Dwight Phillips facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Personal information
Nationality	American
Born	(1977-10-01) October 1, 1977 (age 47) Decatur, Georgia
Height	5 ft 11 in (180 cm)
Weight	180 lb (82 kg)
Sport
Country	United States
Sport	Track and field
Medal record Men's athletics Representing the  United States Olympic Games Gold 2004 Athens Long jump World Championships Gold 2003 Paris Long jump Gold 2005 Helsinki Long jump Gold 2009 Berlin Long jump Gold 2011 Daegu Long jump Bronze 2007 Osaka Long jump World Indoor Championships Gold 2003 Birmingham Long jump Continental Cup Gold 2010 Split Long jump

Dwight Phillips (born October 1, 1977) is an American former track and field athlete. He is famous for being a four-time world champion in the long jump. He also won the gold medal at the 2004 Olympic Games in this event.

His best long jump was 8.74 meters, which he achieved in 2009. This amazing jump makes him one of the top five long jumpers of all time. Phillips also competed in shorter running races like the 60-meter and 100-meter sprints. 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 a track and field ambassador at SPIRE Institute and Academy. He helps other athletes develop their skills. The goal of his work is to help young people achieve their best in sports, school, and life.

Dwight's Amazing Career in Long Jump

Dwight Phillips started his athletic journey as a sprinter. He later focused on the triple jump while studying at the University of Kentucky. After moving to Arizona State University in 2000, he switched to the long jump.

Early Olympic and World Championship Appearances

Phillips competed in the 2000 Sydney Olympics, where he finished eighth in the long jump. He was the best American long jumper at those Games. At his first World Championships, he also placed eighth. This was despite getting a hamstring injury.

Becoming a World Champion

In 2003, Dwight Phillips became a well-known name in track and field. He won both the indoor and outdoor World Championships. The indoor event was very close, with Phillips winning by just one centimeter. He won the outdoor title by four centimeters.

Olympic Gold in Athens

Before the 2004 Athens Olympics, Phillips 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.

More World Championship Wins

Phillips continued his success at the next two World Championships. He won another gold medal at the 2005 Helsinki event. Two years later, in Osaka, he earned a bronze medal.

Missing the 2008 Olympics

Phillips finished fourth at the U.S. Olympic Trials in 2008. This meant he did not qualify for the Beijing Olympics. He was unable to defend his Olympic title that year.

Record-Breaking Jump and More Gold

On June 7, 2009, Phillips set his personal best in the long jump. He jumped 8.74 meters at the Prefontaine Classic. This incredible jump placed him among the top long jumpers of all time. Later that month, he won the US Championships.

At the 2009 World Athletics Championships in Berlin, Phillips won another gold medal. His winning jump was 8.54 meters. He repeated this success at the 2011 World Championships in Daegu, South Korea. He won gold with a jump of 8.45 meters. During the Daegu championships, Phillips wore bib number 1111. After winning, he proudly pointed to the number, showing he had won four championships.

Injuries and Retirement

A car accident before the 2012 outdoor season caused back and neck injuries for Phillips. He also had a recurring 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, Phillips placed 11th. He jumped 7.88 meters. 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 joined SPIRE Institute and Academy as an international track and field ambassador.

Dwight Phillips' Best Jumps and Runs

Here are some of Dwight Phillips' best performances in different events:

Major Achievements and Medals

Dwight Phillips has won many medals and achieved great success representing the United States.

Year	Competition	Venue	Position	Notes
Representing the  United States
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

Awards and Recognition

• Night of Legends Award 2024: USATF Legacy Award

Images for kids

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  Dwight Phillips competing in Berlin in 2009.

See also

In Spanish: Dwight Phillips para niños