Alvin Harrison facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Alvin Harrison

Personal information
Full name	Alvin Leonardo Harrison
Born	January 20, 1974 (1974-01-20) (age 51) Orlando, Florida, U.S.
Height	6 ft 2 in
Weight	176 lb
Achievements and titles
Personal best(s)	400 m: 44.09 (Atlanta 1996)
Medal record Men's athletics Representing the  United States Olympic Games Gold 1996 Atlanta 4x400 m relay Silver 2000 Sydney 400 m Disqualified 2000 Sydney 4×400 m relay

Alvin Leonardo Harrison (born January 20, 1974) is a former American track and field athlete. He was a very fast runner, specializing in sprinting events. Alvin won a gold medal in the 4 x 400 metres relay at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. He also won a gold medal in the same relay event and a silver medal in the 400 metres race at the 2000 Sydney Olympics.

Alvin Harrison's Early Life and Olympic Start

Alvin Harrison was born in Orlando, Florida. He has a twin brother named Calvin Harrison, who is also an Olympic athlete. Before they tried out for the Olympics, the twin brothers even lived in their Ford Mustang car for a year.

In high school, Calvin was a big star in running. He set a national record for high school students in the 400 meters race. But it was Alvin who first made it to the Olympic team in 1996.

Winning Gold at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics

At the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Alvin made it to the finals of the individual 400 meters race. He finished fourth in that race. The American team then faced a challenge in the 4 x 400 meters relay. Some of their strongest runners, like Michael Johnson, were not able to compete.

The British team started the relay race very fast. But Alvin, running the second part of the race, passed British runner Jamie Baulch. This put the USA team in the lead. The American team kept their lead and won the gold medal. This was Alvin's first Olympic gold.

Making History at the 2000 Sydney Olympics

At the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Alvin and Calvin Harrison made history. They became the first twin brothers to compete and win Olympic gold medals together on the same relay team. Alvin ran the first part of the 4 x 400 meters relay, and Calvin ran the third part.

Alvin also wrote a book called Go to Your Destiny. It was first shown on The Oprah Winfrey Show in 2001. Alvin Harrison also appeared in a public service announcement for United Way of America.

Challenges and New Beginnings

Alvin Harrison did not compete in the 2004 Olympics. This was due to questions about whether he had used substances that were not allowed in sports. In 2004, he agreed to a four-year break from competing.

Later, in 2008, the US team that won the 4 x 400 meters relay at the 2000 Sydney Olympics had their medals taken away. This happened because one of their team members, Antonio Pettigrew, admitted to using performance-enhancing substances.

After his break from competing ended in 2008, Alvin Harrison started running again. He decided to represent the Dominican Republic. He made this choice after talking with his wife and fellow runner Félix Sánchez, who are both from the Dominican Republic. He competed for his new country at the 2009 World Championships in Athletics. He also helped the Dominican Republic's 4x400-meter relay team finish fourth at the 2010 IAAF World Indoor Championships.

Helping Young Athletes

The Athletics Federation of the Dominican Republic chose Alvin Harrison to lead their special program for Olympic athletes. This program helps young athletes become very good. One of the first successes of this program was Luguelín Santos. He won a silver medal in the 400 meters at the 2012 Olympics when he was only 18 years old.

Alvin Harrison received an honorary master's degree in exercise science for his work. He has also helped with high-performance programs in the NFL and NBA.

Alvin Harrison has one son and three daughters.

Alvin Harrison's Best Running Times

Alvin Harrison has achieved some impressive times in his running career. Here are his personal bests:

Alvin Harrison's International Competitions

Here are some of the major international competitions where Alvin Harrison won medals:

Track Records Held by Alvin Harrison

As of September 7, 2024, Alvin Harrison holds these track records for the 400 meters race:

See Also

In Spanish: Alvin Harrison para niños

• List of doping cases in athletics

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