John Capel Jr. facts for kids
John Capel works out in the Naval Support Activity (NSA) Fitness Center in preparation for the 2004 Summer Olympic Games.
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| Full name | John Capel Jr. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nationality |  United States |
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| Born | October 27, 1978 Brooksville, Florida |
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| Height | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 181 lb (82 kg) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | Track and field | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Event(s) | 100 meters, 200 meters | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| College team | University of Florida | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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Medal record
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John Capel Jr. (born October 27, 1978) is an American former track and field athlete. He became a world champion sprinter. Capel also played college football for the University of Florida. He was a member of the Florida Gators track and field team there too.
Contents
John Capel's Early Life and High School Sports
John Capel went to Hernando High School. He was known as one of the best wide receivers in the country for football. He was also a top sprinter in track and field. In 1997, he won the 100-meter and 200-meter races at the National Scholastic Championships.
He was named to several All-American teams for high school sports. Experts called him the best receiver prospect in the nation. He was also on the Parade All-American Team. In 1997, he ran for 1,229 yards and scored 12 touchdowns in football. He also caught 28 passes for 434 yards and three touchdowns. He won the state 4A championship in 1997 for both the 100-meter and 200-meter dashes.
John Capel's College Days at Florida
Capel received a sports scholarship to attend the University of Florida. He played for the Florida Gators football team in 1998 and 1999. He also joined the school's track team.
In 1998, as a freshman, Capel played in every football game. He had two catches and ran the ball 11 times for 80 yards. He scored his first touchdown against Georgia. He also returned punts and kickoffs.
As a sophomore in 1999, Capel again played in every football game. He had nine catches for 84 yards. He also ran for 63 yards. He returned nine kickoffs for 141 yards. He did not play football in 2000. This was because he was busy competing as a sprinter for the U.S. Olympic team. After the Olympics, he decided to become a professional athlete.
John Capel's Track and Field Career
Capel was an amazing sprinter in high school. He became known on the world stage in 1999. He left the University of Florida in April 2000 to focus only on track.
In 1999, he won the NCAA Outdoor 200-meter championship. He finished second in the NCAA Outdoor 100 meters. He also ran on the winning 4 x 100-meter relay team at the World University Games. He set a University of Florida record in the 200-meter dash. This time was one of the fastest in the world at that point.
Becoming a World Champion Sprinter
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Capel won the 200-meter sprint at the 2000 U.S. Olympic Trials. He set his personal best time of 19.85 seconds there. At the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia, he finished eighth in the 200-meter final.
His biggest achievement came in 2003. He won the 200-meter gold medal at the World Championships in Paris, France. In August 2005, he won the bronze medal in the 200-meter race at the 2005 World Championships.
A Break from Competition
In 2004, John Capel faced a temporary suspension from competing. This was due to a rule violation. He was suspended again in February 2006, which led to a two-year break from track.
In June 2008, Capel returned to competition. He tried to make the U.S. Olympic Sprint team for the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China. He did not make the team, but he ran a strong time of 10.06 seconds. This was impressive after being away from the sport for two years.
John Capel's Professional Football Career
The Chicago Bears picked Capel in the seventh round of the 2001 NFL draft. However, he was released during their training camp. In 2002, he spent some time with the Kansas City Chiefs during their training camp. But he was released again before the season started.
Life After Professional Sports
When John Capel was not competing in track meets, he worked for a company called Flagstone Pavers. He drove a forklift there. He also worked as a coach for track and field and football at his old school, Hernando High School. As of 2013, he was working as an assistant at Oak Hill Hospital. He is married to his high school sweetheart and they have four children.
John Capel's Best Times
John Capel has achieved some impressive personal best times in sprinting events:
| Event | Date | Venue | Time (seconds) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 55 meters | January 18, 2003 | Gainesville, Florida, United States | 6.03 |
| 60 meters | February 15, 2003 | Fayetteville, Arkansas, United States | 6.48 |
| 100 meters | June 19, 2004 | Eugene, Oregon, United States | 9.95 |
| 200 meters | July 23, 2000 | Sacramento, California, United States | 19.85 |
- All information from IAAF Profile
As of August 2024, Capel still holds three track records for the 200 meters. These include records in Athens, Georgia, USA (19.99, 1999), Boise, Idaho (19.87, 1999), and Sacramento, California (19.85, 2000).
See Also
In Spanish: John Capel para niños
- Florida Gators
- List of University of Florida Olympians
