Athlete Jim Hines passed away on Saturday. The American, who became the first person ever to run 100 meters under ten seconds, was 76 years old.
At the 1968 Olympic Games in Mexico, Hines finished in the 100 meters in a hand-clocked time of 9.9. The record eventually ended up in the books as 9.95 after an electronic measurement.
The world record stood for fifteen years. In 1983 his compatriot Calvin Smith in the American Colorado Springs sharpened the top time by two hundredths. Since 2009, the world record of 9.58 has been held by Jamaican Usain Bolt.
In addition to winning Olympic gold in the 100 meters in Mexico, Hines also won the 4×100 meters title with the US team. He retired as an athlete at the age of 22.
Multitalented Hines opted for a career in American football, but did not achieve great success there. He played in the NFL for two years, playing for the Miami Dolphins and Kansas City Chiefs.