Erik Kynard facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Erik Kynard

Erik Kynard, London 2012
Personal information
Born	(1991-02-03) February 3, 1991 (age 34) Toledo, Ohio, U.S.
Height	6 ft 4 in
Weight	188 lb
Sport
Country	United States
Sport	Track and field
Event(s)	High Jump
College team	Kansas State University
Turned pro	2013
Coached by	Cliff Rovelto
Retired	2021
Medal record Men's athletics Representing the  United States Olympic Games Gold 2012 London High jump World Indoor Championships Bronze 2014 Sopot High jump Bronze 2016 Portland High jump

Erik Kynard Jr. (born February 3, 1991) is an American track and field athlete. He is famous for competing in the high jump event. Erik won a silver medal at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. Later, this medal was changed to a gold medal. This happened because the original winner was disqualified.

Erik was born in 1991 in Toledo, Ohio. He is one of ten children in his family. He went to Rogers High School and then to Kansas State University. There, he trained with coach Cliff Rovelto. Erik jumps off his right leg when he competes.

Erik Kynard's Early Career

Erik started showing his talent in high jump early. When he was just 17, he tried out for the U.S. Olympic team in 2008. He did not make the team that year. However, he continued to work hard.

College Success

Erik became a top college athlete. He won the NCAA outdoor national championship in high jump two times. These wins were in 2011 and 2012. This showed he was one of the best young high jumpers in the country.

Olympic Gold Medal Journey

Erik Kynard's biggest moment came at the 2012 London Olympics. He first qualified for the U.S. Olympic team. He placed second at the trials with a jump of 2.28 meters.

London 2012: A Memorable Jump

At the 2012 Olympics, Erik won a silver medal. He jumped 2.33 meters. He was known for wearing American-themed socks during the competition. The gold medal was first given to Ivan Ukhov from Russia.

Gold Medal Upgrade

In February 2019, it was announced that Ivan Ukhov's results from 2012 were canceled. This was due to a rule violation. Because of this, Erik Kynard became the rightful gold medalist for the 2012 London Olympics.

Receiving the Gold Medal

Erik officially received his upgraded gold medal on August 9, 2024. This special ceremony took place at the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics. When asked about how he felt, Erik said it was like a joke he told 12 years ago that people were just now understanding.

Other Achievements and Personal Bests

After the Olympics, Erik continued to compete. In 2013, he set a world-leading mark of 2.34 meters. He also won the United States Outdoor National Championships in 2014 and 2015. In 2015, he tied his personal best jump of 2.37 meters.

Temporary Break from Competing

In January 2022, Erik took a temporary break from competing. This was due to a rule about medical treatments. He accepted a six-month ban from the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency.

Erik Kynard's Best Jumps

Erik has achieved impressive heights in high jump.

Major Competition Results

Here are some of Erik Kynard's results from big competitions:

Year	Competition	Venue	Position	Event	Notes
Representing the  United States
2008	World Junior Championships	Bydgoszcz, Poland	19th (q)	High jump	2.10 m
2009	Pan American Junior Championships	Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago	2nd	High jump	2.10 m
2011	World Championships	Daegu, South Korea	14th (q)	High jump	2.28 m
	Universiade	Shenzhen, China	13th	High jump	2.15 m
2012	Olympic Games	London, United Kingdom	1st	High jump	2.33 m
2013	World Championships	Moscow, Russia	5th	High jump	2.32 m
2014	World Indoor Championships	Sopot, Poland	3rd	High jump	2.34 m
2015	World Championships	Beijing, China	8th	High jump	2.25 m
2016	World Indoor Championships	Portland, United States	3rd	High jump	2.33 m
	Olympic Games	Rio de Janeiro, Brazil	6th	High jump	2.33 m
2017	World Championships	London, United Kingdom	–	High jump	NM
2018	World Indoor Championships	Birmingham, United Kingdom	4th	High jump	2.29 m

See also

In Spanish: Erik Kynard para niños