Harrison Dillard

William Harrison Dillard (born July 8, 1923) is an American athlete, the only male so far to win Olympic titles in both sprinting and hurdling events.

Born in Cleveland, Ohio, Harrison Dillard, after serving army duty during World War II, returned to college, joined Pi Lambda Phi International Fraternity, and resumed athletics, to which he had been inspired by Jesse Owens, who was also from Cleveland and attended East Technical High School as well. He particularly excelled in hurdling, and was probably the best hurdler in the world shortly after the war. However, at the trials for the 1948 Summer Olympics, Dillard failed to qualify for the 110 m hurdles event, although he qualified as third (and last) for the 100 m, not his specialty.

At the Games, Dillard reached the final, which seemed to end in a dead heat between Dillard and another American, Barney Ewell. The finish photo showed Dillard had won, equalling the World Record as well. As a member of the 4 x 100 m relay team, he won another gold medal at the London Games.

Four years later, still a strong hurdler, Dillard did qualify for the 110 m hurdles event, and won the event in Helsinki. Another 4 x 100 m relay victory yielded Dillard's fourth Olympic title.

Harrison Dillard attempted to qualify for a third Olympics in 1956, but failed.

In his later years, Dillard worked for the Cleveland Indians baseball franchise in scouting and public relations capacities, and hosted a radio talk show on Cleveland's WERE.