Sanya Richards
American sprinter Sanya Richards is a three-time U.S. outdoor 400 meter track champion. She won a gold medal in the 4x400 meter event at the 2004 Summer Olympics. Richards placed first in the 400 meter event at the 2008 U.S. Olympic track and field trials and earned a place on the U.S. Olympic athletics team for the 2008 Summer Olympics.1 On August 19, 2008, Richards won a bronze medal in the 400 meter event at the 2008 Summer Olympics. She finished just over three tenths-of-a-second behind gold medalist Christine Ohuruogu from Great Britain.2
Fast Facts
- Born: February 26, 19853
- Birthplace: Kingston, Jamaica3
- Resides: Austin, Texas3
- Height: 5'8"3
- Weight: 136 lbs3
- College: University of Texas3
Athletics Career
Richards and her family moved from Jamaica to Florida when she was 12 years old. She attended the University of Texas, where she won the 400 meter sprinting event at the 2003 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships. She also won the 400 meter event at the USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships in 2003, 2005 and 2006, as well as the 4x400 meter relay event at the World Outdoor Track and Field Championships in 2003. In 2006, Richards was selected as the International Association of Athletics Federations World Athlete of the Year. That same year she was given the Jesse Owens Award, for being the top U.S. track athlete.
Career Highlights
- 2002: USA Junior Track and Field Championships, 400 m gold medal4
- 2002: World Junior Track and Field Championships, 400 m silver medal4
- 2003: USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships, 400 m gold medal4
- 2003: NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships, 400 m gold medal4
- 2003: World Outdoor Track and Field Championships, 4x400 m relay gold medal4
- 2004: Summer Olympics, 4x400 m gold medal4
- 2004: NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships, 400 m and 4x400 m relay gold medals4
- 2005: World Outdoor Track and Field Championships, 400 m silver medal4
- 2005-06: USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships, 400 m gold medal4
- 2006: International Association of Athletics Federations World Athlete of the Year3
- 2006: Jesse Owens Award3
- 2007: World Outdoor Track and Field Championships, 4x400 m gold medal4
- 2008: U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials, 400 m first place4
- 2008: Summer Olympics, 400 m bronze medal2
Timeline
- 2002-06: University of Texas4
- 2004: Summer Olympics4
- 2008: Summer Olympics4
Personal Life
Richards got engaged to Aaron Ross of the New York Giants on December 15, 2007. He proposed to her on live television, before a Giants-Washington Redskins National Football League game.5 The couple plan to marry in 2009.3
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