Billy Mills was born on June 30, 1938 in Pine Ridge, South Dakota. Also known by his Lakota name Tamakhóčhe Theȟíla, meaning “loves his country,” he is Oglala Lakota (Sioux) and grew up on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. Billy did not have an easy childhood. Surrounded by poverty and orphaned at the age of 12, he started running to channel his energy into something positive. In high school, his gift for running became more apparent as he set records in numerous track events. He went on to earn a track scholarship from the University of Kansas and then served as an Officer in the United States Marine Corps.
At the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, Billy Mills made history by winning the 10,000 meters in a dramatic come-from-behind finish. His time of 28:24.4 set a new Olympic record, and he remains the only American to ever win gold in that event.
At age 26, he continued competing after the Olympics and went on to set U.S. records in the 10,000 meters, three-mile, and six-mile runs, further establishing his legacy as one of the greatest distance runners in American history.
In Lakota culture, someone who achieves great success has a ‘giveaway’ to thank the support system of family and friends who helped him achieve his goal. As part of his effort to give back to his community, Billy helped found Running Strong for American Indian Youth and became the organization’s National Spokesperson. Today, Billy continues to travel to visit Native American communities throughout the U.S. and speaks to youth about healthy lifestyles and taking pride in their heritage.
During the 2020 Olympic Games, Billy Mills reflected on his journey to Tokyo‘, where it all began. Check out our series, Road to Tokyo. From August 2019 until the Games began in 2020, Billy shared never-before-heard stories from his time at and leading up to the Olympics in 1964.
Billy is a devoted family man. He has been married to Pat Mills, a talented, accomplished artist. Together they have four daughters, 12 grandchildren, and four. They currently reside in Northern California, where Billy and Pat keep up an active speakers’ bureau and enjoy time spent with family and friends.
Over the decades, Billy Mills has been recognized for his lasting impact as an athlete, speaker, and humanitarian. He received the Presidential Citizens Medal from President Obama in 2012 and was inducted into the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame in 1984. He has earned multiple honorary doctorates, including from the University of Kansas, St. Olaf College, and Oglala Lakota College, and was awarded the NCAA’s Theodore Roosevelt Award in 2014.
He also founded the Billy Mills Speakers Bureau and has delivered motivational talks to thousands across the country, particularly within Native American communities. His influence was further recognized with his 2018 induction into the National Native American Hall of Fame.
In 1983, his life story was portrayed in the award-winning film Running Brave, and he is the author of Lessons of a Lakota and co-author of Wokini: A Lakota Journey to Happiness and Self-Understanding. His historic Olympic victory was named one of the Four Greatest Olympic Races and the Second Greatest Olympic Moment of all time by Runner’s World magazine.
Read Billy’s CV here for his lifetime of service, awards, and other achievements.
Co-founded by Billy Mills in 1986, Running Strong for American Indian Youth® is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to meeting critical needs and building strong futures for Native American youth and communities. What began as a way to give back after Billy’s Olympic win has grown into a powerful movement supporting Native families across the country.
With programs across Indian Country, Running Strong provides clean water, nutritious food, and meets critical needs like winter clothing and heating assistance for Native families. The organization also supports youth leadership, cultural preservation, and Dreamstarter grants that fund community-driven projects led by Native youth.
Through it all, Billy’s vision remains at the heart of the mission: to empower Native youth to dream big, take pride in their culture, and lead their communities forward.
