Andre Phillips facts for kids
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| Born | September 5, 1959 (age 66) Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S. |
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André Lamar Phillips, born on September 5, 1959, is a famous American athlete. He used to compete in track and field events. He is most known for winning a gold medal in the 400 metres hurdles at the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul.
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André Phillips: An Olympic Champion
André Phillips spent much of his career competing against his hero, Edwin Moses. Moses was a legendary hurdler who had an amazing winning streak. Phillips often finished second to Moses during this time.
Breaking the Streak: The 1988 Olympics
In 1988, something special happened. Phillips finally beat Edwin Moses at the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul. This was a huge moment in his career.
- In 1983, Phillips placed fifth in the 400-meter hurdles at the first-ever World Athletics Championships.
- In 1985, when Moses was not competing, Phillips won his only US National Championship title. He also won the IAAF World Cup that year.
- At the 1988 Olympic trials, Phillips lost to Moses. However, he showed great speed at the Olympics themselves. He won his heat and his semifinal race.
- In the final race, Phillips ran his fastest time ever: 47.19 seconds. He won the gold medal, beating Amadou Dia Ba from Senegal by just 0.04 seconds.
- At that time, Phillips was the second-fastest hurdler ever. Edwin Moses finished third in that race, which was the last of his career.
Hall of Fame Recognition
In 2009, André Phillips was honored for his amazing career. He was inducted into the National Track and Field Hall of Fame. This is a very special award for athletes who have achieved great things in track and field.
André Phillips' Early Life and Education
André Phillips was a talented athlete from a young age. He attended several schools where he showed his skills.
High School and College Achievements
- Phillips went to Quimby Oak Jr. High and Silver Creek High School in San Jose, California.
- In 1977, he won the CIF California State Meet in the 330-yard low hurdles. His time of 36.43 seconds is still a school record at Silver Creek High.
- He later attended the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). In 1981, he won the 400-meter hurdles at the NCAA championships.
- Silver Creek High School is proud to have produced two Olympic gold medalists who are not related. The other is Millard Hampton, who won a gold medal in the 4 × 100-meter relay in 1976.
- The school even hosts an event called the "Hampton Phillips Classic" to honor these two great athletes.
André Phillips: A Career in Education
After his successful athletic career, André Phillips chose to work in education. He has held several important roles in schools.
- He was a teacher at Stagg High School in Stockton, California.
- He then became an Assistant Principal at Franklin High School.
- Currently, he is the Principal at Stagg High School.
- Phillips also earned his educational doctorate (Ed.D.) from Concordia University Irvine.
See also
In Spanish: Andre Phillips para niños
