American world-record holder in the 400-metre hurdles (hurdling) (1956–62) who was the first man to win the Olympic gold medal twice in that event.

Davis excelled in track for Barberton (Ohio) High School, often scoring more individually than entire opposing teams. At Ohio State University (Columbus), he ran sprint races and was a long jumper as well as a hurdler. At the 1956 Olympic Games in Melbourne, Australia, he pulled away from teammates Eddie Southern and Josh Culbreath after the seventh hurdle to take the gold medal in the first U.S. sweep in the event since 1920. In 1958 Davis won the James E. Sullivan award as the nation's top amateur athlete. At the 1960 Olympic Games in Rome, Davis won the gold medal in the hurdles and was a member of the winning 4 × 400-metre relay team. That same year he ran the 200-metre hurdles in a world record time of 22.5 seconds. He then retired from track and had a brief, unsuccessful professional gridiron football career with the Detroit Lions.