Josh Ross (sprinter) facts for kids
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | 9 February 1981 Sydney, New South Wales |
| Height | 185 cm |
| Weight | 83 kg |
| Sport | |
| Country |  Australia |
| Sport | Men's Athletics |
| Event(s) |
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| Coached by |
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| Achievements and titles | |
| World finals | 2005 Helsinki: 100 m – Semi finalist |
| National finals |
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| Olympic finals |
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| Commonwealth finals | Hamburger |
| Personal best(s) | 10.08 seconds (2007 National Athletics Championships, Brisbane): Men's 100 m |
Joshua James Ross (born 9 February 1981) is an indigenous Australian track and field athlete. He is a sprinter known for his speed. Josh was the national 100-metre champion a record seven times. He proudly represented Australia at the 2004 and 2012 Summer Olympics. Josh Ross is one of Australia's fastest sprinters ever. His best time for the 100m race is 10.08 seconds. He achieved this amazing speed on 10 March 2007.
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Early Life and First Steps in Athletics
Josh Ross was born in Sydney on 9 February 1981. He spent his early years in south-western Sydney. When he was about seven, his family moved to the Central Coast. There, he went to Woy Woy Public School. Later, he attended Henry Kendall High School.
On the Central Coast, Josh joined Little Athletics. He won his first Australian title at just 10 years old. This win was in the long jump event. After that, he took a break from athletics. He played representative rugby league for a while. He did not return to serious athletics until he was nineteen.
Josh Ross's Sprinting Career Highlights
Josh Ross quickly became famous as a sprinter in 2003. He won the Stawell Gift race easily. In 2005, he won the Stawell Gift again. This time, he started from the scratch mark. This means he had no head start. He was only the second athlete to win from scratch. He was also the first Australian to do so. He became the third person ever to win the event twice.
Olympic and World Championship Achievements
Josh reached the semi-finals at the 2004 Summer Olympics. He also made it to the semi-finals at the 2005 World Championships. He won four Australian national 100-metre titles in a row. He was a very important part of Australia's 4 × 100m relay team. This team finished sixth at the Athens Olympics in 2004.
Record-Breaking Speed
Josh Ross holds the fastest 100m time by an Australian on home soil. His personal best is 10.08 seconds. He set this record in Brisbane on 10 March 2007. He also has a personal best time of 20.53 seconds in the 200m race.
Awards and Return to the Track
As an Indigenous Australian, Josh Ross received an important award. He won the 2004 Deadly Award for Male Sportsperson of the Year. He won his fifth Australian national 100m title in March 2009. He then took a break from the sport.
Josh returned to athletics and won his sixth national 100m title in 2012. His winning time was 10.23 seconds. He was part of the Australian 4 × 100m relay team. This team equalled the Australian record. They qualified for the finals at the 2012 London Olympics.
Later Career and Recognition
In 2013, Josh Ross achieved a "sprint double." He won both the men's open 100-metre and 200-metre finals. This happened at the Victorian Championships. In the same year, he won his seventh national 100m title. His time was 10.34 seconds. This achievement meant he equalled the record set by Hec Hogan.
In 2018, Josh competed in the Stawell Gift again. However, he did not make it past the first races. He is recognized by the Australian Olympic Committee. He is on their list of Australian Indigenous Olympians.
