Mal Whitfield

Who is Mal Whitfield?

Malvin "Mal" Greston Whitfield is a former American athlete, a double winner of 800 m at the Olympic Games. Mal Whitfield is the father of CNN anchor Fredricka Whitfield and of Olympic high jump hopeful Ed Wright.

Born in Bay City, Texas, Mal Whitfield, or Marvelous Mal as he was called, joined the United States Army Air Forces in 1943, and is a member of the Tuskegee Airmen. After World War II, he remained in the U.S. military but also enrolled at the Ohio State University. In the early 1950s he also served in the United States Air Force during the Korean War.

He won the NCAA title while at Ohio State in the 800 m in 1948 and 880 yd in 1949. After leaving the university he won the AAU title from 1949 to 1951 at 800 m, in 1953 and 1954 at 880 yd and in 1952 at 400 m. He also won the 800 m at the 1951 Pan American Games in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Whitfield's most notable achievements, however, may have been as an Olympic athlete. At the 1948 Olympics in London, Whitfield won the 800 m and was a member of the winning 4 × 400 m relay team. He also earned a bronze medal in the 400 m. At the 1952 Olympics in Helsinki, Finland, he repeated his 800 m victory.