Wallace Spearmon facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Wallace Spearmon

Spearmon at 2010 Weltklasse Zürich
Personal information
Born	(1984-12-24) December 24, 1984 (age 40) Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Height	6 ft 2 in (188 cm)
Weight	190 lb (86 kg)
Sport
Sport	Running
Event(s)	100 meters, 200 meters
Medal record Men's athletics Representing the  United States World Championships Gold 2007 Osaka 4 × 100 m relay Silver 2005 Helsinki 200 m Bronze 2007 Osaka 200 m Bronze 2009 Berlin 200 m Pan American Games Gold 2015 Toronto 4 × 100 m World Indoor Championships Gold 2006 Moscow 4 × 400 m relay NACAC Under-23 Championships in Athletics Gold 2004 Sherbrooke 200 m Gold 2004 Sherbrooke 4 × 100 m relay Representing Americas Continental Cup Gold 2006 Athens 200 m Gold 2006 Athens 4 × 100 m relay Gold 2010 Split 200 m Gold 2010 Split 4 × 100 m relay

Wallace Spearmon Jr. (born December 24, 1984) is a retired American runner. He was known for his speed in the 200-meter sprint. Wallace won many awards, including a silver medal at the 2005 World Championships in Athletics. He also earned bronze medals at the World Championships in 2007 and 2009.

Wallace Spearmon Jr. is one of the fastest 200-meter runners ever. His best time for the 200 meters is 19.65 seconds. He also held the American indoor record for this distance.

Wallace Spearmon's Running Career

Wallace Spearmon Jr. went to Fayetteville High School. Later, he attended the University of Arkansas. There, he competed in college track and field for two years.

Early Wins in College and World Championships

While at the University of Arkansas, Wallace won several important races. He won the 200-meter NCAA Outdoor title in both 2004 and 2005. He also won the NCAA Indoor 200-meter title in 2005.

In August 2005, Wallace earned a silver medal. This was for the 200 meters at the World Championships. Two years later, in August 2007, he won a bronze medal at the World Championships.

Wallace also won the 200 meters at the USA outdoor athletics championships in 2006. He finished second in the same event in 2007. At the 2009 World Championships in Berlin, he won another bronze medal.

Fastest Times and Olympic Moments

Wallace Spearmon Jr.'s fastest time in the 200 meters is 19.65 seconds. This amazing speed made him one of the quickest runners in history. Only a few athletes have run faster than him in the 200 meters.

His personal best in the 100 meters is 9.96 seconds. He achieved this time in Shanghai in 2007.

At the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, Wallace first finished third in the 200 meters. However, he was later disqualified because he stepped out of his lane. This meant he did not receive a medal from that race.

Later Career Highlights

In April 2010, Wallace ran a fast 200-meter race in Jamaica. He finished with a time of 19.98 seconds, right behind Usain Bolt. He also won the first Diamond Race Trophy in the 200 meters at the Weltklasse Zurich meeting. He set a new meeting record of 19.79 seconds.

In 2012, Wallace broke a record at the Drake Relays. He ran the 200 meters in 20.02 seconds. At the 2012 London Olympics, he finished fourth in the 200 meters final. His time was 19.90 seconds, just a tiny bit slower than the medal winners.

In 2014, Wallace received a short suspension. This was because he took a medicine that contained a banned substance. He had not asked for permission to use it. The sports authority accepted his explanation, treating it as a minor mistake.

Wallace Spearmon's Personal Life

Wallace Spearmon Jr.'s father, Wallace Spearmon Sr., was also a sprinter. His father won a bronze medal in the 200 meters at the Pan American Games in 1987.

Wallace is good friends with famous sprinter Usain Bolt. They are known for their jokes and strong friendship.

Wallace also appeared on the TV show MythBusters. In 2011, he helped test if a human could run on water. In 2013, he returned to the show to race against a car.

Personal Best Times

Spearmon at the 2007 World Championships

Wallace Spearmon Jr. achieved impressive times in various running events:

• 60 meters: 6.66 seconds (Fayetteville, Arkansas, 2012)
• 100 meters: 9.96 seconds (Shanghai, China, 2007)
• 200 meters: 19.65 seconds (Daegu, South Korea, 2006)
• 200 meters (indoors): 20.10 seconds (Fayetteville, Arkansas, 2005) - This was a world record for athletes under 23 years old at the time.
• 300 meters (indoors): 31.88 seconds (Fayetteville, Arkansas, 2006) - This was a former world record.
• 400 meters: 45.22 seconds (Paris, France, 2006)

Wallace Spearmon holds several track records for the 200 meters. These include records in Arlington, Virginia; Carson, California; Rieti, Italy; and Split, Croatia.

See also

In Spanish: Wallace Spearmon para niños