Won the Gold Medal in the Decathlon at the 1936 Summer Olympic Games in Berlin, Germany - the so-called "Nazi Olympics" and the same Olympics where Jesse Owens upstaged Adolph Hitler.
Upon his death, his remains were interred at Skylawn Memorial Park in San Mateo, California. His location plot is Garden of Inspiration for Lot 2315.
Briefly played professional football for the Detroit Lions.
In the film Tarzan's Revenge his co star was 1932 Olympic gold medalist Eleanor Holm.