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Billy Mills' Talks Olympic Run During School of Mines Commencement

Billy Mills' Talks Olympic Run During School of Mines Commencement

Billy Mills is a sports legend nation wide. This month, he gave a commencement speech at SD School of Mines for graduation, during which he spoke about his legendary Olympic run. He won the Gold medal in the 1964 Olympic Games 10,000-meter run. He's still the ONLY American gold medalist for that event.

Billy Mills' commencement speech at SD Mines

Mills is also a member of the Oglala Sioux tribe and founded the Running Strong for American Indian Youth nonprofit.

He found comfort in running after losing both his parents at a young age. He shared his memory of that Olympic race in his commencement speech.

Billy Mills | South Dakota Almanac

Nate Wek is currently the sports content producer and sports and rec beat reporter for South Dakota Public Broadcasting. He is a graduate of South Dakota State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Journalism Broadcasting and a minor in Leadership. From 2010-2013 Nate was the Director of Gameday Media for the Sioux Falls Storm (Indoor Football League) football team. He also spent 2012 and 2013 as the News and Sports Director of KSDJ Radio in Brookings, SD. Nate, his wife Sarah, and three sons, Braxan, Jordy, and Anders live in Canton, SD.