Whitfield in a ceremony on June 5, 1999 at Mt. Saint
Mary's College receives John DuBois Medal for his
Distinguished Public Service. Others shown are
President George Houston, left of Whitfield, and, to
Whitfield's right, Dan Curtion, Executive Director
of the National Catholic Education Association, and
Dr. Frank Merolla, Alumni Association President |
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In his 47 years in Africa, Whitfield trained and gave
consultation to dozens of athletes who represented their
countries as Olympians and All-Africa Games champions. Many
such as Kipchoge Keino of Kenya (1500 meters, Mexico City,
1968), MamoWold of Ethiopia (marathon champion and Silver
Medalist in 10,000 meter race in Mexico City), 1968, the
late John Akii-Bua, of Uganda (400 meter hurdles in 1972
Munich Olympics), and 1980, Ethiopian's Miruts Yifter
(10,000 meters and 5,000 meters) won the Moscow Olympic Gold
medals in each event. Whitfield also arranged sports
scholarships for over 5,000 African athletes to study in the
United States.
Whitfield is in constant demand as a motivational speaker
before business groups, athletes of all sports, and
students. He conducted a motivational clinic for the
track-and-field athletes and swimmers from South Africa
weeks before the Centennial Games. He stressed the mental
aspect of winning. "You know how to inspire athletes because
you have been where they want to go," says Whitfield. Penny
Hayns, the world record holder in the 100 meter
breaststroke, was one of the South African swimmers who,
listening to him before she competed, won Olympic gold
medals in both the 100 and 200 meters. She credited
Whitfield with helping her to achieve this feat.
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Whitfield has been inducted into the National Track and
Field Hall of Fame, the Ohio State Sports Hall of Fame, the
Olympic Hall of Fame, and the New York Sports Museum Hall of
Fame. Introduced into the National Track and Field Hall of
Fame, 1992 Whitfield received the Ohio State University
Alumni Award, the Los Angeles State University Hall of Fame,
Helms World's Trophy, Phi Epsilon Kappa Fraternity, Blue Key
National Honor Fraternity, The President's Physical Fitness
Program 1955, President's People-to-People Sports Committee,
Inc 1954, Los Angeles State University Alumni Sports
Association 1956, Ohio State Alumni Sports Association 1946,
U.S. Track and Field Coaches Association, a Veteran of
Foreign Wars, US Legionnaire, a member of the US Foreign
Service Association, and first to promote use of weights
training in track events. One of five (5) US Olympians to
organize the Southern California Striders, which became the
largest and strongest multiracial track-and-field club in
the history of the sport. Whitfield is a member of the LA
Eastside Business Association, and has Honorary Citizenship
to Somali Democratic Republic. Honors, diplomas, awards,
citations, certificates are far too many to list in this
introduction as sports commentator, author and film
producer. A parent of four (4) children, Mal Whitfield's
motto is "Make the Impossible Possible, and it is Possible."
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From the Brandenburg gate to Moscow, Whitfield gave
out 5,000 pen pal letters from American children.
East German youths, like others, were eager
recipients. |
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