When Billy Mills, a member of the Oglala Sioux Tribe of South Dakota, won a gold medal at the 1964 Olympics in Tokyo, he was described as an "unknown" despite his strong running record.

Mills was named a NCAA All-America cross-country runner three times, won an individual title in the Big Eight cross-country championship and was part of a team that won two outdoor national championships. He completed the Olympic trials for the 10,000-meter run 12 seconds faster than other American athletes yet he remained unranked.

Speaking to students in South Dakota, Mills recounted repeated incidents in which he was told not to take part in group photo shoots for winning cross-country runners. At one point, he contemplated taking his life.

"Perceptions almost broke me," Mills told the students, The Rapid City Journal reported.

Get the Story:
Mills: Perceptions of others can break you, but pursuing dreams heals (The Rapid City Journal 10/14)