Javier Culson facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Javier Culson

Culson at the 2016 Summer Olympics
Personal information
Native name	Javier Culson Pérez.
Full name	Javier Culson Pérez
Nationality	Puerto Rico
Citizenship	Javier Culson Pérez holds Puerto Rican citizenship, as Puerto Rico is a territory of the United States. This also means he is a U.S. citizen
Born	(1984-07-25) 25 July 1984 (age 41) Ponce, Puerto Rico
Residence	Ponce, Puerto Rico
Height	6 ft 7 in
Weight	181 lb
Sport
Sport	Hurdling
Event(s)	400 metre hurdles
Coached by	Héctor "Cano" Amill Alicea
Achievements and titles
Personal best(s)	400 m H: 47.72 s (Ponce 2010)
Medal record Men's athletics Representing  Puerto Rico Olympic Games Bronze 2012 London 400 m hurdles World Championships Silver 2009 Berlin 400 m hurdles Silver 2011 Daegu 400 m hurdles Pan American Games Silver 2015 Toronto 400 m hurdles Central American and Caribbean Games Silver 2010 Mayaguez 400 m hurdles Central American and Caribbean Championships Gold 2009 Havana 400 m hurdles NACAC Championships Gold 2015 Costa Rica 400 m hurdles Bronze 2007 San Salvador 400 m hurdles Ibero-American Championships Gold 2006 Puerto Rico 400 m hurdles Pan American Junior Championships Bronze 2003 Bridgetown 400 m hurdles Representing Americas Continental Cup Silver 2010 Split 400 m hurdles Bronze 2014 Marrakech 400 m hurdles Bronze 2014 Marrakech 4×400 m relay
Updated on 7 August 2016.

Javier Culson Pérez (born on July 25, 1984) is a famous Puerto Rican athlete. He is best known for running the 400-metre hurdles race. Javier won a bronze medal at the Olympics.

He started competing in hurdles when he was a teenager. He quickly became one of the best, winning medals at youth events like the Pan American Junior Athletics Championships. Javier won two silver medals at the World Championships. He also did very well in the IAAF Diamond League, finishing second overall in 2011.

Javier has won many other medals at events like the Central American and Caribbean Games and the Ibero-American Championships. He was once known as "the world's fastest man" in his event. At the 2012 Olympics in London, he won a bronze medal in the 400-metre hurdles. In the 2016 Rio Olympics, he reached the finals but was disqualified for a false start.

Javier's Early Life and Family

Javier Culson Pérez was born in a place called Barrio Playa in Ponce, Puerto Rico. His birthday is July 25, 1984. He grew up with his mother, Judith Pérez, and three siblings: Javier Ramón Antonio, Judith Marie, and Mary Caridad. His mother raised them by herself.

When Javier was a child, he was often sick. He had problems with his stomach, which meant he couldn't eat certain foods. He also had asthma. Because of these health issues, he spent a lot of time in hospitals. To take care of Javier and his siblings, his mother left her job as a nurse. She took on different small jobs, like babysitting and ironing clothes.

Starting His Athletic Journey

As a teenager, Javier and his siblings were all involved in sports. Javier liked basketball and extreme sports. He also ran long-distance races. When he was 16, he met Héctor Amill, who was his sister's coach. Héctor saw Javier's talent for hurdles and became his coach. He still coaches Javier today.

Javier finished high school at Escuela Jardines de Ponce. He then went to American University and joined their athletics team, the Piratas. After two years, he moved to the Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico. There, he studied Physical Education and competed in the Liga Atlética Interuniversitaria (LAI), which is a top university sports league in Puerto Rico. Javier's first daughter, Yarién Culson Corcino, was born on May 29, 2008. He has dedicated his victories to her ever since.

Javier's Amazing Athletic Career

Javier Culson Pérez won his first international gold medal in his hometown of Ponce. This happened at the Ibero-American Championships in 2006. He then won a bronze medal at the 2007 Summer Universiade. His first big competition as a senior athlete was the 2007 World Championships in Athletics. He made it to the semi-finals in the 400m hurdles.

Javier was one of only six track athletes from Puerto Rico to join the 2008 Beijing Olympics team. He reached the semi-finals there but did not make it to the final race.

Breaking Records and Winning Silver

In 2009, Javier started his training by running an 800 metres race in Carolina, Puerto Rico. He won the race. In July, he set a new personal best time of 48.09 seconds in the 400m hurdles. This also became a new national record for Puerto Rico.

On August 18, 2009, Javier won a silver medal in the 400m hurdles at the IAAF World Championships in Berlin, Germany. This was the first medal Puerto Rico had ever won in athletics at the World Championships! After this, Javier signed a contract with Michael Johnson's sports agency. On January 14, 2010, the COPUR (Puerto Rico Olympic Committee) named Javier "Athlete of the Year."

Javier Culson (in the foreground) competing in the finals of the 2009 World Championships.

Another World Championships Medal

After some time off, Javier started training again. He won the 800m race at the Clásico de Primavera. He began his 2010 season at the Drake Relays, winning with a fast time of 48.67 seconds. In his next race, he ran 48.48 seconds.

On May 8, 2010, Javier set another personal and national record at the Ponce Grand Prix. He ran the 400m hurdles in an amazing 47.72 seconds. This was the best time in the world at that point in the season! On September 1, 2011, Javier won his second silver medal at the IAAF World Championships in Daegu, South Korea. He finished the race in 48.44 seconds.

Javier at the 2012 London Olympics

Javier competed in the 2012 Olympics in London on August 3, 4, and 6, 2012. Back home in Ponce, Puerto Rico, his family and friends were very excited. They watched his races on TV. Javier was also chosen to carry the flag for Puerto Rico during the Opening Ceremonies of the London Olympics. Many businesses in his hometown closed down for the ceremony, and the streets were empty as everyone watched.

Javier had the best overall time on the first day of the competition. He won his heat with a time of 48.33 seconds, moving on to the semi-finals. This race was very competitive, and many athletes qualified from it. Javier then won his semi-final race, beating two-time Olympic winner Angelo Taylor, with a time of 47.93 seconds.

On August 6, 2012, Javier won the bronze medal in the 400-meter hurdles final. His time was 48.10 seconds, less than half a second behind the gold medal winner. This was a huge moment for Puerto Rico! It was the country's first Olympic medal in 16 years. It was also the first Olympic athletics medal for Puerto Rico, as all their other medals had been won in boxing.

Javier's Best Times

Javier has set some impressive personal bests in his career:

Javier's Performance Over the Years

Here's how Javier's best times in the 400m hurdles improved each season:

Javier's Awards and Honors

Javier Culson has won many medals and received special recognition throughout his career:

¹Disqualified in the final

Other Recognitions and Celebrations

In 2010, Javier was voted "Puerto Rico's Athlete of the Year."

In 2011, the Puerto Rico House of Representatives honored him. This was because he was the first Puerto Rican athlete to win a medal at the 2011 World Championships in Athletics.

After his bronze medal win at the 2012 London Olympics, there were huge celebrations in Puerto Rico. The Governor, the Mayor of Ponce, Javier's family, and over 3,000 people watched his final race on a giant screen in Plaza Las Delicias. When Javier returned home to Ponce on August 14, 2012, his hometown held a big celebration in his honor.

See also

In Spanish: Javier Culson para niños

• List of Puerto Ricans