LaShawn Merritt Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids
LaShawn Merritt

Merritt at the 2012 Tribeca Film Festival.

Personal information

Born

June 27, 1986 (age 39)
Portsmouth, Virginia, U.S.

Height

6 ft 2 in (188 cm)

Weight

185 lb (84 kg)

Sport

Track and field

Event(s)

400 metres

College team

East Carolina Pirates

Coached by

Dennis Mitchell

Medal record

Event	1st	2nd	3rd
Olympic Games	3	0	1
World Championships	8	3	0
World Indoor Championships	1	0	0
World Junior Championships	3	0	0
Total	15	3	1

Men's athletics

Representing the United States

Olympic Games

Gold

2008 Beijing

400 m

Gold

2008 Beijing

4×400 m relay

Gold

2016 Rio de Janeiro

4×400 m relay

Bronze

2016 Rio de Janeiro

400 m

World Championships

Gold

2005 Helsinki

4×400 m relay

Gold

2007 Osaka

4×400 m relay

Gold

2009 Berlin

400 m

Gold

2009 Berlin

4×400 m relay

Gold

2011 Daegu

4×400 m relay

Gold

2013 Moscow

400 m

Gold

2013 Moscow

4×400 m relay

Gold

2015 Beijing

4×400 m relay

Silver

2007 Osaka

400 m

Silver

2011 Daegu

400 m

Silver

2015 Beijing

400 m

World Indoor Championships

Gold

2006 Moscow

4×400 m relay

World Relay Championships

Gold

2014 Nassau

4×400 m relay

Gold

2015 Nassau

4×400 m relay

Gold

2017 Nassau

4×400 m relay

World Junior Championships

Gold

2004 Grosseto

400 m

Gold

2004 Grosseto

4×100 m relay

Gold

2004 Grosseto

4×400 m relay

Representing Americas

Continental Cup

Gold

2006 Athens

400 m

Gold

2006 Athens

4×400 m

Gold

2014 Marrakech

400 m

Bronze

2014 Marrakech

4×400 m

LaShawn Merritt (born June 27, 1986) is a retired American track and field athlete. He was a top runner in sprinting events, especially the 400 metres. He even became an Olympic champion in this race. His fastest time of 43.65 seconds makes him one of the fastest 400m runners ever.

LaShawn was a very successful young athlete. He won the 400m gold medal at the 2004 World Junior Championships in Athletics. He also set two world junior records in relay races. He joined the American 4×400 meter relay team and helped them win at the 2006 IAAF World Indoor Championships. In 2007, he showed his individual talent by winning a silver medal in the 400m at the World Championships.

In 2008, LaShawn beat his rival, Jeremy Wariner, to win the Olympic final. He set a new personal best time. He also helped the American team break the Olympic record in the relay race. LaShawn became a World Champion in 2009, winning both the 400m and the 4×400m relay at the 2009 World Championships in Athletics.

LaShawn Merritt had a break from competing between 2009 and 2011. This was because he had accidentally used certain substances that were not allowed in sports.

About LaShawn Merritt
LaShawn's Best Times
Images for kids
See also

About LaShawn Merritt

LaShawn grew up in Portsmouth, Virginia. He went to Woodrow Wilson High School. He spent one year running track at East Carolina University. Then, he signed a contract with Nike. This meant he could no longer compete in college sports.

Merritt then moved to Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia. He later studied business at Norfolk State University, also in Norfolk.

Starting His Running Career

LaShawn first became known as a young runner at the 2004 World Junior Championships in Athletics. He won the gold medal in the 400 meters. He also helped the American relay teams set two junior world records. These were in the 4×100 and 4×400 meter relay races.

In 2005, he took part in his first big senior championship, the 2005 World Championships in Athletics. He was a substitute for the men's 4×400m relay team. He helped the team win their first race. The American team then won the gold medal in the final.

In 2006, he joined the senior ranks. He was chosen for the 4×400m relay team for the 2006 IAAF World Indoor Championships. With his teammates, he won the World Indoor title. Outdoors, he ran his best time of 44.14 seconds. This earned him a bronze medal at the 2006 IAAF World Athletics Final. He also won the 400m race at the 2006 IAAF World Cup.

Before the 400m final at the 2007 World Championships in Athletics in Osaka, LaShawn wanted to win. He ran his first race under 44 seconds, finishing in 43.96 seconds. He beat Olympic champion Angelo Taylor. But he could not beat the champion, Jeremy Wariner. Still, the silver medal was his first in the 400m at a world championship. He also helped the United States' 4×400 meter relay team win gold. With Wariner not competing, LaShawn won the gold medal at the 2007 IAAF World Athletics Final.

Olympic Champion and Rivalries

In 2008, LaShawn had a big rivalry with Jeremy Wariner. Wariner had won the 400m at every major championship since 2004. They raced many times in the 2008 IAAF Golden League. LaShawn won his first big race against Wariner in Berlin. A month later, he won at the U.S. Olympic Trials. He beat Wariner again to earn his spot in the Olympics.

Merritt winning 2008 Olympic gold, a second ahead of Jeremy Wariner

LaShawn won the 400m at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. Many expected a close race, but LaShawn won easily. He finished 0.99 seconds ahead of Wariner. This was the biggest winning difference in an Olympic 400m final. His time of 43.75 seconds was a new personal best. He then joined Wariner, Angelo Taylor, and David Neville for the men's 4 × 400m relay. The team broke the Olympic record that had stood since 1992. They ran the second fastest time ever in that event.

After the Olympics, LaShawn lost to Wariner at a race in Zurich. But LaShawn had won all the most important races that season. He ended the year as the Olympic and American champion in the 400m. He decided not to compete indoors in 2009. He wanted to focus on getting better.

World Champion and Comeback

In 2009, LaShawn won the 400m at the U.S. Championships. He ran his best time of 44.50 seconds. At the 2009 World Championships in Athletics in Berlin, he won the 400m again. He ran 44.06 seconds, beating Wariner once more.

After his break from competing, LaShawn returned to the track in 2011. He finished second at a race in Stockholm. His time was 44.74 seconds. He earned a spot at the 2011 World Championships in Daegu, South Korea. This was because he was the 2009 World Champion. At the championships, he ran a world-leading time of 44.35 seconds. He won the silver medal behind Kirani James of Grenada. He then helped the United States' 4 × 400m relay team win a gold medal.

In 2012, LaShawn was the top qualifier for the Olympic Trials. But two weeks before the track and field events at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, he hurt his hamstring. Because of this injury, he could not finish his 400m race at the Olympics.

In 2016, LaShawn qualified for the U.S. team again for the 400 meters. This was for the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. He ran a very fast time of 43.85 seconds. But he won the bronze medal. Kirani James won silver, and Wayde van Niekerk of South Africa won gold with a new world record of 43.03 seconds.

LaShawn Merritt announced he was retiring after the 2017 World Championships in Athletics.

LaShawn's Best Times

LaShawn Merritt is one of only six men ever to run the 200 meters in under 20 seconds and the 400 meters in under 44 seconds. His personal best for the 400 meters is 43.65 seconds. He achieved this in Beijing on August 26, 2015.