USA Olympian Paul McMullen Has Died Mar 5, 2021 David Monti Paul McMullen, the 1996 USA Olympic Team Trials 1500m champion who would run a lifetime best of 3:33.89 for that distance five years later, has died according to several people prominent in the track and field community in Michigan where McMullen, grew up, lived and attended college at Eastern Michigan University. The cause of death was said to be a skiing accident which occurred in Northern Michigan, but no other details were yet available. McMullen was 49. "Michiganders embrace blue collar work ethic," tweeted Kevin Hanson, coach of the Michigan-based Hansons-Brooks Original Distance Project. "Northern Michigan takes that mentality and community pride to a another level. Nationally recognized distance runners have emerged from this environment. We've lost three of them way too early: Jeff Drenth, Ryan Shay and now Paul McMullen. RIP."