Raymond Milton Conger (November 12, 1904 – October 23, 1994) was an American
middle-distance runner. He held the world record for the 1,000 yards and the American record for the
1,500 metres.[1] In the U.S. national championships, Conger was a three-time winner in both the 1,000 yd and the
mile run.[1] At the
1928 Summer Olympics in
Amsterdam, he won his qualifying heat for the
1,500 m but did not finish in the final.[1]
In 1929, Conger became the first and only athlete to defeat
Paavo Nurmi in the mile, beating the "
Flying Finn" to the win in the indoor
Wanamaker Mile of the
Millrose Games.[2][3][4] Although Conger was modest about his win, he would be known as "the man who beat Nurmi" for decades.[5] Conger also scored wins over
Otto Peltzer and
Edvin Wide, and went on to be undefeated in the mile for two seasons.[1] He retired from running in 1932.[1]
Conger ran track for
Iowa State University in college, later obtained a master's degree in physiology, and then did further graduate work at
Columbia University. From 1931 to 1936 he taught zoology at
Carleton College in Northfield, Minnesota, where he also coached track.[1] He then joined the faculty at the
Pennsylvania State University and was a long-time professor of professor of physical education preceding his retirement in 1970. In 1963, he was inducted into the
Iowa Sports Hall of Fame.[1] He was born and raised in Riceville, Iowa.