Jud Logan

Judson Campbell Logan (July 19, 1959 – January 3, 2022) was an American athlete. He won a gold medal in the hammer throw at the 1987 Pan American Games in Indianapolis. Logan competed in four Summer Olympics, starting in 1984. His best finish was 13th in the qualifying round in 1984.[1][2]

Biography[edit]

Logan had bests of 49-11 (SP) and 171-11 (DT) in high school, but did not qualify for the state meet. He is quoted of saying, "And I made it to four Olympics. That's what I tell kids now: never give up on your dreams."

He played Tight end in high school football and attended Kent State University playing football for two and a half seasons. He was but a walk-on to the track team and was known to give his medals away to children who watch the competition, saying "I'm not into collecting or saving medals. Maybe it will mean more to them than it will to me. But it makes me feel good."

He was for a time, the oldest top-level U.S. track star. After turning 40 in 1999, Logan was still determined to continue throwing.

"I'm going to keep throwing until there are three guys who can keep me off the Olympic team. As long as I can make the A standards for the Worlds and Olympics, and keep making teams, I'm going to keep doing it." Following that statement he made his fourth Olympic team and threw in the 2000 Summer Olympics. He had continued throwing into the Masters division, setting the world M50 record in 2009.[3]

Later life[edit]

Logan resided in Ashland, Ohio,[4] where he coached the Ashland University track team. He became head coach in 2004 and was named Indoor Men's Coach of the Year in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference in 2008–2009.[5]

He died from complications of COVID-19 in Ashland, on January 3, 2022, at age 62. He was also being treated for leukemia for the two years prior to his death.[6][7]

Achievements[edit]

Year Competition Venue Position Notes
Representing the  United States
1984 Olympic Games Los Angeles, United States 13th 71.18 m
1986 Goodwill Games Moscow, Soviet Union 7th 74.78 m
1987 Pan American Games Indianapolis, United States 1st 77.24 m
World Championships Rome, Italy 14th 74.80 m
1988 Olympic Games Seoul, South Korea 19th 72.64 m
1991 Pan American Games Havana, Cuba 2nd 70.32 m
World Championships Tokyo, Japan 19th 70.04 m
1992 Olympic Games Barcelona, Spain DQ
1997 World Championships Athens, Greece 25th 71.92 m
2000 Olympic Games Sydney, Australia 39th 68.42 m

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Jud Logan Bio, Stats, and Results". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Archived from the original on 2020-04-18.
  2. ^ Janosky, Mike (1992-08-09). BARCELONA; U.S. Female Shot-Putter Banned After Drug Test. New York Times. Retrieved on 2010-10-10.
  3. ^ "Masterstrack.com » Jud Logan destroys M50 world records in hammer, WT". Archived from the original on 2010-11-26. Retrieved 2010-09-12.
  4. ^ "Jod Logan". USA Track & Field. 2001-01-24. Retrieved 2007-10-01.
  5. ^ "Ashland's Jud Logan and Grand Valley State's Jerry Baltes Named USTFCCCA D-II Men's and Women's Indoor Track & Field"Coaches of the Year,". Coach Logan lived by his saying "Yep", which he coined in the early 80's.Respectively". gliac.org. 12 March 2009.
  6. ^ "Four-time Olympian and North Canton native Jud Logan remembered for his impact as both a coach and athlete". The Repository. 3 January 2022. Retrieved 3 January 2022.
  7. ^ "Four-time U.S. Olympic hammer thrower Jud Logan dead at 62". Associated Press. 2022-01-04. Retrieved 2022-01-04.