Dwight Phillips facts for kids
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Quick facts for kids Personal information |
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| Nationality | American | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | October 1, 1977 Decatur, Georgia |
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| Height | 5 ft 11 in (180 cm) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 180 lb (82 kg) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Country |  United States |
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| Sport | Track and field | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Medal record
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Dwight Phillips (born October 1, 1977) is a famous American track and field athlete. He is known for his amazing skills in the long jump. Dwight won the gold medal at the 2004 Summer Olympics. He also became a world champion four times in the long jump.
His best long jump was 8.74 meters, which he achieved in 2009. This jump makes him one of the top five long jumpers of all time! Besides long jump, Dwight also competed in short races like the 60-meter and 100-meter dashes. His fastest 100-meter time was 10.06 seconds. His 60-meter time of 6.47 seconds is one of the fastest ever recorded.
Today, Dwight Phillips works as an ambassador for track and field at SPIRE Institute and Academy. He helps young athletes develop their skills. The goal is to help students become great in sports, school, and life.
Contents
Dwight Phillips's Amazing Career
Dwight Phillips started his athletic journey as a sprinter. He later focused on the triple jump while studying at the University of Kentucky. In 2000, he switched to the long jump after moving to Arizona State University.
Early Competitions and First World Titles
Dwight competed in the 2000 Sydney Olympics, finishing eighth in the long jump. He was the best American long jumper at those Games. At his first World Championships in Athletics, he also finished eighth.
In 2003, Dwight became very well known. He won both the indoor and outdoor IAAF World Championships in Athletics. The indoor event was very close, with Dwight winning by just one centimeter. He won the outdoor title by four centimeters.
Olympic Gold and More World Wins
Before the 2004 Athens Olympics, Dwight was ranked number one in the world. He went on to win the gold medal at the Olympics! His winning jump was 8.59 meters. This was one of the longest jumps in Olympic history.
Dwight continued his success at the next two World Championships. He won another gold medal at the 2005 World Championships in Athletics in Helsinki. Two years later, in 2007, he won a bronze medal in Osaka.
Later Career and Retirement
In 2008, Dwight finished fourth at the U.S. Olympic Trials. This meant he did not compete in the Beijing Olympics.
On June 7, 2009, Dwight made a personal best jump of 8.74 meters at the Prefontaine Classic. This amazing jump put him among the top long jumpers ever. He then won the US Championships, which gave him another chance at the World Championships.
At the 2009 World Athletics Championships in Berlin, Dwight won another gold medal. He repeated this success in 2011 World Championships in Athletics in Daegu. At the Daegu championships, Dwight wore bib number 1111. After winning, he proudly pointed to the number, showing he had won four world championships.
In 2012, Dwight had a car accident that caused back and neck injuries. He also had an Achilles tendon injury. Instead of preparing for the 2012 London Olympics, he decided to have surgery. This surgery was to help him continue his career longer.
At the 2013 World Athletics Championships in Moscow, Dwight finished 11th. After this competition, he announced his retirement from the sport.
In 2018, Dwight Phillips was honored for his achievements. He was inducted into the National Track and Field Hall of Fame. In September 2020, he became an international track and field ambassador for SPIRE Institute and Academy.
Dwight Phillips's Best Jumps and Races
Here are some of Dwight Phillips's best performances in different events:
| Event | Best | Venue | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Long jump | 8.74 m | Eugene, Oregon, United States | June 7, 2009 |
| Long jump (indoor) | 8.29 m | Birmingham, United Kingdom | March 15, 2003 |
| Triple jump | 16.41 m | Boise, Idaho, United States | June 5, 1999 |
| 50 meters | 5.70 s | Liévin, France | February 26, 2005 |
| 60 meters | 6.47 s | Madrid, Spain | February 24, 2005 |
| 100 meters | 10.06 s | Athens, Georgia, United States | May 9, 2009 |
| 200 meters | 20.68 s | Tempe, Arizona, United States | March 30, 2002 |
Awards and Achievements
Dwight Phillips has won many medals and awards throughout his career.
| Year | Competition | Venue | Position | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Representing the  United States |
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| 2000 | Olympic Games | Sydney | 8th | 8.06 m |
| 2001 | World Championships | Edmonton, Canada | 8th | 7.92 m |
| 2003 | World Indoor Championships | Birmingham, England | 1st | 8.29 m |
| World Championships | Paris, France | 1st | 8.32 m | |
| World Athletics Final | Monte Carlo, Monaco | 1st | ||
| 2004 | Olympic Games | Athens, Greece | 1st | 8.59 m |
| World Athletics Final | Monte Carlo, Monaco | 2nd | 8.26 m | |
| 2005 | World Championships | Helsinki, Finland | 1st | 8.60 m |
| World Athletics Final | Monte Carlo, Monaco | 1st | ||
| 2006 | World Athletics Final | Stuttgart, Germany | 6th | |
| 2007 | World Championships | Osaka, Japan | 3rd | 8.30 m |
| 2009 | World Championships | Berlin, Germany | 1st | 8.54 m |
| 2011 | World Championships | Daegu, South Korea | 1st | 8.45 m |
| 2013 | World Championships | Moscow, Russia | 11th | 7.88 m |
Special Recognition
- Night of Legends Award 2024: USATF Legacy Award
See also
In Spanish: Dwight Phillips para niños
