Dalilah Muhammad facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Dalilah Muhammad

Muhammad at Rio 2016
Personal information
Nationality	American
Born	(1990-02-07) February 7, 1990 (age 35) Jamaica, Queens, New York, U.S.
Education	Benjamin N. Cardozo High School
Alma mater	University of Southern California
Height	5 ft 8 in
Weight	55 kg (121 lb)
Sport
Country	United States
Sport	Athletics (track and field)
Event(s)	400 m hurdles
Achievements and titles
World finals	2013 Moscow 400 m hurdles, 2 Silver 2017 London 400 m hurdles, 2 Silver 2019 Doha 400 m hurdles, 1 Gold 4×400 m relay, 1 Gold 2022 Eugene 400 m hurdles, 3 Bronze
Olympic finals	2016 Rio de Janeiro 400 m hurdles, 1 Gold 2020 Tokyo 400 m hurdles, 2 Silver 4×400 m relay, 1 Gold
Medal record Women's athletics Representing the  United States Olympic Games Gold 2016 Rio de Janeiro 400 m hurdles Gold 2020 Tokyo 4×400 m relay Silver 2020 Tokyo 400 m hurdles World Championships Gold 2019 Doha 400 m hurdles Gold 2019 Doha 4×400 m relay Silver 2013 Moscow 400 m hurdles Silver 2017 London 400 m hurdles Bronze 2022 Eugene 400 m hurdles Diamond League 2017 400 m hurdles 2018 400 m hurdles World Youth Championships Gold 2007 Ostrava 400 m hurdles Gold 2007 Ostrava Medley relay Pan American Junior Championships Silver 2009 Port of Spain 400 m hurdles

Dalilah Muhammad (born February 7, 1990) is an American track and field athlete. She is famous for running the 400 meters hurdles race. Dalilah won a gold medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics. She also won a silver medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. In Tokyo, she became the second-fastest woman ever in her event.

Dalilah also won gold at the 2019 World Athletics Championships. There, she set a new world record in the 400m hurdles. She is one of only two women to win an Olympic title, a World title, and break the world record in this event. She also helped her team win gold in the 4 × 400 metres relay at both the 2019 World Championships and the Tokyo Olympics.

Dalilah won the 400m hurdles at the 2007 World Youth Championships in Athletics. She also won two Diamond League titles.

Early Life and School Years

Dalilah Muhammad was born on February 7, 1990. Her hometown is Jamaica, Queens, in New York City. Her parents are Nadirah and Askia Muhammad.

High School and College Track

Dalilah competed in many track and field events in high school. These included hurdles, sprints, and high jump. While at Benjamin N. Cardozo High School, she won state and national titles in the 400m hurdles in 2008.

She also got her first international experience. At the 2007 World Youth Championships in Athletics, she won a gold medal in the 400m hurdles. Dalilah was named the Gatorade Female Athlete of the Year for New York State in 2007.

In 2008, she went to the University of Southern California on a sports scholarship. She joined the USC Trojans track team. In her first year, she finished third in the 400m hurdles at the NCAA Outdoor Championship. She also won a national junior title.

Dalilah was a four-time All-American athlete at USC. This means she was recognized as one of the best college athletes in the country.

Professional Career Highlights

After college, Dalilah became a professional athlete. She focused on the 400m hurdles.

First National Title and World Championships

In 2013, Dalilah won her first national title. She competed at the 2013 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships. She also made her debut in the IAAF Diamond League, a series of top track and field events.

She earned silver medals at the 2013 and 2017 World Championships. These were important steps in her career.

Muhammad (right) winning the 400m hurdles final at the 2016 Rio Olympics.

Olympic Gold and World Records

At the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio, Dalilah won the gold medal in the 400m hurdles. She was only the second American woman to win this event at the Olympics.

In 2019, Dalilah broke the world record in the 400m hurdles. She ran 52.20 seconds at the 2019 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships. This beat a record that had stood for 16 years!

Later that year, at the 2019 World Athletics Championships in Doha, she broke her own world record. She ran even faster, finishing in 52.16 seconds, and won another gold medal. She also won gold with the women's 4x400m relay team.

At the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo (held in 2021), Dalilah won a silver medal in the 400m hurdles. She also won a gold medal as part of the 4x400m relay team.

Track Statistics

Here are some of Dalilah Muhammad's best times and achievements.

At the 2019 Doha World Championships, Muhammad (right) set a new world record.

Dalilah Muhammad running hurdles at the 2022 World Championships in Eugene.

Personal Best Times

These are Dalilah's fastest times in different races.

International Medals and Championships

This table shows Dalilah's medals from major international competitions.

Representing the  United States

Year	Competition	Venue	Position	Event	Time	Notes
2007	World Youth Championships	Ostrava, Czech Republic	1st	400 m hurdles	57.25
			1st	Medley relay	2:08.38
2009	Pan American Junior Championships	Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago	2nd	400 m hurdles	58.42
2013	World Championships	Moscow, Russia	2nd	400 m hurdles	54.09
2016	Olympic Games	Rio de Janeiro, Brazil	1st	400 m hurdles	53.13
2017	World Championships	London, United Kingdom	2nd	400 m hurdles	53.50
2019	World Championships	Doha, Qatar	1st	400 m hurdles	52.16	WR (World Record)
			1st	4 × 400 m relay	3:18.92
2021	Olympic Games	Tokyo, Japan	2nd	400 m hurdles	51.58	PB (Personal Best)
			1st	4 × 400 m relay	3:16.85
2022	World Championships	Eugene, OR, United States	3rd	400 m hurdles	53.13	SB (Season Best)
2023	World Championships	Budapest, Hungary	9th (sf)	400 m hurdles	54.19

Diamond League Wins

Dalilah has won many races in the Diamond League, a series of top-level athletics meetings.

• Diamond League champion (2): 2017, 2018.
• Individual race wins:
  • 2016: London, Lausanne
  • 2017: Brussels
  • 2018: Shanghai, Oslo, Zürich
  • 2019: Doha, Rome
  • 2021: Eugene (Meeting Record)
  • 2022: Birmingham

National Championships

Dalilah has also won many national titles in the United States.

Awards

• World Athletics Awards
  • World Athlete of the Year (Women)：2019

See also

• Muslim women in sport