Simeon "Sim" Garland Iness was an American discus thrower who won a gold medal at the 1952 Olympics, breaking the Olympic record several times in the process. The next year he set a new world record at 57.93 m.

•Born: Jul 09, 1930, · Keota, OK

•Died: May 23, 1996, · Porterville, CA

•Height: 6 feet 6 inches (same as John Naber)

•Movies: Lady Godiva of Coventry

•Education: University of Southern California

Timeline

1934:As a child of sharecroppers, in 1934 his family left Oklahoma due to the onset of the dust bowl and moved to the small San Joaquin Valley town of Tulare, California.

1952:He then transferred to the University of Southern California where he won the NCAA discus championship in 1952 and 1953.

1952:Iness competed for the United States in the 1952 Summer Olympics held in Helsinki, Finland, where he won the gold medal with a throw of 55.03 m.

1953:He set the discus world's record on June 28, 1953, in Lincoln, Nebraska at 57.93 m, being the first man to throw over 190 feet.

1991:Biographical interview with Iness in 1991

1996:Sim Iness died on May 23, 1996, in Porterville, United States.