BURBANK : Ryun Visit Inspires Deaf Youngsters

The man who for nine years held the record for running the fastest mile in the world stood in front of a class of sixth-graders Friday and remembered what it was like to be young and unsure of himself because of a disability.

“When I was their age, I was afraid to ask questions,” said Jim Ryun, after spending about an hour with the John Muir Middle School Tripod classes in which hearing and hearing-impaired students learn together.

He left behind some inspiration and hope.

“I can relate to him,” said Jacky Szpiro, a deaf sixth-grader who was signing through an interpreter after he and his classmates sprinted with Ryun. “He shows you can be deaf or hard of hearing and you can do a lot and you are equal.”

Ryun, who set the world record in the mile in Bakersfield in 1967 at the age of 20, has had a hearing disability since a high fever in his infancy or early childhood damaged his inner ear.

On Friday, Ryun visited a sixth-grade reading class and a seventh-grade science class, showing the students at the school a videotape of his record-setting run of 3:51.1, pointing out that late in the race he often had to look over his shoulder because he could not hear the runners behind him.

Ryun’s hearing problems were solved two years ago when he was fitted with special hearing aid. He is a spokesman for the Council of Better Hearing and Speech Month, trying to get out the message that those with hearing problems can get help.

“Sometimes all they need is to know that someone really cares and there is hope,” Ryun said.