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Fortune Everett Gordien (September 9, 1922 – April 10, 1990) was an American discus thrower and shot putter who set four world records in the discus throw. He competed in this event at the 1948, 1952 and 1956 Olympics and placed third, fourth and second, respectively. At the 1955 Pan American Games he won a gold medal in the discus and a silver in the shot put.[1]
 Gordien, in costume for film The Egyptian, with Jean Simmons in 1954 | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | September 9, 1922 Spokane, Washington, U.S. |
| Died | April 10, 1990 (aged 67) Fontana, California, U.S. |
| Alma mater | University of Minnesota |
| Height | 6 ft 0 in (184 cm) |
| Weight | 229 lb (104 kg) |
| Sport | |
| Sport | Athletics |
| Event(s) | Discus throw, shot put |
| Club | Southern California Striders |
| Achievements and titles | |
| Personal best(s) | DT – 59.28 m (1953) SP – 16.51 m (1947)[1][2] |
Medal record | |
Domestically Gordien won six AAU and three NCAA titles. According to the Guinness Book of Track and Field: Facts and Feats, the smallest crowd ever to see a world record may have been 48, the number attending a Pasadena, California all-comers track meet in 1953 when Gordien set his last world record that stood for six years.[3]
Gordien grew up in Minneapolis, graduating from Roosevelt High School, and attended the University of Minnesota.[4] His coach there, Jim Kelly, also became coach of the U.S. track-and-field team for the 1956 Summer Olympics, where Gordien won a silver medal.
In the 1950s, Gordien had a few minor roles in films and TV series, including The Cisco Kid (1950), The Egyptian (1954), Not for Hire (1959) and North to Alaska (1960).[5]
Gordien was a coach at San Bernardino Valley College.[6]
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July 1968 Gordien competed in the first Masters National Outdoor Track and Field Championship held in San Diego, winning the DT.[7] June 1970 Gordien (47) set the Masters M45 record in the discus at 167'-8".[8] April 1973 Gordien (50) once again set a Masters Record in the discus at 177'-9" (Mt Sac Relays).[9] and [10]
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