14 Facts About Jim Beatty

Jim Beatty is best remembered as the first person to break the four-minute mile barrier on an indoor track, when he ran 3:58.9 on February 10,1962, at the Los Angeles Invitational in the Los Angeles Sports Arena in Los Angeles, California.

Jim Beatty competed in the men's 5000 metres at the 1960 Summer Olympics.

Jim Beatty moved to Charlotte, North Carolina, with his family when he was four years old.

Jim Beatty grew up in the Dilworth neighborhood, delivering for the Charlotte Observer with his trusted dog "Trigger" for five years.

Jim Beatty's speed was discovered in that race, as he went on to win.

Jim Beatty went on to run track at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where he majored in English and had a minor in History.

Jim Beatty was an All-American for the two miles in 1955 and 1957, and for the 5,000 meters in 1956.

Jim Beatty was the Atlantic Coast Conference champion in the mile in 1955 and 1956.

In 1960, Jim Beatty moved to California to train under Mihaly Igloi and in July 1960, he won the US Olympic Trials in the 5,000 meters event.

Jim Beatty broke eleven American and three world records in 1962, and became the first American to simultaneously hold records in the 1,500 meter, 3,000 meter, 5,000 meter, one and three mile events.

Jim Beatty became the first person to break the four-minute mile barrier on an indoor track, when he ran 3:58.9 on February 10,1962, at the Los Angeles Invitational.

Jim Beatty was the first recipient of the ABC's Wide World of Sports Athlete of the Year that year.

Jim Beatty served in the North Carolina General Assembly as a State Representative as a member of the Democratic Party, representing North Carolina's 36th district, in Mecklenburg County.

Jim Beatty was inducted into the USA National Track and Field Hall of Fame in 1990, the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame in 1963, and the Greater Charlotte Sports Hall of Fame in 2004.