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 40) 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 25 July 1984) is a famous Puerto Rican athlete. He is best known for competing in the 400-metre hurdles race. Javier won a bronze medal at the Summer Olympics in 2012.

He started his journey in hurdling as a teenager. Since then, he has won many medals in different events. These include the Pan American Junior Athletics Championships and the IAAF World Championships. He also competed in the IAAF Diamond League, finishing second in 2011. Javier has won medals at 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 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio, he reached the finals but was disqualified due to a false start.

Javier Culson's Early Life and Family

Javier Culson Pérez was born on 25 July 1984, in a place called Barrio Playa in Ponce, Puerto Rico. His parents are Señor Culson and Judith Pérez. He grew up with three siblings: Javier Ramón Antonio, Judith Marie, and Mary Caridad. Their mother, Judith Pérez, raised them on her own in Playa de Ponce.

When Javier was a child, he often felt unwell. He had health issues that sometimes meant he had to spend time in hospitals. His mother, Judith, worked hard to take care of him and his siblings. She even took on different jobs like babysitting and ironing clothes to support her family.

How Javier Started in Sports

As a teenager, Javier and his siblings were all involved in sports. Javier liked basketball and extreme sports. He also enjoyed Long-distance running races. When he was 16, he met Héctor Amill, who was training his sister. Héctor saw Javier's talent for hurdling and became his coach. He has been Javier's coach ever since.

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 was active in the Liga Atlética Interuniversitaria (LAI). This is the top inter-university sports league in Puerto Rico. Javier's first daughter, Yarién Culson Corcino, was born on 29 May 2008. He often dedicates his victories to her.

Javier Culson's Athletic Achievements

Javier Culson Pérez won his first international gold medal in his hometown. This was at the 2006 Ibero-American Championships in Athletics. He also earned 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.

In 2008, Javier was one of only six track athletes on the Puerto Rican Olympic team. He competed at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. He reached the semi-finals but did not make it to the final race.

Setting New Records

Javier started his 2009 season by winning an 800 metres race in Carolina, Puerto Rico. 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 18 August 2009, Javier won a silver medal in the 400m hurdles finals at the IAAF World Championships in Berlin, Germany. This was the first medal for Puerto Rico in athletics at the IAAF World Championships.

Javier signed a contract with Michael Johnson's Ultimate Performance Sport Management. This agency works with top athletes. In January 2010, the COPUR named Javier "Athlete of the Year."

Winning More World Championship Medals

After some time off, Javier started his training again. He won the 800 meters race at the Clásico de Primavera. He began his 2010 season at the Drake Relays, winning with a time of 48.67 seconds. This was one of the best times of the year so far.

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

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

Javier Culson at the 2012 London Olympics

Javier Culson competed in the 2012 Summer Olympics in London on August 3, 4, and 6. His family in Ponce, Puerto Rico, watched eagerly. They were "glued to their TVs" to see him compete. Javier was also chosen to be the flagbearer for Puerto Rico during the Opening Ceremonies. Many businesses in his hometown closed, and the streets were empty as people watched the ceremony.

Javier had the best overall time on the first day of competition. He won his heat with a time of 48.33 seconds, moving on to the semi-finals. He then won his semi-final race, beating two-time Olympic winner Angelo Taylor with a time of 47.93 seconds.

On 6 August 2012, Javier won the bronze medal in the 400-meter hurdles final. His time was 48.10 seconds. 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 previous medals were in boxing.

Javier Culson's Best Times

Javier Culson has set several personal bests in his career. Here are some of his top performances:

Javier Culson's Performance Progression

Javier's times in the 400m hurdles have changed over the years. This table shows how his performance has progressed:

Javier Culson's Awards and Medals

Javier Culson has won many awards and medals throughout his athletic career. Here are some of his notable achievements:

¹Disqualified in the final

Other Recognitions and Celebrations

In 2010, Javier Culson was voted "Puerto Rico's Athlete of the Year." This was a big honor for him.

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

When Javier competed in the London 2012 Olympics, many people in Puerto Rico watched his final race. The Governor of Puerto Rico, Luis Fortuno, and Ponce Mayor Maria Melendez watched with over 3,000 people on a huge screen. After his bronze medal win, Javier's hometown of Ponce held a big celebration for him on 14 August 2012.

See also

• List of Puerto Ricans