James Stallworth (athlete) facts for kids
| Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Born | April 29, 1971 | |||||||||||||||||||
|
Medal record
|
||||||||||||||||||||
James Stallworth is a retired American track and field athlete, born on April 29, 1971. He is best known for his incredible skills in the long jump. He set a national record for high school long jump that is still unbroken!
Contents
James Stallworth's Amazing High School Record
James Stallworth became famous for his long jump abilities while still in high school. He holds the NFHS High School Record for the long jump. This means he made the longest jump ever recorded by a high school student in the United States!
Setting the Record
On June 3, 1989, James made a jump of 8.04 metres (26.4 ft). This happened when he won the CIF California State High School Championships. The event took place in Norwalk, California. This record jump showed everyone how talented he was.
His High School Roots
James Stallworth went to Tulare Union High School. This school is special because other famous athletes also attended there. These include Bob Mathias, who won two Olympic gold medals in the Decathlon, and Sim Iness, who won a gold medal in the Discus throw.
Junior Championships and International Success
After high school, James continued to shine in track and field. He competed in many important events.
Winning Junior Titles
In 1990, James won the USATF Junior Championships. He set a new record for that competition with a jump of 8.17 metres (26.8 ft). This win helped him qualify for the international team. He also became the Junior National Champion in the 200 meters race that same year.
World Junior Championships
Later in 1990, James traveled to Plovdiv, Bulgaria, for the 1990 World Junior Championships in Athletics. He performed incredibly well there. In the qualifying round, he set a personal best jump of 8.20 metres (26.9 ft). This was one of the top long jumps ever recorded worldwide at that time! He won a gold medal in the long jump at this event. He also earned a bronze medal in the 200 meters race during the same competition.
Competing with the Best
In 1991, when he was 20 years old, James Stallworth competed against some of the best athletes. He placed second behind the legendary long jumper Mike Powell at the United States Olympic Festival.
Later Career and Life
After a break from competing, James Stallworth returned to the sport.
Return to Competition
After nine years away from track and field, James came back to compete in 2000. He achieved a long jump of 7.93 metres (26.0 ft) at a local championship in Long Beach, California. Although he jumped well, he did not make the Olympic team that year.
Life After Athletics
As of 2017, James Stallworth was working as a warehouse worker. He was employed at a Rescue Mission.
