David Oliver (hurdler) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
David Oliver

Oliver in 2008 in Berlin
Personal information
Nationality	American
Born	(1982-04-24) April 24, 1982 (age 43) Denver, Colorado, U.S.
Height	6 ft 2 in
Weight	205 lb
Sport
Sport	Track and field
Event(s)	110 m hurdles
College team	Howard Bison
Achievements and titles
Personal best(s)	110 m hurdles: 12.89 (0.5 m/s)
Medal record Men's athletics Representing the  United States Olympic Games Bronze 2008 Beijing 110 m hurdles World Championships Gold 2013 Moscow 110 m hurdles World Indoor Championships Bronze 2010 Doha 60 m hurdles Continental Cup Gold 2010 Split 110 m hurdles Pan American Games Gold 2015 Toronto 110 m hurdles

David Oliver, born on April 24, 1982, is a famous American hurdling athlete who is now retired. He is currently the Director of Track & Field at Howard University. During his career, he was a top competitor in the 110 meter hurdles race outdoors and the 60 meter hurdles race indoors.

Oliver won a gold medal at the World Championships in Moscow in 2013 for the 110 meter hurdles. He also earned a bronze medal at the 2008 Olympic Games and another bronze at the 2010 IAAF World Indoor Championships. He once held the American record for the 110 meter hurdles. David Oliver was a four-time U.S. Champion before he retired from athletics at the end of the 2017 season.

David Oliver's Track and Field Journey

College Sports Success

David Oliver started his amazing track career at Howard University. He was recruited from Denver East High School by coach Michael Merritt. At Howard, he became a star in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC).

• He won the outdoor MEAC 110 meter hurdles title four times in a row, from 2001 to 2004.
• In 2003, he also won the MEAC indoor 55 meter hurdles championship.

Oliver leading the 60 m hurdles at the 2010 IAAF World Indoor Championships.

Oliver earned his first All-American honor in 2003. He finished fourth at the NCAA Men's Outdoor Track and Field Championship, setting a personal best time. The next year, he got another All-American honor. He finished fifth at the NCAA Men's Indoor Track and Field Championship, setting a new university record for the 60 meter hurdles.

While in college, David also played wide receiver for the Howard Bison football team. He mostly played on special teams. His athletic skills even caught the eye of NFL teams, and he was invited to try out for the Miami Dolphins and Minnesota Vikings.

Becoming a Professional Athlete

After college, David Oliver decided to become a professional track and field athlete. He quickly started winning big races around the world.

• In 2006, he won his first major international event at the Internationales Stadionfest in Berlin.
• In 2008, he won his first national title in the 60 meter hurdles.
• He set a personal best of 12.95 seconds in the 110 meter hurdles at the Qatar Grand Prix.

Oliver (center) in the 2008 Olympic sprint hurdles final.

At the 2008 Beijing Olympics, David Oliver won the bronze medal in the 110 meter hurdles. He finished behind Dayron Robles and fellow American David Payne. He ended 2008 as the second fastest 110 meter hurdler in the world.

The year 2010 was a fantastic one for Oliver.

• He won his first IAAF Diamond League race in Shanghai, setting a new meeting record.
• He set a new personal best of 12.93 seconds to win his second national title.
• On July 16, 2010, Oliver ran the 110 meter hurdles in 12.89 seconds. At that time, this was the third fastest time ever recorded!
• By the end of 2010, David Oliver was unbeaten in 15 final races. He held the top five fastest times in the world for the year.

In 2011, Oliver won another U.S. Championship title. He also ran under the 13-second mark again for the 110 meter hurdles. He finished that season ranked third in the world.

In 2013, after dealing with some injuries, David Oliver made a great comeback. He won his first major world title at the World Championships in Moscow, Russia, with a time of 13.00 seconds. He also won his second IAAF Diamond League title that year.

Retiring from Athletics

At the end of the 2017 season, David Oliver announced that he was retiring from competitive athletics. Soon after, he was chosen to lead the track and field program at his old university, Howard University.

About David Oliver's Life

Oliver at the 2011 World Championships in Athletics

David Oliver's mother, Brenda Chambers, was also a track and field athlete. She competed in the 400 meter hurdles.

He graduated from Denver East High School in Colorado in 2000. In 2004, he earned a degree in Marketing from Howard University. David Oliver lives in Kissimmee, Florida. He is also a big fan of the English football team Arsenal Football Club.

David Oliver's Best Times

Here are David Oliver's fastest times in his main events:

Major Competition Results

David Oliver competed in many important events around the world. Here are some of his top finishes:

Rankings and Honors

Experts from Track and Field News ranked David Oliver among the best hurdlers in the U.S. and the world for many years.

In 2014, David Oliver was honored by being elected into the Howard University Hall of Fame.

See also

In Spanish: David Oliver para niños