Bert Cameron facts for kids
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| Nationality | Jamaican | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 16 November 1959 Spanish Town, Saint Catherine Parish |
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| Sport | Running | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Event(s) | 400 meters | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| College team | UTEP Miners | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Medal record
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Bertland "Bert" Cameron (born November 16, 1959) is a famous retired Jamaican sprinter. He was best known for running the 400 metres race. Bert represented Jamaica in three Summer Olympics in a row.
He made history by winning the 400-meter title at the very first World Championships in Athletics. Bert also won the 1982 Commonwealth Games in the same event. He earned many gold medals at other big competitions in his region. In 1988, he helped the Jamaican team win a silver medal in the 4 × 400 metres relay at the 1988 Seoul Olympics.
Bert Cameron was chosen to carry the Jamaican flag at the opening ceremony of the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, California. He was also named Jamaica Sportsperson of the year three times in a row, from 1981 to 1983. Today, he works as a coach in Jamaica, helping new athletes.
Contents
Bert's Running Journey
Bert Cameron was born in Spanish Town, Saint Catherine Parish, Jamaica. His first big international medal was at the Athletics at the 1978 Commonwealth Games in 1978. There, he helped Jamaica win a silver medal in the 4 × 400-meter relay race.
Early Career and College Success
Soon after, he competed in his first Olympic Games. He reached the quarter-finals in the 400-meter race and also ran in the relay. Bert went to college in the United States on a sports scholarship. He was a star runner for the UTEP Miners team. He won the NCAA 400-meter titles both indoors and outdoors in 1980 and 1981. He won a third outdoor title in 1983.
In 1981, Bert represented the Americas at the 1981 IAAF World Cup. He won a bronze medal in both his individual race and the relay. He returned to the Commonwealth Games in 1982 and became the 400-meter champion.
World Champion and Olympic Challenges
Bert Cameron won the 400-meter race at the first-ever 1983 World Championships in Athletics in 1983. This was a huge achievement!
At the 1984 Summer Olympics, he had a strong run in the semi-final. But halfway through, he got a muscle injury in his leg. In an amazing comeback, he started running again and somehow managed to qualify for the final. Sadly, his injury was too bad, and he couldn't race in the final.
He competed at the 1987 World Championships in Athletics but didn't win his title again. He made it to the semi-finals. He also helped the Jamaican relay team finish sixth in the final. Four years after his injury in 1984, he ran at the 1988 Summer Olympics. This time, he helped Jamaica win a silver medal in the 4 × 400-meter relay race.
Regional Wins and Coaching
Besides his global races, Bert also did very well in competitions closer to home. He won the 400-meter race at the 1981 Central American and Caribbean Championships. He then won another gold medal at the Athletics at the 1982 Central American and Caribbean Games in 1982.
In 1985, he returned to the 1985 Central American and Caribbean Championships and won a silver medal. At the Athletics at the 1987 Pan American Games in 1987, he won another silver medal.
After he stopped running professionally, Bert became a coach in Kingston, Jamaica. He coached Jermaine Gonzales, who broke the Jamaican record for the 400-meter race in 2010. Bert decided to work with Gonzales at Glen Mills' Racers Track Club that same year.
Bert's Major Medals
Here are some of Bert Cameron's top achievements:
- 1978 Commonwealth Games: Silver medal in 4 × 400 m relay.
- 1981 Central American and Caribbean Championships: Gold medal in 400 m.
- 1982 Central American and Caribbean Games: Gold medal in 400 m.
- 1982 Commonwealth Games: Gold medal in 400 m.
- 1983 World Championships: Gold medal in 400 m.
- 1987 Pan American Games: Silver medal in 400 m.
- 1988 Olympic Games: Silver medal in 4 × 400 m relay.
See also
In Spanish: Bert Cameron para niños
