Roger Kingdom facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Roger Kingdom

Kingdom (center)
Personal information
Full name	Roger Nona Kingdom
Born	(1962-08-26) August 26, 1962 (age 62) Vienna, Georgia, United States
Alma mater	University of Pittsburgh
Height	185 cm (6 ft 1 in)
Weight	91 kg (201 lb)
Medal record Men's athletics Representing the United States Olympic Games Gold 1984 Los Angeles 110 m hurdles Gold 1988 Seoul 110 m hurdles World Championships Bronze 1995 Gothenburg 110 m hurdles IAAF World Indoor Championships Gold 1989 Budapest 60 m hurdles Summer Universiade Gold 1989 Duisburg 110 m hurdles IAAF World Cup Gold 1989 Barcelona 110 m hurdles Pan American Games Gold 1983 Caracas 110 m hurdles Gold 1995 Mar del Plata 110 m hurdles
Updated on 10 February 2014.

Roger Kingdom, born on August 26, 1962, is a famous American athlete. He was an amazing hurdler, which means he was great at running over obstacles. Roger won two Olympic gold medals in the 110-meter hurdles. He even set a world record in 1989! After his racing career, Roger became a coach. He now helps athletes get stronger and faster. He works as a speed and conditioning coach for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, a team in the NFL.

Roger Kingdom's Early Life and Sports

Roger Kingdom grew up in Vienna, Georgia. From a young age, he was a talented athlete. He was good at the high jump and throwing the discus. He was also a skilled American football player.

College Sports and Championships

Roger went to the University of Pittsburgh on a football scholarship. However, he really shined on the school's track team. In 1983, he won the national championship for the 110-meter hurdles outdoors. The next year, in 1984, he won the national indoor championship for the 55-meter hurdles.

Roger Kingdom's Amazing Hurdling Career

Roger Kingdom had a long and successful career in the 110-meter high hurdles. He won his first Olympic gold medal in 1984. This was a huge achievement for him.

Winning Back-to-Back Olympic Gold Medals

In 1988, Roger was unbeatable all season. Everyone expected him to win his second Olympic title. He competed in the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, South Korea. Roger showed incredible skill and speed. He won the race by a large distance. He was the first person to run the Olympic final in under 13 seconds, finishing in 12.98 seconds. This was an Olympic record that lasted until 1996. Roger Kingdom is only the second athlete to win the 110-meter hurdles Olympic title twice in a row.

Setting a World Record in Hurdles

In 1989, Roger Kingdom set a new World Record for the 110-meter high hurdles. He ran it in an amazing 12.92 seconds in Zürich, Switzerland. This record stood for four years. It was finally broken in 1993 by just one-hundredth of a second.

Overcoming Injuries and Returning to Win

In 1991, Roger had surgery on his knee. This was to fix an injury and remove some bone chips. It was a tough time for him. But he worked hard to recover and came back strong. In 1995, he won a gold medal at the Pan American Games. He also earned a bronze medal at the World Championships in Athletics that same year. Roger stopped competing as an athlete in 1999.

Hall of Fame Inductions

In 2006, Roger Kingdom was honored by being added to the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame. Later, in 2018, he was part of the first group of athletes inducted into the University of Pittsburgh's Pitt Athletics Hall of Fame.

Roger Kingdom's Coaching Career

After his successful career as an athlete, Roger Kingdom became a coach. He wanted to help other athletes achieve their best.

Coaching at Universities

In 2004, Roger joined the athletics staff at California University of Pennsylvania. He started as an assistant coach for Track & Field and Cross Country. By 2006, he became the director of both teams. In 2018, he worked as the Interim Director of Track & Field/Cross Country at the University of Central Florida.

Coaching in the NFL

On March 6, 2014, Roger Kingdom was hired by the NFL's Arizona Cardinals. He worked as an assistant strength and conditioning coach. His main goal was to help the team's players improve their speed. In 2019, Roger returned to the NFL. He became the speed and conditioning coach for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He worked with head coach Bruce Arians, who he had also worked with at the Cardinals. In 2021, Roger Kingdom helped the Tampa Bay Buccaneers win a Super Bowl title!

Roger Kingdom's Personal Life

Roger Kingdom is a member of the Omega Psi Phi fraternity. He lives in Orlando, Florida with his wife, Mary. They have three daughters named Jierra, Cierra, and Carina.

Roger Kingdom's Achievements

(110 m hurdles unless stated)

• 1983
  • 1983 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championship
    • collegiate national champion, 13.53 sec.
  • 1983 Pan American Games - Caracas, Venezuela
    • gold medal 13.44 seconds
• 1984
  • 1984 NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championship
    • 55m hurdles collegiate national champion, 7.08 sec
  • 1984 Summer Olympics - Los Angeles, U.S.
    • gold medal 13.20 sec.
• 1988
  • 1988 Summer Olympics - Seoul, South Korea
    • gold medal 12.98 sec. OLYMPIC RECORD
• 1989
  • 1989 IAAF World Cup - Barcelona, Spain
    • gold medal 12.87 sec. Wind Aided
  • 1989 IAAF World Indoor Championships - Budapest, Hungary
    • 60 m hurdles gold medal 7.43 sec.
• 1990
  • Goodwill Games - Seattle, USA
    • gold medal 13.47 sec.
• 1995
  • 1995 World Championships in Athletics - Gothenburg, Sweden
    • bronze medal 13.19 sec.

Awards and Recognition

• World Athletics Awards

World Athlete of the Year (Men)：1989

See also

In Spanish: Roger Kingdom para niños

• Olympic medalists in athletics