Ryan Brathwaite facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Ryan Brathwaite

Personal information
Nationality	Barbados
Born	(1988-06-06) June 6, 1988 (age 37) Hillaby, St. Andrew
Height	1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Weight	77 kg (170 lb)
Sport
Sport	Running
Event(s)	110 metres hurdles
College team	Barton County Community College
Achievements and titles
Personal best(s)	110 m h: 13.14 s (Berlin 2009)
Medal record Representing  Barbados Men's athletics World Championships Gold 2009 Berlin 110 m hurdles Central American and Caribbean Games Gold 2010 Mayagüez 110 m hurdles CAC Championships Silver 2009 Havanna 110 m hurdles NACAC U-23 Championships Silver 2010 Miramar 110 m hurdles Pan American Junior Championships Bronze 2007 São Paulo 110 m hurdles CAC Junior Championships (U20) Gold 2006 Port of Spain 110 m hurdles CARIFTA Games Junior (U20) Gold 2006 Les Abymes 110 m hurdles Gold 2007 Providenciales 110 m hurdles Silver 2005 Bacolet, Tobago 110 m hurdles World Youth Championships Silver 2005 Marrakesh 110 m hurdles CAC Junior Championships (U17) Gold 2004 Coatzacoalcos 100 m hurdles
Updated on 22 January 2015.

Ryan Brathwaite was born on June 6, 1988. He is a track and field athlete from Barbados. He is famous for winning the gold medal in the 110 metres hurdles race. This big win happened at the 2009 World Championships in Athletics in Berlin.

Because of his great achievements, Ryan was honored on September 17, 2009. He was given the special title of Ambassador. Ryan comes from the Hillaby area in St. Andrew. Even though he shares a birthplace, last name, and sport with Shane Brathwaite, they are not related.

Ryan's Athletics Journey

Ryan first competed on the world stage at the 2005 World Youth Championships in Athletics. He won a silver medal in the 110 meter hurdles event. He then had more success in regional competitions, winning the 2006 CAC Junior Championships.

As an adult athlete, he competed at the 2007 World Championships in Athletics. He made it to the semi-finals in the sprint hurdles. Ryan also represented Barbados at the Athletics at the 2007 Pan American Games. There, he finished in fourth place.

Setting New Records

Ryan set a new national record at the 2008 Central American and Caribbean Championships in Athletics. He ran his heat in 13.49 seconds. He finished fourth in the final race.

He improved his time even more at the 2008 Summer Olympics. He ran 13.38 seconds in the heats. Ryan reached the Olympic semi-finals but did not make it to the final.

Becoming a World Champion

In 2009, Ryan broke a championship record at the 2009 Central American and Caribbean Championships in Athletics. This happened in the semi-finals. However, he was beaten in the final by Dayron Robles, who was the Olympic champion at the time.

At the 2009 World Championships in Athletics, some top athletes like Robles and Liu Xiang were not able to compete in the final due to injuries. Ryan took this chance to shine. He set a new personal best of 13.18 seconds in the semi-finals. Then, he ran even faster, 13.14 seconds, to win the gold medal! This made him the 2009 world champion. At just 21 years old, he was the youngest person ever to win this event.

After his big gold medal win, he also won at the Memorial Van Damme meeting. He ended his very successful year with another gold medal at the 2009 IAAF World Athletics Final.

Ryan's Best Times

Here are Ryan Brathwaite's fastest times in his main events:

Images for kids

• 

  Ryan Brathwaite competing in the 110m hurdles.

See also

• Barbados at the Olympics