View source for Ira Murchison

{{Short description|American athletic competitor (1933–1994)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2025}}
{{Infobox sportsperson
| name           = Ira Murchison
| image          = 
| caption        = 
| full_name      = Ira James Murchison
| nickname       = Sputnik
| birth_date     = {{Birth-date|February 6, 1933}}
| birth_place    = [[Chicago, Illinois]], U.S.
| death_date     = {{Death-date and age|March 28, 1994|February 6, 1933}}
| death_place    = [[Harvey, Illinois]], U.S.
| height         = 5'5"
| weight         = 143 lb
| show-medals    = yes
| medaltemplates = 
{{Medal|Sport|Men's [[athletics (sport)|athletics]]}}
{{Medal|Country|the {{USA}}}}
{{Medal|Competition|[[Athletics at the Summer Olympics|Olympic Games]]}}
{{Medal|Gold|[[Athletics at the 1956 Summer Olympics|1956 Melbourne]]|[[Athletics at the 1956 Summer Olympics – Men's 4 × 100 metres relay|4 × 100 m relay]]}}
{{Medal|Competition|[[Athletics at the Pan American Games|Pan American Games]]}}
{{Medal|Gold|[[1963 Pan American Games|1963 São Paulo]]|[[Athletics at the 1963 Pan American Games|4 × 100 m relay]]}}
{{Medal|Bronze| 1963 São Paulo | 100 metres}}
{{Medal|Competition|[[World University Games]]}}
{{Medal|Silver|[[Athletics at the 1957 World University Games|1957 Paris]]|[[Athletics at the 1957 World University Games – Men's 100 metres|100 metres]]}}
}}

'''Ira James Murchison''' (February 6, 1933 – March 28, 1994) was an [[Americans|American]] [[athletics (sport)|athlete]], winner of the gold medal in 4 × 100 m [[Relay race|relay]] at the [[1956 Summer Olympics]].

Born in [[Chicago, Illinois]], he attended [[Wendell Phillips Academy High School|Phillips High School]]. Murchison was noted for his exceptional speed from the starting block, which earned him a [[nickname]] ''Human Sputnik''.

Before the [[Melbourne]] [[Olympic Games|Olympics]], Murchison equalled twice the 100 m [[world record]] of 10.2 and ran in [[Berlin]] a new world record of 10.1, thus becoming one of the favourites to win the 100 m Olympic gold medal. But at Melbourne, Murchison managed to finish only in a disappointing fourth place. He also ran the leadoff leg of the 4 × 100 m relay team for the United States, and helped the American team to a gold medal in a world record time of 39.5.

He attended the [[University of Iowa]], but later transferred to Western Michigan. In 1957, Murchison equalled the {{convert|100|yd|abbr=on}} world record of 9.3 and, as a [[Western Michigan University]] student, won the 1958 [[National Collegiate Athletic Association|NCAA]] championships in {{convert|100|yd|abbr=on}}. At the 1963 [[Pan American Games]], Murchison finished third in the 100 m and helped the American 4 × 100 m relay team to win a gold medal.

During the 1970s, Murchison was the coach of a women's track team in Chicago. One of the women he coached was 1976 Olympic sprinter, Rosalyn Bryant.

Ira Murchison died of cancer in [[Harvey, Illinois]], aged 61.

==References==
* {{cite Sports-Reference|url=https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/mu/ira-murchison-1.html |title=Ira Murchison |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131215192741/http://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/mu/ira-murchison-1.html |archivedate=December 15, 2013 }}

==External links==
* {{World Athletics|united-states/ira-murchison-14354465}}
* {{Olympics.com|name=Ira James Murchison}}
* {{Olympedia}}
* {{InterSportStats|3000013443}}

{{Footer Olympic Champions 4x100 m Men|1956}}
{{Footer Pan American Champions 4x100m Men}}
{{Footer US NC Indoor 60m Men}}
{{Footer USA Track & Field 1956 Summer Olympics}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Murchison, Ira}}
[[Category:1933 births]]
[[Category:1994 deaths]]
[[Category:American men sprinters]]
[[Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 1956 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 1963 Pan American Games]]
[[Category:Iowa Hawkeyes men's track and field athletes]]
[[Category:Olympic gold medalists for the United States in track and field]]
[[Category:Track and field athletes from Chicago]]
[[Category:Western Michigan Broncos men's track and field athletes]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 1956 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Pan American Games gold medalists for the United States in athletics (track and field)]]
[[Category:USA Indoor Track and Field Championships winners]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 1963 Pan American Games]]
[[Category:NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships winners]]
[[Category:20th-century American sportsmen]]