Quick Facts
Biography
Warren Jay "Rex" Cawley (born July 6, 1940) is an American former athlete, winner of 400 m hurdles at the 1964 Summer Olympics.
Born in Highland Park, Michigan, Rex Cawley still holds the record time for the 100 yard dash at Farmington High School that he set in 1959. He was Track and Field News "High School Athlete of the Year" in 1959. He won the AAU championships in 440-yard hurdles in 1963 and 1965 and as a University of Southern California student, he won a NCAA title in 440 yd hurdles in 1963.
At the Olympic Trials in 1964, Cawley set a world record in 400 m hurdles by time of 49.1, thus becoming a main favorite at the Olympic Games. Cawley won the gold medal in Tokyo with a commanding performance in which he beat his nearest competitor John Cooper from Great Britain by 0.5 seconds.