LaTasha Colander facts for kids

LaTasha Colander, Sydney 2000
Quick facts for kids Personal information
Born	August 23, 1976 (1976-08-23) (age 49) Portsmouth, Virginia, U.S.
Height	5 ft 5 in
Weight	130 lb
Medal record Women's athletics Representing the  United States Olympic Games Gold 2000 Sydney 4 × 400 m Relay

LaTasha Colander (born August 23, 1976) is a retired American track and field sprinter. She competed for the United States in many international events. LaTasha was born in Portsmouth, Virginia. In 1994, she received a scholarship to attend the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she later graduated.

Early Career and Success

Starting with Hurdles

When LaTasha Colander began her career in 1994, she focused on the 100-meter hurdles. She became the USA Juniors champion in this event. She also earned second place at the World Junior Championships.

Switching to Sprints

Soon after, LaTasha decided to switch to sprint races. This change proved to be a great move for her. She became the U.S. champion in the 400-meter race in both 2000 and 2001.

Setting a World Record

In April 2000, LaTasha was part of a team that set a new women's world record. They achieved this in the 4 × 200-meter relay race. This record stood for more than 15 years, showing how fast and strong her team was.

Olympic Achievements

Gold Medal in Sydney

LaTasha Colander achieved a major goal at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia. She won a gold medal as part of the 4 × 400-meter relay team. This was a huge moment in her career.

Medal Restoration

Later, in 2007, there was a situation involving a teammate. Because of this, the International Olympic Committee initially took away the team's medals. However, after a successful appeal in 2010, all team members, except for the one involved, had their gold medals given back. This meant LaTasha's Olympic gold medal was restored.

Focusing on Shorter Races

After the 2000 Olympics, LaTasha faced some challenges. She missed the 2001 World Championships due to a leg injury. In 2003, she decided to focus on the shorter 100-meter race. She then won the U.S. Olympic Trials for this event in 2004. At the 2005 World Championships, she finished fifth in the 200-meter race.

Beyond the Track

Helping Others with LC Treasures Within Foundation

In 2000, LaTasha Colander started her own organization called the LC Treasures Within Foundation. The main goal of this foundation is to help kids, families, and communities. It aims to make them stronger through education, sports, and positive values.

Hall of Fame Recognition

LaTasha's amazing career and contributions were recognized in 2014. She was inducted into the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame. This honor celebrates her achievements in sports and her impact on others.

Major Achievements

Year	Competition	Venue	Position	Event	Notes
Representing the  United States
1994	World Junior Championships	Lisbon, Portugal	2nd	100m hurdles	13.30
			—	4 × 100 m relay	DQ
2000	Olympic Games	Sydney, Australia	quarter-finals	400 m	52.07
			1st	4 × 400 m	3:22.62
2004	Olympic Games	Athens, Greece	8th	100 m	11.18
			—	4 × 100 m	DNF
2005	World Championships	Helsinki, Finland	5th	200 m	22.66

More Information

• LaTasha Colander at World AthleticsLua error in Module:EditAtWikidata at line 29: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value).
• LaTasha Colander at USA Track & Field
• LaTasha Colander at the United States Olympic & Paralympic CommitteeLua error in Module:EditAtWikidata at line 29: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). (archived 2022-12-21)
• LaTasha Colander at Olympics.com (archived: OlympicChannel.com and Olympic.org)
• LaTasha Colander-Richardson at OlympediaLua error in Module:EditAtWikidata at line 29: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value).
• LaTasha Colander Clark at the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame

See also

In Spanish: LaTasha Colander para niños