Donovan Bailey facts for kids
Donovan Bailey in Cologne, 1997
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| Birth name | Donovan Anthony Bailey | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nationality | Jamaican-Canadian | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | December 16, 1967 Manchester Parish, Jamaica |
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| Height | 183 cm | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 82 kg | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | Running | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Event(s) | 50 metres, 60 metres, 100 metres, 150 metres, 200 metres | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Medal record
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Donovan Bailey is a famous Jamaican-Canadian retired sprinter. He was born on December 16, 1967. Donovan Bailey once held the world record for the 100 metres race. He became an Olympic champion in 1996, finishing the race in an amazing 9.84 seconds. He was the first Canadian to officially run the 100m race in under 10 seconds. Bailey was known for his incredible speed. During his 1996 Olympic win, he reached a top speed of 12.10 meters per second. This was the fastest speed ever recorded by a human at that time. Donovan Bailey was honored in Canada's Sports Hall of Fame in 2004. He was also inducted again in 2008 with his 1996 Olympic relay team. In 2005, he joined the Ontario Sports Hall of Fame.
Contents
Who is Donovan Bailey?
Donovan's Early Life in Jamaica and Canada
Donovan Anthony Bailey was born in Manchester Parish, Jamaica, on December 16, 1967. He was the fourth of five sons. As a young boy, he helped his family by taking care of their animals. Even in primary school, Donovan was very fast. His teachers noticed his athletic talent early on. He often came first in races.
Before moving to Canada, Donovan competed in track for Knox College in Jamaica. When he was 12, Donovan moved to Canada. He went to Queen Elizabeth Park High School in Oakville, Ontario. In high school, he loved playing basketball. His brother, O'Neil, was also a great athlete, winning many long jump titles. Donovan was very fast, running the 100m in 10.65 seconds when he was 16.
After high school, Donovan went to Sheridan College. He played basketball there too. He earned a degree in Business Administration. Before becoming a full-time runner, he worked as a consultant for a clothing company.
Starting His Sprinting Career
Becoming a Professional Sprinter
Donovan Bailey decided to become a professional runner in 1990. He noticed that he had beaten many of the top sprinters in high school. So, he started training part-time for the 100m race. In 1991, he won the 60 meters at the Ontario Indoor Championships. He also helped Canada win a silver medal in the 4 × 100 meters relay at the 1991 Pan American Games in Cuba.
From 1993 to 1994, Donovan competed for a team called Fenerbahçe Athletics. He won several medals during this time. These included a bronze and a silver at national championships. He also earned a silver and a gold at the 1994 Francophone Games. At the 1994 Commonwealth Games, he won a gold medal in the 4 × 100m relay.
An American coach named Dan Pfaff saw Donovan's talent. Coach Pfaff invited Donovan to train with him. After just three months of training, Donovan improved his 100m time a lot. His new time of 10.03 seconds was one of the fastest in Canadian history.
Breaking Records in 1995
In 1995, Donovan Bailey achieved a major milestone. He ran the 100m race in under 10 seconds for the first time. His time was 9.99 seconds. This made him only the second Canadian to achieve this incredible feat. Later that year, he set a new Canadian record with a time of 9.91 seconds. This was the fastest time in the world that year.
This amazing speed made him a top contender for the World Championships. Donovan won the 100m title at the championships. He then helped Canada win their first-ever gold medal in the 4 × 100m relay.
Olympic Glory in 1996
Setting a World Record
After his World Championship win, Donovan was a top favorite for the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta. In 1996, he also broke the indoor 50m world record. He ran it in an incredible 5.56 seconds.
Donovan was chosen to represent Canada at the 1996 Summer Olympics. On July 27, he won the Olympic 100m title. He set a new world record with a time of 9.84 seconds! During this race, he reached an amazing top speed of 12.10 meters per second. This was the fastest speed ever recorded by a human at that time. Many Canadians felt proud of Donovan's victory. It showed the world the strength of Canadian athletes.
Donovan Bailey became only the second person ever to hold all major 100m titles at once. He was the World Champion, Olympic Champion, and World Record Holder. Just six days later, he led Canada to their first-ever Olympic 4 × 100m relay title. They set a new national record of 37.69 seconds.
The "World's Fastest Man" Race
After the 1996 Olympics, there was a big discussion. Some people wondered if Michael Johnson, a 200m gold medalist, was faster than Donovan Bailey. This led to a special 150-meter race between the two champions. Donovan Bailey won this exciting race. This helped settle the debate about who was the "World's Fastest Man."
Later Career and Achievements
World Championships and Other Races
At the 1997 World Championships in Athens, Donovan tried to win the 100m title again. He earned a silver medal, finishing in 9.91 seconds. But he and his Canadian teammates successfully defended their 4 × 100m relay title. They ran the fastest time of the year, 37.86 seconds.
Later that season, Donovan was part of a special "Dream Team II" relay. He ran the first part of the 4 × 100m relay. This was a memorable race because it was Carl Lewis' last race of his career. The team won with a new meeting record.
Challenges and Retirement from Running
In 1998, Donovan and the Canadian 4 × 100m relay team won a silver medal. This was at the 1998 Goodwill Games in New York. Later that year, Donovan injured his Achilles tendon while playing basketball. This injury marked the beginning of the end of his amazing athletics career.
In 1999, Donovan won another silver medal with the Canadian 4 × 100m relay team. This was at the 1999 Pan American Games in Winnipeg. This medal was special because it matched his very first international medal from eight years earlier.
Donovan made another attempt at the 2000 Summer Olympics. However, he became ill and had to withdraw from the races. He officially retired from the sport in 2001. This was after the World Championships in Edmonton. Donovan Bailey retired as a three-time World Champion and two-time Olympic Champion.
Life After Sprinting
Helping Other Athletes
After retiring from competitive running, Donovan Bailey started his own company. It's called DBX Sport Management. This company helps young athletes promote themselves and build their careers. He also opened a sports injury clinic in Oakville, Ontario.
Honors and Recognition
Donovan Bailey has been inducted into Canada's Sports Hall of Fame twice. First, in 2004, for his individual achievements. Then again in 2008, as part of the incredible 1996 Summer Olympics 4 × 100m relay team.
In August 2008, Donovan started working as a track commentator for CBC Television. He shared his expert opinions during the 2008 Summer Olympics. He also returned as an analyst for the 2016 Summer Olympics.
In 2010, Donovan was recognized as one of the Top 25 Canadian Immigrants. In 2016, he became a member of the Order of Ontario. In 2017, he received a star on Canada's Walk of Fame. In 2022, Donovan Bailey was named an officer to the Order of Canada. These honors celebrate his contributions to sports and Canada.
Donovan Bailey's Amazing Records
Donovan Bailey set many impressive records during his career. Here are some of his personal best times:
| Event | Time (seconds) | Venue | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 50 metres | 5.56  |
Reno, Nevada, United States | February 9, 1996 |
| 60 metres | 6.51 | Maebashi, Gunma, Japan | February 8, 1997 |
| 100 metres | 9.84 (1996–1999) (1996–2008) |
Atlanta, Georgia, United States | July 27, 1996 |
| 150 meters | 14.99 | Toronto, Ontario, Canada | June 1, 1997 |
| 200 metres | 20.14 | Bislett Games, Oslo, Norway | July 4, 1997 |
See also
In Spanish: Donovan Bailey para niños
- Canadian records in track and field
- World record progression 100 metres men
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