putting behind all things, to I keep my eyes on Jesus Christ, in whom my faith is founded. Have you been born again? If not, call on the name of the Lord and be saved.
A very handsome man!
I met him in 1998. I was 13 yr old. I wish I coulda learned better
Running Brave movie taught me… that anything can happen when you run your race.
Surprising mysticism
Very astute comment.
I'm sure Mr. Mills would agree.
Why don’t we have North American Native Indian Month each year to celebrate this rich heritage? We have black history month, but I feel that Native Americans have and deserve a Month to celebrate their heritage. Should have a dedicated month for Asians, Latinos and Whites as well, since blacks are promoting DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion) all the time.
And he won in Tokyo who are related to the American Indian though separated perhaps by 400-700 generations!
Billy was a guy who had to figure out how to show people while understanding not everyone in the white world was against him
What Mills did was capture an event no US runner had EVER medaled in before. The 10,000m(6.2 mile)race is a test of both strength and speed as the runner must complete 24.5 laps around a 400m track. Think about doing that when it's time to repeat a task.
The reflection off the tv though….
You make a good point. I thought I put it in the notes below the video-I just checked and didn’t find it-but I did apologize for that, probably in the comments when there were just a few years ago.
It’s pretty bad. I think I taped it off the live broadcast onto vhs in 2004, and not sure I have the cassette any more. But hopefully the content of the video will carry the day.
I also spent a few minutes searching for this interview on the NBC video-on-demand website the other day when I first saw your comment. Couldn’t find it, but maybe I didn’t look right. (seems like it would be a good one for them to include, and the quality would be great on that)
One of the most inspirational moments in Olympic history, when a "total unknown" wins the gold medal in a fast race. Four years earlier, Abebe Bikila running barefoot, won the marathon in Rome. Listen to the commentary of the last few seconds of this race. The TV commentators - really totally ignorant on track and field matters - are essentially asleep at the mic. It is Dick Bank, a real expert on track and field and a "guest commentator", who starts screaming "Look at Mills, look at Mills", and chortles with delight, when Mills breasts the tape. The TV executives and commentators, were very upset with Bank for "stealing their thunder" and took action against him. The dunces US TV still uses generally as race commentators (Bolden, Goucher and M. Johnson are exceptions); topped, I hear now, by getting Snoop Dogg to light the flame in Paris!
An Indian
Deserving of much honor
Who’s here from TikTok?
Mills was a great runner and champion. However, I don't believe for one second that he dropped out of races to be defiant - that makes no sense. He probably went out too hard and wasn't mentally ready to accept defeat at that time
Thank you for your comment, ConcernedCitizen5514, and for honoring Mr. Mills. That's a part of the interview where Brokaw is on one track and Mills is trying to articulate a complex thing. A couple of other things that have occurred to me recently: a native American who was First Lieutenant in the Marine Corps in the 1960s was probably not that common. Also, his size. Wikipedia says he was 5'11" and 150 lbs but in some photos he looks like he weighed more than that, which seems a lot compared to most distance runners. (I could be wrong on that.) (I just read parts of Mills' Wikipedia entry; he and Clarke ran the marathon after the 10K.)
In our 3-hour interview at his home, he told me he had a condition that was misdiagnosed. He suffered from hypoglycemia, borderline diabetes. Some of his coaches and physicians made the determination that he was suffering from mental issues, such as depression. True. But it's likely that the depression and hypoglycemia were in a vicious circle in which one reinforced or was causal to the other. Medically, hypoglycemia can be treated.
Though, it's not easy to remedy hypoglycemia for an endurance athlete.
Billy tells a more complete version of this story and the apple he ate before the Olympic final in his chapter which is featured in my second book--The Aging Athlete.
In Aloha,
Sifu Slim, author
TheAgingAthlete.com
Could you expound on your inference? Are you suggesting that it was rare for 10,000m runners to be as large as was Mills during his race?
You read the other info on Wikipedia:
Mills later set U.S. records for 10,000 m (28:17.6) and the three-mile run, and had a 5,000 m best of 13:41.4. In 1965, he and Gerry Lindgren both broke the world record for the six-mile run when they finished in a tie at the AAU National Championships, running 27:11.6.[9]
So, after the Olympics, his size didn't restrict him from breaking the U.S. 10,000m record and again improving his time.
He suffered horribly from racism. He was called "half-breed" by both Native Americans and by whites. One of his grandparents was Caucasian. The '50s and '60s were known for brutal offenses of this sort.
From
glascockrealestate.com/blog//billy-mills
"As a runner at his University, Billy says he was often asked to step out of the shot during group photo shoots. He quickly realized it was due to his Lakota heritage, adding yet another instance of racism for him to grapple with."
When the other members of the running team were given their running shoes in Tokyo, Billy was basically told to move on... that he was not getting any. He was told he would not receive any and this stance was taken due to the fact he was a Native American. Pretty brutal, eh?
Aloha,
Sifu
TheAgingAthlete.com
@@SifuSlimVideos Can't really expound on it. Just a perception I had. I'm far from an expert, and noted that I could be wrong.