Name: LaShawn Merritt

Sport: Track and Field

Event(s): 200-meter, 400-meter, 4x400-meter

Height: 6-3

Weight: 190

DOB: 6/27/1986

Birthplace: Portsmouth, Va.

Hometown: Portsmouth, Va.

High School: Woodrow Wilson High School (Portsmouth, Va.) ‘04

College: East Carolina University

Coach(es): Dwayne Miller

Olympic Experience

• Three-time Olympian (2008, 2012, 2016); Four-time Olympic medalist (3 golds, 1 bronze)
• Rio 2016 Olympic Games, gold (4x400m); bronze (400m); 6th (200m)
• London 2012 Olympic Games, DNF (400m)
• Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, gold (400m, 4x400m)
• Won the 400-meter gold medal in 2008 by 0.99 of a second, the largest margin of victory in an Olympic 400 final since 1896.

World Championship Experience

• Most recent: 2015 – gold (4x400m); silver (400m)
• Years of participation: Outdoor – 2005, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2015 (400m); Indoor – 2006 (400m)
• Medals: 11 (8 golds, 3 silvers)
• Gold – 2005 (4x400m); 2007 (4x400m); 2009 (400m, 4x400m); 2011 (4x400m); 2013 (400m, 4x400m), 2015 (4x400m)
• Silver – 2007 (400m); 2011 (400m); 2015 (400m)

Personal: Son of Owen Eugene and Brenda Merritt...Has one sister, Antionesha...In 2007, became the ninth man ever to break the 44-second barrier in the men's 400-meter...As a high school senior, ran what was then the second-fastest indoor 400 time ever in 44.93...Turned professional at age 18 following his freshman indoor season at East Carolina University...Interests include traveling.

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