Gail Devers facts for kids
Gail Devers during her induction to the National Track and Field Hall of Fame, 2011
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| Born | November 19, 1966 (age 58) Seattle, Washington, U.S. |
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| Height | 5 ft 3 in | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 121 lb | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Event(s) | Hurdles, Sprints | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| College team | University of California, Los Angeles | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Medal record
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Gail Devers is an amazing American athlete who used to compete in track and field. She was a top sprinter and hurdler, known for her speed in the 60 metres, 60 m hurdles, 100 m, and 100 m hurdles races. Many people consider her one of the greatest female sprinters ever.
Gail won gold medals at the Olympic Games in the 100 meters in both 1992 and 1996. This made her only the second woman in history to win the Olympic 100m title twice in a row! She also won many World Championship titles, including three in the 100m hurdles and one in the 100m. Her career was full of incredible wins and comebacks.
Contents
Early Life and Challenges
Gail Devers was born on November 19, 1966, in Seattle, Washington. She grew up in California and went to Sweetwater High School. Later, the school's stadium was even named Gail Devers Stadium in her honor!
Facing Health Issues
As a young athlete, Gail was very talented in the 100m and 100m hurdles. She was training for the 1988 Summer Olympics when she started having serious health problems. She suffered from bad headaches and even vision loss. Despite this, she still made it to the Olympics for the 100m hurdles. However, her health continued to get worse after the games.
In 1990, doctors found out she had a condition called Graves' disease. This is a problem with the thyroid gland, which controls how your body uses energy. She received treatment, but it caused her feet to blister and swell. At one point, it was so painful she could barely walk. Luckily, she recovered after the treatment was adjusted and was able to start training again.
Olympic and World Championship Success
Gail's comeback was incredible. At the 1991 World Championships, she won a silver medal in the 100m hurdles. This showed everyone she was back and ready to compete at the highest level.
Barcelona 1992 Olympics
The 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona were a big moment for Gail. She reached the final of the 100m race, which was incredibly close. Five women finished almost at the same time! A photo finish showed that Gail had just barely won the gold medal.
Later, in the 100m hurdles final, which was her best event, Gail was leading the race. It looked like she would win another gold. But she hit the very last hurdle and stumbled, finishing in fifth place. It was a tough moment, but she had already proven herself a champion.
Dominating the World Stage
In 1993, Gail continued her winning streak. At the World Championships, she won the 100m title again in another very close race. She also won the 100m hurdles title that year. She kept her hurdles title in 1995, showing how consistently good she was.
Atlanta 1996 Olympics
The 100m final at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta was almost exactly like the one in 1993. Gail and another top sprinter, Merlene Ottey, finished at the same time. Again, a photo finish was needed. Gail was declared the winner, making her the first woman since Wyomia Tyus to win two Olympic 100m titles in a row!
Even though she didn't medal in her favorite 100m hurdles event at these Olympics, Gail still won a third Olympic gold medal. She was part of the 4 × 100m relay team that took home the gold.
Later Career and Achievements
After the 1996 Olympics, Gail focused more on the hurdles. She won the World Championship in the 100m hurdles again in 1999. She competed in her fifth Olympic Games in Athens in 2004.
Gail took a break from competing in 2005 to have a child. She returned to the sport in 2006. In 2007, at 40 years old, she won the 60m hurdles at the Millrose Games. Her time was the best in the world that season for her age group.
Gail was also known for her very long, decorated fingernails. She even had to change her starting position to make sure her nails didn't get in the way! She grew them long because of a challenge from her father when she was a child to stop biting her nails.
Awards and Recognition
Gail Devers has received many honors for her amazing career.
- In 2011, she was chosen for the National Track and Field Hall of Fame.
- The next year, she was inducted into the United States Olympic Hall of Fame.
- In 2012, she also received the NCAA Silver Anniversary Award. This award celebrates former college athletes 25 years after they finished their college sports careers.
International Competitions
| Year | Competition | Venue | Position | Event | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Representing the  United States |
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| 1988 | Olympic Games | Seoul, South Korea | 8th (sf) | 100 metres hurdles | 13.51 |
| 1991 | World Championships | Tokyo, Japan | 2nd | 100 metres hurdles | 12.63 |
| 1992 | Olympic Games | Barcelona, Spain | 1st | 100 metres | 10.82 |
| 5th | 100 metres hurdles | 12.75 | |||
| 1993 | World Indoor Championships | Toronto, Canada | 1st | 60 metres | 6.95 |
| World Championships | Stuttgart, Germany | 1st | 100 metres | 10.82 | |
| 1st | 100 metres hurdles | 12.46 | |||
| 2nd | 4 x 100 metres | 41.49 | |||
| 1995 | World Championships | Göteborg, Sweden | 1st | 100 metres hurdles | 12.68 |
| 1996 | Olympic Games | Atlanta, United States | 1st | 100 metres | 10.94 |
| 4th | 100 metres hurdles | 12.66 | |||
| 1st | 4 x 100 metres | 41.95 | |||
| 1997 | World Indoor Championships | Paris, France | 1st | 60 metres | 7.06 |
| World Championships | Athens, Greece | 1st | 4 x 100 metres | 41.47 | |
| 1999 | World Indoor Championships | Maebashi, Japan | 2nd | 60 metres | 7.02 |
| World Championships | Seville, Spain | 5th | 100 metres | 10.95 | |
| 1st | 100 metres hurdles | 12.37 | |||
| 4th | 4 x 100 metres | 42.30 | |||
| 2000 | Olympic Games | Sydney, Australia | — | 100 metres hurdles | DNF (sf) |
| 2001 | World Championships | Edmonton, Canada | 2nd | 100 metres hurdles | 12.54 |
| 2002 | IAAF World Cup | Madrid, Spain | 1st | 100 metres hurdles | 12.65 |
| 2003 | World Indoor Championships | Birmingham, United Kingdom | 1st | 60 metres hurdles | 7.81 |
| World Championships | Paris, France | 6th | 100 metres | 11.11 | |
| 3rd (sf) | 100 metres hurdles | 12.87 | |||
| World Athletics Final | Monte Carlo, Monaco | 1st | 100 metres hurdles | 12.45 | |
| 2004 | World Indoor Championships | Budapest, Hungary | 1st | 60 metres | 7.08 |
| 2nd | 60 metres hurdles | 7.78 | |||
| Olympic Games | Athens, Greece | 7th (sf) | 100 metres | 11.22 | |
| — | 100 metres hurdles | DNF (sf) | |||
See also
- Gail Devers para niños (Gail Devers in Spanish)
