Leroy Burrell facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Leroy Burrell

Burrell in 2019
Personal information
Full name	Leroy Russel Burrell
Born	(1967-02-21) February 21, 1967 (age 58) Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Residence	Houston, Texas, U.S.
Height	6 ft 0 in
Weight	180 lb
Sport
Sport	Track and field
Event(s)	Sprints and long jump
College team	Houston Cougars (1985-1990)
Club	Santa Monica Track Club
Coached by	Tom Tellez
Retired	1998
Achievements and titles
Personal best(s)	60 m: 6.48 s (1991) 100 m: 9.85 s (1994) 200 m: 20.12 s (1992) Long jump: 8.37 m (1989)
Medal record Men's athletics Representing the  United States Olympic Games Gold 1992 Barcelona 4×100 m relay World Championships Gold 1991 Tokyo 4×100 m relay Gold 1993 Stuttgart 4×100 m relay Silver 1991 Tokyo 100 m Goodwill Games Gold 1990 Seattle 100 m Silver 1994 St. Petersburg 100 m World Cup Silver 1989 Barcelona 100 m

Leroy Russel Burrell (born February 21, 1967) is a famous American former track and field athlete. He was an amazing sprinter who twice broke the world record for the 100-meter dash.

Early Life and College Years

Leroy Burrell grew up in Lansdowne, Pennsylvania. He went to Penn Wood High School. There, he was so good at track that he almost won the state championship by himself. He won the 100-meter, 200-meter, long jump, and triple jump events.

Even though he had poor eyesight from a childhood eye injury, Leroy was excellent at track and field from a young age. He attended the University of Houston from 1986 to 1990. During his college years, he was named an NCAA All-American nine times. He also set a new NCAA outdoor record in the long jump.

Professional Track and Field Career

Leroy Burrell had a very successful career, even though he faced some challenges with injuries. In 1990, he won a gold medal in the 100-meter race at the Goodwill Games in Seattle. He beat fellow sprinting legend Carl Lewis in that race.

At the 1991 World Championships in Athletics, Leroy won a silver medal in the 100-meter race. He finished right behind Carl Lewis.

Olympic Games and World Records

The 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona was a big moment. In the 100-meter final, Leroy had a false start. When the race finally began again, he was a bit slow off the starting line and finished fifth. However, he still won a gold medal as part of the U.S. 4 × 100-meter relay team. This team set a new world record for the relay!

Leroy first set the 100-meter world record in June 1991 with a time of 9.90 seconds. This record was later broken by Carl Lewis. But in July 1994, Leroy broke the world record again! He ran the 100 meters in an incredible 9.85 seconds. This record stood for two years until the 1996 Summer Olympics.

Life After Competing

After he stopped competing in 1998, Leroy Burrell became a coach. He took over from his old college coach, Tom Tellez, at the University of Houston. As a coach, he led the University of Houston's track and field teams to many victories. The men's team won 14 Conference USA titles, and the women's team won nine titles.

In 2014, he was honored by being inducted into the Texas Track and Field Coaches Hall of Fame. In June 2022, Leroy left his coaching job at Houston to become the head coach for Auburn track and field.

Personal Life

Leroy Burrell married Michelle Finn in 1994. She was also a sprinter. They have three sons: Cameron, Joshua, and Jaden. Cameron also became a sprinter for the Houston Cougars. In 2017, Cameron joined his father in the exclusive club of sprinters who have run the 100 meters in under 10 seconds. Leroy's younger sister, Dawn, was also a top track and field athlete. She was part of the 2000 U.S. Olympic team and won a world indoor championship in the long jump in 2001.

Images for kids

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  Leroy Burrell in 2019

See also

In Spanish: Leroy Burrell para niños