Reggie Witherspoon (sprinter) facts for kids
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Birth name | Reginald Edwin Witherspoon | |||||||||||||
Born | May 31, 1985 | (age 40)|||||||||||||
Medal record
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Reginald Edwin "Reggie" Witherspoon was born on May 31, 1985, in Pasadena, California. He is an American sprinter who became famous for his speed on the track. Reggie is best known for winning a gold medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. He was part of the United States team in the 4 × 400 meter relay race.
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Who is Reggie Witherspoon?
Reggie Witherspoon is a talented athlete from the United States. He specializes in sprinting, which means running very fast over short distances. His hard work and dedication helped him become an Olympic champion.
Reggie's Early Running Days
Even before the Olympics, Reggie was a record-breaker. He set an amazing record while still in high school.
High School Record Holder
In 2003, Reggie ran the 400 meter race in just 46.11 seconds. This was at the National Scholastic Indoor Championships in New York. His time set a new Indoor National High School Record for the 400 meters. This record showed how fast he was even as a young runner.
College Athletics Career
After high school, Reggie continued his running career in college. He attended two different universities.
Competing for Top Universities
Reggie first competed for the University of Florida. Later, he joined the track team at Baylor University. Both schools are known for their strong athletics programs. Competing at these universities helped him improve his skills even more.
Olympic Gold Medalist
Reggie Witherspoon reached the peak of his career at the 2008 Summer Olympics. He played a key role in helping his country win a gold medal.
The 4 × 400 Meter Relay
At the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Reggie was part of the USA's men's 4 × 400 meter relay team. In a relay race, four runners each run a part of the total distance. Reggie ran in the early races, known as the "heats." His strong performance helped the team qualify for the final. The USA team then went on to win the gold medal in the final race. This made Reggie an Olympic champion.
See also
- In Spanish: Reggie Witherspoon para niños