Michael Marsh (sprinter) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Michael Marsh

Personal information
Nationality	American
Born	(1967-08-04) August 4, 1967 (age 57) Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Height	5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Weight	150 lb (68 kg)
Sport
Sport	Running
Event(s)	100 metres, 200 metres
College team	UCLA Bruins
Club	Santa Monica Track Club
Medal record Men's athletics (track and field) Representing the  United States Olympic Games Gold 1992 Barcelona 200 metres Gold 1992 Barcelona 4×100 metres relay Silver 1996 Atlanta 4×100 metres relay World Championships Gold 1991 Tokyo 4x100 metres relay

Michael Lawrence Marsh (born August 4, 1967) is a retired American sprinter. He became an Olympic champion in the 200-meter race in 1992. He also won gold medals in relay races.

Michael Marsh's Early Life and Career

Michael Marsh was born in Los Angeles. He went to Hawthorne High School. There, he was a talented runner. He often ran with another great athlete, Henry Thomas. Together, they were part of championship relay teams.

In 1985, Michael won the 200-meter race at the CIF California State Meet. This happened when Henry Thomas had to miss the event due to surgery. Michael then went on to run for UCLA. His best result there was finishing third at the NCAA Championships. In 2016, he was honored by being added to the UCLA Athletics Hall of Fame.

Becoming a World-Class Sprinter

Even though Michael was a strong runner, it took some time for him to join international events. In 1991, he was chosen for the American relay team. They competed at the World Championships. Michael ran in the early races, helping his team set a new record. The American team later won the final, setting a world record.

In 1992, Michael showed amazing speed. He ran the 100-meter race in 9.93 seconds. This was one of the fastest times ever recorded back then. He was also elected into the Mt. SAC Relays Hall of Fame in 2003.

Olympic Glory in Barcelona 1992

At the 1992 U.S. Olympic Trials, Michael finished fourth in the 100-meter race. This was not enough for an individual spot. However, he did qualify for the relay team. In the 200-meter race, he placed second. This earned him a spot at the Barcelona Olympics.

In Barcelona, Michael surprised everyone in his 200-meter semi-final race. He ran a time of 19.73 seconds. This was almost as fast as the world record at the time. What made it even more amazing was that he slowed down before the finish line! He later said he wanted to save energy for the final race. Many believed he could have broken the world record if he had run full speed.

In the 200-meter final, Michael won the gold medal. He beat Frankie Fredericks from Namibia. He also helped the American team set a new world record in the 4 x 100-meter relay. They finished in an incredible 37.40 seconds.

Later Career and Achievements

After his Olympic wins, Michael continued to compete. In 1993, he finished fourth in the 200-meter race at the World Championships. In 1994, he was part of a team that set a world record in the 4 x 200-meter relay. This record stood for many years.

In 1995, Michael won the national championships in the 100-meter race. He then represented the U.S. at the World Championships. In 1996, he qualified for all three sprint events at the Atlanta Olympics. He reached the final in all of them. He finished fifth in the 100-meter race. In the 200-meter race, he finished last. The American 4 x 100-meter relay team, with Michael as a runner, won a silver medal. They were beaten by the Canadian team.

In 1997, Michael reached the 100-meter final at the World Championships. However, he finished last due to a foot injury. This injury needed surgery right away. In 2021, Michael Marsh was elected into the National Track and Field Hall of Fame.

Michael Marsh's Track Records

Here are some of Michael Marsh's best times in the 100-meter and 200-meter races.

100 metres

200 metres

See also

In Spanish: Michael Marsh para niños