Du'aine Ladejo facts for kids
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| Nationality | English | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 14 February 1971 Paddington, London |
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| Sport | Athletics | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Club | Birchfield Harriers | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Medal record
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Du'aine Ladejo (born 14 February 1971) is a famous English athlete and television personality. He was born in Paddington, London, England. Du'aine is best known for his amazing achievements in running, especially the 400 metres sprint.
During the 1990s, he was a key member of the United Kingdom and England 400-metre relay teams. He won many medals at big events like the European Championships, Olympic Games, and Commonwealth Games. After his sports career, Du'aine became a TV star. He even appeared on the show Gladiators where he was known as Predator. He also started Du'aine's Fit4Schools, which helps schools promote health and fitness. Today, he works in Sydney, Australia, leading the Track & Field program at Knox Grammar School.
Contents
Du'aine Ladejo's Athletics Career
Du'aine Ladejo was a very successful runner. He specialized in the 400 metres race. This is a sprint that goes once around a standard athletics track.
Winning Gold Medals
In 1994, Du'aine had a fantastic year at the European Championships. He won two gold medals! First, he won the individual 400 metres race. He finished in 45.09 seconds, beating another great British runner, Roger Black. Then, he helped his team win gold in the 4x400 metres relay race.
He also showed his speed indoors. Du'aine won the 400 metres gold medal at the European Indoor Championships twice. He won in 1994 and again in 1996.
Commonwealth Games and Olympics
At the 1994 Commonwealth Games, Du'aine continued his success. He won a silver medal in the 400 metres race. He also helped the England team win a gold medal in the 4x400 metres relay.
Du'aine also competed in the Olympic Games, which are the biggest sports event in the world. He won two medals there as part of the 4x400 metres relay team. He earned a bronze medal at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics. Then, he won a silver medal at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.
Trying New Challenges
After the 1996 Olympics, Du'aine decided to try other athletics events. He tried the decathlon, which is a competition with ten different track and field events. He finished seventh in the decathlon at the 1998 Commonwealth Games. He also competed in the 400-metre hurdles race. Throughout his running career, Du'aine trained with the Birchfield Harriers club.
Du'aine Ladejo in Media and TV
Du'aine Ladejo has also had a busy career outside of sports, especially in television. Even while he was still competing, he hosted a TV show called Du'aine's World on London Weekend Television.
From Athlete to TV Star
In the early 2000s, Du'aine competed on the BBC TV sports show Superstars. This show tests athletes in different sports. He won the competition in 2004! The next year, he finished second.
In 2005, Du'aine also appeared on the ITV reality TV show Celebrity Love Island. Later, in 2008, he joined the TV show Gladiators when it was brought back by Sky One. On this show, he was known by his Gladiator name, "Predator".
Creating His Own Shows
Du'aine also created and owns his own television show called Australia's Greatest Athlete. This show aired in Australia from 2009 to 2011 on Channel 9 and Channel 7. It was also shown on the Fox Sports channel. He owns the brand and trademark for "Greatest Athlete".
Helping Kids Stay Fit
Beyond TV, Du'aine founded Du'aine's Fit4Schools. This organization works to raise money and encourage health and fitness in schools. It helps young people learn about being active and healthy.
Du'aine Ladejo's School Days
Du'aine Ladejo started his education at Forest Grange School in West Sussex, England. He then went to King Edward's School, Witley. For his high school education, he moved to the United States. He graduated from Medina High School in Medina, Ohio, in 1988. After high school, he went to the University of Texas. There, he studied radio, television, and film, graduating in 1993.
See also
In Spanish: Du'aine Ladejo para niños
