David Patrick (sprinter) facts for kids

David Patrick (born June 12, 1960) is a retired American athlete who was a fantastic hurdler. He was born in Centralia, Illinois. David competed in the 400 metres hurdles at the 1992 Summer Olympics. He was the second American to finish in that final race. The race was won by Kevin Young, who set a world record that still stands today!

College Achievements

David Patrick was a star athlete during his college years. He competed for the University of Tennessee. While there, he won two big national titles:

• The 880 yards indoor race
• The 400 meter hurdles

A Special Team: David and Sandra

David Patrick is married to Sandra Farmer-Patrick, who was also a top 400 metres hurdler. They had many successful moments together in their careers.

Making History Together

In 1989, David and Sandra made history at the 1989 IAAF World Cup in Barcelona, Spain. They both won gold medals! This was the first time a husband and wife had ever won a gold medal in the same event at an international championship.

Earlier that year, they also became the first husband and wife to win national championships at the same time in 29 years. The last couple to do this was Hal Connolly and Olga Connolly.

Overcoming Challenges

Both David and Sandra faced disappointment at the 1988 U.S. Olympic Trials. They both failed to qualify for the Olympics that year. This made them even more determined to succeed.

Despite not qualifying for the Olympics in 1988, David still had a great year. He won a bronze medal at the 1988 IAAF Grand Prix Final. He also set his personal best time in the 400 hurdles, running it in 47.75 seconds. He finished fourth in that race, just missing a spot on the Olympic team by a tiny 0.03 seconds! Even today, his time makes him one of the top 25 performers ever in the event.

Olympic Dreams Come True

In 1992, both David and Sandra achieved their Olympic dreams. They both made the Olympic team! David finished second at the trials, right behind Kevin Young. Sandra won the Olympic Trials for her event.

At the 1992 Olympics, Sandra went on to win a silver medal in the 400 metres hurdles. She also made the Olympic team again in 1996.

A Consistent Performer

David Patrick was considered one of the best American hurdlers for many years. He was ranked in the top 10 Americans from 1981 to 1994, except for 1982. For most of that time, from 1983 to 1993, he was even in the top 5. This was a time when the United States had many of the world's best hurdlers, like Edwin Moses, Andre Phillips, Danny Harris, and Kevin Young.

Important Note

It's important not to confuse David Patrick with another athlete named David Patrick from Villanova. That other David Patrick ran the 1500 metres in the 1968 Olympic Trials.