Glenn Morris wins gold in decathlon at Berlin Olympics | Aug. 8, 1936 | Colorado’s Top 150 Sports Moments

By Chris Schmaedeke June 12, 2026 | updated 12 minutes ago

American athlete Glenn Morris, of the Denver A.C., is shown during a practice shot put throw on July 13, 1936 at an unknown location. Morris has qualified for the track and field decathlon squad for the upcoming Olympic Games in Berlin. (AP Photo)

Happy birthday, Colorado — and Colorado sports.

Leading into the state’s 150th birthday Aug. 1, The Denver Gazette has partnered with the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame to publicize the definitive list of Colorado’s top 150 sports moments.

For Nos. 50 to 1, Colorado Sports Hall of Fame historian Dave Plati coordinated a 19-member committee to rank in order what they considered the top moments. The No. 1 moment will be revealed July 31. Plati and Broncos icon Jim Saccomano will unveil the list weekly on a Colorado Sports Hall of Fame podcast at coloradosports.org/podcast/.

Colorado Sports Hall of Fame Top 150 Sports Moments

No. 37 — Aug. 8, 1936

Simla native and 1934 Colorado A&M graduate Glenn Morris won the gold medal in the decathlon at the 1936 Berlin Summer Olympics. An assistant for A&M football coach Harry Hughes at the time, he set a new world record of 7,900 total points in the 10-event competition, leading an American sweep in winning the first Olympic medal by a Coloradan in a track and field event.

—Dave Plati, Colorado Sports Hall of Fame historian

Chris Schmaedeke

Reporter