History of Jim Ryun in Timeline

"Jim" Ryun is a former American politician and Olympic track and field athlete. During his athletic career, he was considered the world's best middle-distance runner, winning a silver medal in the 1500 meters at the 1968 Olympics. He was the first high school athlete to run a mile in under four minutes, and he holds the distinction of being the last American to hold the world record for that distance. Following his athletic career, Ryun served as a U.S. Representative for Kansas from 1996 to 2007."

April 29, 1947: Birth of Jim Ryun

James Ronald Ryun was born on April 29, 1947. He went on to become a renowned Olympic athlete and politician.

1964: First High School Sub-Four-Minute Mile

As a junior at Wichita East High School, Jim Ryun made history on this date in 1964 by becoming the first high school athlete to run a mile in under four minutes, clocking in at 3:59.0 during the California Relays.

1964: Youngest American Male Track Olympian

At just 17 years and 137 days old, Jim Ryun participated in the 1964 Summer Olympics, becoming the youngest American male track athlete to ever qualify for the Games.

June 27, 1965: American Record for the Mile

Jim Ryun broke the American record for the mile on June 27, 1965, with a time of 3:55.3, while he was a high school senior.

1965: High School and National Records

In 1965, while still a high school student, Jim Ryun set a high school record in the mile run with a time of 3:55.3, a record that remained unbroken for 36 years. That year, he also achieved the distinction of being the first high school athlete to run a sub-four-minute mile in a high school competition.

June 4, 1966: American Record for the Mile

Jim Ryun, as a college freshman, achieved a new American record for the mile with a time of 3:53.7 on June 4, 1966.

July 17, 1966: American Record for the Mile

On July 17, 1966, Jim Ryun broke his own American record for the mile, clocking in at an impressive 3:51.3 during his freshman year of college.

1966: World Records and Accolades

1966 marked a year of significant achievement for Jim Ryun, as he set two world records, one in the half-mile (1:44.9) and the other in the mile (3:51.3). This outstanding performance earned him numerous awards, including the prestigious "Sportsman of the Year" award from Sports Illustrated magazine.

June 23, 1967: American Record for the Mile

Jim Ryun continued his record-breaking streak in the mile, setting a new American record of 3:51.1 on June 23, 1967, during his sophomore year in college.

July 1967: World Record in 1,500 Meters

Jim Ryun delivered an exceptional performance at the United States vs. British Commonwealth meet in July 1967, setting a world record in the 1,500 meters at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. His remarkable finishing drive, covering the last 440 yards in 53.9 seconds, was particularly noteworthy.

1967: World Records in Multiple Distances

Jim Ryun set multiple world records in 1967, including the indoor half mile (1:48.3), the outdoor mile (3:51.1), and the 1,500 meters (3:33.1).

1968: Olympic Silver Medal

In 1968, Jim Ryun won a silver medal in the 1500 meters at the Summer Olympics in Mexico City.

1968: NCAA Indoor Mile Champion

Jim Ryun won the NCAA indoor mile championship in 1968.

1969: NCAA Indoor Mile Champion

Jim Ryun continued his winning streak by again clinching the NCAA indoor mile championship title in 1969.

1969: Marriage to Anne

Jim Ryun married Anne in 1969. They had met when Anne, impressed by his world record-breaking performance in the mile, requested his autograph in Berkeley.

1970: Graduation and Move to Eugene

Upon graduating from the University of Kansas with a degree in photojournalism in 1970, Jim Ryun relocated to Eugene, Oregon, in search of a suitable training environment to further his track career.

1972: Fall During Olympic Qualifying Heat

During the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich, Germany, Jim Ryun's Olympic run was cut short when he was tripped and fell during a 1,500-meter qualifying heat.

1972: Final Amateur Season

Jim Ryun's final season as an amateur athlete was in 1972, a year that saw him achieve the third-best mile of his career, a personal best in the 5,000 meters, and a victory in the 1,500 meters at the U.S. Olympic Trials.

1973: Hosting Running Camps

Since 1973, Jim Ryun, along with his family, has been organizing and hosting running camps every summer, providing guidance and support to promising high school runners.

1973: Endangered Species Act

The Endangered Species Act of 1973 was one of the issues considered by the REP in their scorecard. Ryun's stance on this particular issue contributed to his low score.

1980: Inducted into National Track and Field Hall of Fame

In recognition of his remarkable achievements in track and field, Jim Ryun was inducted into the National Track and Field Hall of Fame in 1980.

1981: Return to Lawrence

After living in Santa Barbara, California, for nine years, Jim Ryun and his family moved back to Lawrence in 1981.

1981: Reflecting on the 1968 Olympics

In a 1981 interview for The Runner magazine, Jim Ryun reflected on his 1968 Olympic race against Kip Keino, expressing his belief that he would have won at sea level and highlighting Keino's outstanding performance.

1984: Keino's Olympic Record Stands

Kip Keino's Olympic record in the 1,500 meters, set in 1968, remained unbroken until the 1984 Olympics, a testament to his exceptional performance.

1996: Inspired to Run for Congress

During the 1996 Summer Olympics torch relay, Jim Ryun was encouraged by Todd Tiahrt to consider running for the vacant Topeka-based 2nd District congressional seat, a suggestion that ultimately led to his political career.

1996: Election to Congress

In 1996, Jim Ryun was elected to Congress for the first time. He won the Republican primary with 62% of the vote and the general election with 52% of the vote against Democrat John Frieden.

December 15, 2000: Townhouse Purchase

On December 15, 2000, Jim Ryun purchased a townhouse in Washington, D.C. from U.S. Family Network for $410,000. This townhouse had previously housed Ed Buckham's consulting firm and Tom DeLay's ARMPAC.

2003: Vote Against Spending Bill

In 2003, Jim Ryun voted against a $373 billion end-of-session spending bill, citing his commitment to fiscal restraint as the reason for his opposition.

2003: Inducted into National Distance Running Hall of Fame

Jim Ryun's contributions to distance running were further honored in 2003 when he was inducted into the National Distance Running Hall of Fame.

2004: Re-election to Congress

Jim Ryun was re-elected to Congress in 2004, defeating Democrat Nancy Boyda with 55% of the vote. This election was significantly influenced by the presence of George W. Bush on the ballot.

2005: Zero Percent Score on Environmental Scorecard

In 2005, Jim Ryun received a score of 0% on the Republicans for Environmental Protection (REP) scorecard. He consistently voted against what the REP considered pro-environmental positions on 12 critical issues, including oil and gas drilling, the Endangered Species Act, and fuel economy standards.

May 18, 2006: "D Street Block Party" Fundraiser

Jim Ryun and Mark Foley, despite Ryun's initial claims of barely knowing Foley, hosted a joint fundraiser on May 18, 2006, named the "D Street Block Party." This event took place on their street and featured both of their pictures on the invitation.

October 2006: Mark Foley Scandal

Following Rep. Mark Foley's resignation due to a scandal involving explicit emails sent to teenage pages, Jim Ryun initially claimed to barely know Foley. This claim was contradicted by the revelation of a joint fundraiser they hosted on May 18, 2006, called the "D Street Block Party." Ryun's campaign manager later confirmed Ryun was aware they were neighbors.

2006: Defeat by Nancy Boyda

In 2006, Jim Ryun lost his seat in Congress to Democrat Nancy Boyda in an upset victory, with Boyda securing 51% of the vote. Despite initial expectations of a Ryun win and campaign support from President Bush and Vice President Cheney, internal polling showed Boyda pulling ahead.

2006: Questions Regarding Townhouse Purchase

In 2006, questions arose concerning the purchase of Jim Ryun's townhouse. Ryun's office released documents indicating he paid $80,000 above the assessed value and spent an additional $50,000 on renovations. Comparisons with other properties in the area were made, but no conclusive evidence of impropriety was found.

2006: Ranked as Most Conservative Congressman

In 2006, the National Journal ranked Jim Ryun as the most conservative member of Congress. He was also a member of the Republican Study Committee, a group of fiscally and socially conservative House Republicans.

2006: Improved Environmental Scorecard

Jim Ryun's REP scorecard improved to 17% in 2006 after voting pro-environment on two out of seven critical issues. He supported reducing the environmental impact of the Army Corps of Engineers but opposed oil drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, renewable resource programs, and the Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act.

March 2007: Loss in Republican Primary

Jim Ryun attempted to regain his former Congressional seat in March 2007 but lost the Republican primary to Lynn Jenkins, a more moderate Republican. Jenkins went on to win the seat in the general election.

2007: End of Congressional Term

In 2007, Jim Ryun concluded his service in the United States House of Representatives, representing Kansas's 2nd congressional district.

July 24, 2020: Awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom

In recognition of his extraordinary accomplishments and contributions, President Donald Trump bestowed the Presidential Medal of Freedom upon Jim Ryun on July 24, 2020.