UCLA Mourns Loss of Legendary Hurdler Craig Dixon

LOS ANGELES – UCLA Track & Field mourns the passing of legendary hurdler, Craig Dixon, who passed away peacefully at the age of 94 on February 25, 2021. His death was made public by his family earlier in June.
 
Dixon was one of UCLA's most decorated champions on the track. He earned a bronze medal in the 110m high hurdles at the 1948 Olympic Games in London, helping the United States achieve its first-ever podium sweep in the event. His Olympic glory followed a 1948 collegiate season that saw him earn conference titles in the 110m high hurdles and 220m low hurdles.
 
The following year, Dixon served as a captain for the Bruins and went on to secure NCAA titles in the 100m high hurdles and 220m low hurdles. He was also the U.S. champion in both events and compiled a streak of 59 consecutive individual victories in the hurdles in 1949. His outstanding athletic achievements earned him the National Track Athlete of the Year Award from the Los Angeles Times.
 
In 1953, Dixon was hired as the first full-time assistant coach to legendary UCLA Head Track & Field Coach Elvin "Ducky" Drake. Dixon was an integral member of the coaching staff that helped lead the Bruins to their first NCAA team title in 1956. He coached and recruited such UCLA legends as Rafer Johnson and C.K. Yang.
 
He was inducted to the UCLA Athletics Hall of Fame in 1985 in the second year of the Hall's existence. He became the fourth Bruin from the Track & Field program to earn the call, following Drake, Johnson, and Jackie Robinson. As described by the Dixon family, "Craig remained an active and ardent UCLA supporter throughout his life."