Athletes (track and field) at the 1964 Summer Olympics

James Ronald Ryun (born April 29, 1947) is an American former Republican politician and Olympic track and field athlete, who at his peak was widely considered the world's top middle-distance runner. He won a silver medal in the 1500 m at the 1968 Summer Olympics, and was the first high school athlete to run a mile in under four minutes. He is the last American to hold the world record in the mile run. Ryun later served in the United States House of Representatives from 1996 to 2007, representing Kansas's 2nd congressional district.

Tom O'Hara (July 5, 1942 – August 27, 2019) was an American middle-distance runner. He was the first native of the state of Illinois to break the four-minute barrier for the mile run when he ran 3:59.4 in 1963. O'Hara was born in Chicago, Illinois. He also held the world record for fastest mile indoors, which was set when he ran 3:56.6 on February 13, 1964. He beat that record on March 6 of the same year with a time of 3:56.4, a world record, later equalled by Jim Ryun but not beaten for ten years until Tony Waldrop ran 3:55.0 in 1974.
At St. Ignatius College Prep High School, in Chicago, Illinois, O'Hara was a star runner on the school's cross country and track and field teams, often running—and winning—the quarter mile, half mile, mile, and mile relay in a single meet. He was a member of the Loyola University Chicago track, cross country, and indoor track teams. He was the individual champion of NCAA Men's Division I Cross Country Championship in 1962, and he participated in the 1500 m at the 1964 Summer Olympics, where he qualified for the semi-finals of the 1500 metres.

Jocelyn Delecour (born 2 January 1935) is a retired French sprinter. He competed in various sprint events at the 1956, 1960, 1964 and 1968 Olympics and won a bronze medal in 1964 in the 4×100 metre relay, together with Paul Genevay, Bernard Laidebeur and Claude Piquemal. Four years later he and Piquemal teamed up with Gérard Fenouil and Roger Bambuck to win the bronze medal once again in the same event.At the European Championships, Delecour won a gold, a silver and a bronze medal in the 4 × 100 m (1966), 100 m (1962) and 200 m (1958) events, respectively.

Berit Berthelsen (née Tøien, 25 April 1944 – 13 February 2022) was a Norwegian athlete. She represented IL Tyrving, as well as her national team.

Terje Olav Pedersen (born 9 February 1943) is a former Norwegian javelin thrower. He represented SK Vidar.
At the 1960 Summer Olympics he progressed from the qualifying round, but did not start in the final. At the 1964 Summer Olympics he did not qualify for the final. He became Norwegian champion in the years 1960 and 1962–1964.Pedersen established two world records in javelin throw (with the old implement), both at Bislett stadion. The first record of 87.12 metres came in July 1964 and the second of 91.72 metres was established in September the same year. This remained his career best throw. For his world records Pedersen was selected Norwegian Sportsperson of the Year in 1964.

Guy Husson (born March 2, 1931) is a retired French track and field athlete known primarily for the hammer throw. He was born in Vitry-sur-Seine, Val-de-Marne, France. He represented his native country in three Olympics from 1956 to 1964. He was a finalist in 1956, finishing in 13th place. He also represented France at the 1954 and 1958 European Athletics Championships; and the 1955 and 1963 Mediterranean Games.
He set his personal best of 69.40 at a home meet in Aix les Bains at the age of 36. The throw turned out to be a Masters M35 World Record, which stood for almost two years until it was surpassed by the same Hal Connolly who took the gold medal in 1956. Such was the improvement in the event, Husson's throw was more than 6 meters further than Connolly's Olympic winning throw (and Olympic record) 11 years earlier.

Éric Battista (born 14 May 1933) is a French former triple jumper who competed in the 1956 Summer Olympics, in the 1960 Summer Olympics, and in the 1964 Summer Olympics.

Robert Sainte-Rose (born 5 July 1943 in Fort-de-France, Martinique) is a French athlete who specialises in the men's high jump. Sainte-Rose competed at the 1964 Summer Olympics and 1968 Summer Olympics.

Michel Macquet (3 April 1932 – 27 October 2002) was a French javelin thrower and handball player. Track & Field News ranked him the world's best javelin thrower in 1961.

Maryvonne Samson Dupureur (24 May 1937 – 7 January 2008) was a French middle-distance runner. Competing in the 800 m event she won silver medals at the 1964 Olympics and 1967 European Indoor Games; she also took part in the 1960 and 1968 Olympics.Between 1959 and 1969 Dupureur won ten national titles: six in the 800 m, three in the 400 m and one in the 1500 m. She was an Olympic silver medalist in the 800
metres in Tokyo in 1964 after leading for most of the race but being overtaken in the final 100 metres by Great Britain’s Ann Packer, who set a new world record. Dupurer lived for many years in Brittany, and taught physical education and sport at a high school in Saint-Brieuc until her retirement.