Bio

Arnie Robinson was born and raised in San Diego California. He attended Morse High School, where he was the first four-year letter-winner in school history. Robinson competed for San Diego Mesa College in 1967 and 1969, setting impressive marks in the high jump (6'-8"), long jump (25'-6"), and the triple jump (48'-5"). His efforts at San Diego Mesa earned Robinson a scholarship to San Diego State University, where he won a NCAA title in 1970 in the long jump with a mark of 25'-10" and was selected as an All-American in both his junior and senior seasons (1970 and 1971). 
In 1970 Robinson was drafted into the U.S. Army, where he served nearly two years before embarking on his Olympic career. In the 1971 Pan Am Championships, he won the long jump with a mark of 26'-2". At the 1972 Olympics in Munich, Robinson earned a bronze medal with a long jump of 26'-2 ". Four years later, in Montreal, Robinson captured Olympic gold with a long jump of 27'-4 ". In 1977, Robinson won the World Cup Championship with a leap of 26'-9".

Robinson was enshrined into the San Diego Breitbard Hall of Fame in 1985, the USA Track and Field Hall of Fame in 2000, and the California Community College Cross Country and Track Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2005. 

Following his athletic success, Robinson pursued a career as an administrator and coach. He has spent 23 years as the head track and field coach at San Diego Mesa. He was the USA Track and Field Youth Chairman from 1994-2004, and served as the association's vice president from 1997-2007. He hosts youth track and field meets at San Diego Mesa to involve children in the sport, and is currently teaching part-time at the college.