Renaldo Nehemiah facts for kids
Nehemiah in 1981
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| Born | March 24, 1959 Newark, New Jersey, U.S. |
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Football career |
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| No. 83 | |||||||||||||||||
| Position: | Wide receiver | ||||||||||||||||
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| Height: | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | ||||||||||||||||
| Weight: | 181 lb (82 kg) | ||||||||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||||||||
| High school: | Scotch Plains (NJ) Fanwood | ||||||||||||||||
| College: | Maryland | ||||||||||||||||
| Undrafted: | 1982 | ||||||||||||||||
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| Sport | |||||||||||||||||
| Sport | Athletics | ||||||||||||||||
| Event(s) | Sprint, hurdles | ||||||||||||||||
| Achievements and titles | |||||||||||||||||
| Personal best(s) | 100 m – 10.24 (1979) 200 m – 20.37 (1979) 110 mH – 12.93 (1981) |
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Medal record
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Renaldo "Skeets" Nehemiah (born March 24, 1959) is a famous American athlete. He was a top track and field star, specializing in the 110 m hurdles. Renaldo was ranked number one in the world for four years in a row. He also set a world record in the hurdles. He was the first person ever to run the 110-meter hurdles in under 13 seconds.
Later, Renaldo also played professional football. He was a wide receiver for the San Francisco 49ers in the National Football League (NFL). After his sports career, he started working in sports management.
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Renaldo's Track and Field Journey
Renaldo got the nickname "Skeets" when he was a baby. He crawled so fast that his family called him "Skeets." This nickname stuck with him throughout his life.
High School and College Success
In 1977, Renaldo became the national junior champion. This was the same year he finished Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School in New Jersey. In high school, he was incredibly fast. His best times were 12.9 seconds in the 110-meter hurdles and 35.8 seconds in the 300-meter hurdles. He was so much faster than others that his coach made him practice over higher hurdles. He was even named "High School Athlete of the Year" by Track and Field News magazine.
After high school, Renaldo went to the University of Maryland. There, he won three national college titles. This included the 1978-79 NCAA Indoor Championships.
Breaking World Records
Renaldo's second year at Maryland was amazing. He broke the world record in the 110-meter hurdles twice in just two weeks! First, he ran it in 13.16 seconds, then in 13.00 seconds. He won gold medals at the 1979 IAAF World Cup and the Pan-American Games. He also won his second of four U.S. national titles.
At the 1979 Penn Relays, Renaldo was a key runner for his university team. He helped them win several relay races. He even ran a very fast 400-meter leg in one relay. He later said that race was very painful, and he never ran another 400-meter race again.
Missing the Olympics and Making History
Renaldo was expected to win the 110-meter hurdles at the 1980 Summer Olympics. However, he could not compete. This was because 65 countries, including the U.S., boycotted the Games. Renaldo and other athletes received special Congressional Gold Medals for their efforts.
In 1981, Renaldo made history at a meeting in Zürich, Switzerland. He broke the world record for the 110-meter hurdles again. He became the first person ever to run the race in less than 13 seconds! His exact time was 12.93 seconds. He later said that race was not perfect, but he was determined to win.
Renaldo's World Records
Here are some of the world records Renaldo Nehemiah set:
| No. | Event | Time | Date | Year | Place |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | 50 m H | 6.36 | Feb 3 | 1979 | Edmonton |
| 2. | 55 m H | 6.89 | Jan 20 | 1979 | New York |
| 3. | 110 m H | 13.16 | Apr 14 | 1979 | San Jose |
| 4. | 110 m H | 13.00 | May 6 | 1979 | Westwood |
| 5. | 50 yd H | 5.98 | Feb 13 | 1981 | Toronto |
| 6. | 110 m H | 12.93 | Aug 19 | 1981 | Zurich |
| 7. | 50 yd H | 5.92 | Jan 29 | 1982 | Toronto |
| 8. | 60 yd H | 6.82 | Jan 30 | 1982 | Dallas |
Coaching and Potential
After his time in football, Renaldo returned to track. His coach, Pat Connolly, helped him a lot. Connolly believed Renaldo could have won two Olympic gold medals if he had stayed in track. She also thought he could have run the 100-meter dash in under 9.9 seconds. Connolly even believed Renaldo could have set a world record in the 400-meter hurdles if he had tried that event seriously.
Track Records for 110m Hurdles
As of September 15, 2024, Renaldo Nehemiah still holds these track records for the 110-meter hurdles:
| Location | Time | Windspeed m/s |
Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bern | 13.20 | + 1.3 | 29/08/1979 | |
| Champaign, IL. | 12.91 | + 3.5 | 01/06/1979 | |
| Düsseldorf | 13.40 | + 0.2 | 06/07/1978 | |
| Koblenz | 13.04 | 0.0 | 26/08/1981 | |
| San Juan | 13.20 | + 2.0 | 11/07/1979 | |
| Syracuse | 13.00 | + 3.5 | 26/07/1981 | |
| Västerås | 13.40 | + 0.5 | 26/06/1979 | |
| Viareggio | 13.31 | – 0.4 | 05/08/1981 | |
| Walnut, CA. | 13.19 | + 1.5 | 16/06/1979 | |
| Westwood, CA. | 13.00 | + 0.9 | 06/05/1979 | This was the world record for eight years. |
Renaldo's Football Career
Even though Renaldo never played football in college, he tried out for several NFL teams in 1982. He ended up signing with the San Francisco 49ers. He played as a wide receiver for three years. During that time, he caught 43 passes for 754 yards and scored four touchdowns. In 1985, the 49ers drafted Jerry Rice, another great receiver. This meant Renaldo was no longer needed, so he went back to track and field in 1986.
The Superstars Competition
Renaldo Nehemiah was the only person to win The Superstars four times. This was a TV competition where athletes from different sports competed in various events. He won in 1981, 1982, 1983, and 1986.
What Renaldo Does Now
Today, Renaldo Nehemiah works in sports management. He is part of a company called Athletics Managers. This company helps manage and market athletes. He has represented many famous athletes, including Justin Gatlin, Sha'Carri Richardson, and Olympic gold medalist Kirani James.
