15 Facts About Bob Backus

Robert Hudson Backus was an American track and field athlete who set world records in the hammer throw.

Bob Backus wore ballet slippers during competition and after using weight training to overcome the effects of meningitis.

At 6 feet, 5 inches in height and 160 pounds, Backus was rejected by the United States Army Air Forces' cadet program as he was deemed too thin.

Bob Backus attended Tufts University, where he started weight throwing, participating in the 16-pound hammer throw outdoors, and the 35 and 56 pound events indoors.

Bob Backus was inducted to the Tufts University's Hall of Fame.

Bob Backus won US titles in the 56-pound event each of the seven years from 1953 to 1959 and won seven out of eight years from 1954 to 1961 in the 35-pound throw.

Bob Backus won the American title in the hammer throw in 1954 and won a gold medal in the event at the 1955 Pan American Games in Mexico City.

Bob Backus competed in the event at the 1952 Summer Olympics, finishing in 13th place.

July 1971 Bob Backus competed at the 4th Annual Masters Outdoor National Championship placing 2nd to Howard Payne in the HT.

March 1975 Bob Backus competed in the Annual Masters Indoor National Championship and winning the WT.

Bob Backus held American Masters M45 and M50 Indoor Weight Throw Records.

Bob Backus held the American Masters M50 16-Lb Hammer Throw Record in 1977.

Bob Backus held the World Masters M55 16-Lb Hammer Throw Record in 1981.

In February 1978, a 51-year-old Bob Backus came in second in an otherwise uneventful 35-pound weight throw at the Open AAU National Indoor Championship held at Madison Square Garden.

Bob Backus died at age 72 on June 30,1999, at Boston's Vencor Hospital, having suffered a stroke in December 1998 and been in poor health for several years before his death.