It was over 50 years ago that a South Dakota native shocked the world with an underdog win at the Tokyo Olympics.  You get a chance to relive it and learn more about it. 

 

The Museum of the South Dakota State Historical Society in Pierre with special help from the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian will host a special webcast entitled, “Native Sports with Olympic Gold Medalist Billy Mills” at 2 p.m. CDT on Sunday, Dec. 14, at the Cultural Heritage Center in Pierre.

According to a press release, the program was originally broadcast July 14, 2012, in the Smithsonian’s Rasmuson Theater as part of the programming for the exhibition “Best in the World: Native Athletes in the Olympics.” Mills and his wife Pat are the featured speakers in the program but they won’t be present at the Cultural Heritage Center.

In the program, Native South Dakotan Mills (Oglala Lakota) shares his experience and knowledge with visitors in an informative discussion and presentation. Mills became the second American Indian in history to win an Olympic gold medal when he finished first in the 10,000-meter run at the 1964 Games. He is now the national spokesperson for Running Strong for Native American Youth.

There is no fee to view the program, but standard admission fees apply for visitors wanting to go into the museum galleries.

The program is made possible through the State Historical Society becoming a Smithsonian Affiliate in January 2013, and is the only affiliate in South Dakota.

More From KXRB