DeeDee Trotter facts for kids
Trotter at the 2012 Olympics
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| Born | December 8, 1982 Twentynine Palms, California, U.S. |
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| Height | 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 64 kg (141 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Country | United States | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | Athletics | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Event(s) | 4 × 400 m Relay | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Medal record
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De'Hashia Tonnek "DeeDee" Trotter is a famous American track and field athlete. She is best known for her speed in the 400-meter dash and the 4 × 400-meter relay. A relay is a race where a team of runners each run a certain distance before passing a baton to the next teammate.
Trotter competed in three Summer Olympic Games: 2004, 2008, and 2012. She won two Olympic gold medals as part of the U.S. women's 4 × 400 m relay team. She also won a bronze medal in the individual 400 m race in 2012. Today, she is a motivational speaker who inspires people around the world.
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From Basketball Court to Running Track
DeeDee Trotter was born on December 8, 1982, in Twentynine Palms, California. She grew up in Decatur, Georgia, and went to Cedar Grove High School. In high school, she was a star on both the basketball and track teams.
She was so good at basketball that she helped her team have a perfect season on their home court. But people noticed how fast she was on the basketball court and encouraged her to try track. She specialized in the 200-meter and 400-meter races. She even helped her high school's 4 × 400 m relay team win a state championship.
College Success
Trotter's speed earned her a track and field scholarship to the University of Tennessee. This meant she had to focus completely on running instead of playing basketball. The choice paid off. In 2004, she became the NCAA national champion in the 400-meter race. The NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) is the organization for college sports in the U.S.
She was so talented that she became a professional athlete while she was still in her junior year of college. This was a huge achievement, as she was the first female track athlete from her university to do so.
Professional Running Career
Trotter's professional career was filled with amazing victories and tough challenges. She competed against the best runners in the world and proved she was one of them.
First Olympic Gold
In 2003, Trotter competed in her first IAAF World Athletics Championship. She also won a gold medal with the U.S. 4 × 400 m relay team. The next year, she qualified for the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece.
At the Olympics, she placed 5th in the 400-meter race with her best time ever. But the most exciting moment came in the 4 × 400 m relay. Trotter ran the first leg of the race, giving her team a strong start. The U.S. team won the gold medal, finishing far ahead of their competition.
Overcoming a Major Injury
Trotter continued to succeed, winning gold medals at the World Championships in 2007. That same year, she ran the fastest 400-meter time in the world. She was ready for the 2008 Summer Olympics.
However, just two months before the Olympic Trials, she suffered a serious leg injury. A car door accidentally slammed on her leg, breaking a bone. Amazingly, she still competed and made it onto the Olympic team. But the injury was too painful, and she was not able to make it to the final race in the 400 m.
After the Olympics, Trotter had surgery to fix her leg. The next few years were difficult as she recovered. To keep her spirits up, she started wearing face paint during her races, which became her signature look.
A Triumphant Return
By 2012, Trotter was back and stronger than ever. She qualified for the 2012 Olympics in London. She told reporters that the old DeeDee, who had lost her confidence, was gone.
In London, she won the bronze medal in the 400-meter race. She then ran the first leg for the U.S. 4 × 400 m relay team, giving them a big lead. The team went on to win the gold medal. It was her second Olympic gold.
Trotter officially retired from running in 2016 after a thirteen-year career. She waved goodbye to her fans at the U.S. Olympic Trials, ending her career with grace.
Helping Others Off the Track
Trotter has used her fame to make a positive impact. In 2009, she became a fitness model. She has also worked as a volunteer coach for the track team at the USC.
In 2013, she started a project called Gifted Soles to collect shoes for homeless people in Orlando, Florida. The project also provided hundreds of meals for those in need. Later, she started a non-profit group called Running For The People, which uses running to inspire and help others.
A Champion for Clean Sports
Trotter is a strong believer in fair play. She started a charity called Test Me I'm Clean to educate young athletes about the importance of competing without using performance-enhancing drugs. She travels across the country to speak to students about staying healthy and clean.
She wore a "Test Me I'm Clean" armband during her 2012 Olympic races to show her support for the cause. Trotter wanted to prove that athletes could succeed at the highest level through hard work and talent alone. She was also one of the first athletes to join programs with the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) to show her commitment to a drug-free sport.
See also
In Spanish: DeeDee Trotter para niños
