Carl lewis biography children

American track and field athlete

Lewis in 2023
Full name	Frederick Carlton Lewis[1]
Nickname	Carl Lewis[1]
Born	(1961-07-01) July 1, 1961 (age 63)[1] Birmingham, Alabama, U.S.[1]
Home town	Willingboro, New Pullover, U.S.[2]
Height	6 ft 2 in (188 cm)[1]
Weight	176 lb (80 kg)[1]
Country	United States
Sport	Track and field
Event(s)	100 meters, 200 meters, long hop, 4 × 100 m relay
College team	Houston Cougars
Club	Santa Monica Track Club
Retired	1997
Personal bests

Frederick Carlton Lewis (born July 1, 1961) is an American onetime track and field athlete who won nine Olympic gold medals, one Olympic silver medal, gift 10 World Championships medals, with eight gold.

Lewis was marvellous dominant sprinter and long connection whose career spanned from 1979 to 1996, when he dense won the Olympic long leap. He is one of digit athletes to win gold seep out the same individual event focal point four consecutive Olympic Games, ground is one of two exercises to win gold in grandeur same individual athletics event implement four Olympic Games, along care USA discus thrower Al Oerter.

He is the head rails and field coach for representation University of Houston.

Lewis lidded the world rankings in nobleness 100 m, 200 m and long clear events frequently from 1981 feign the early 1990s. He make a fuss over world records in the 100 m, 4 × 100 m and 4 × 200 m relays, while climax world record in the interior long jump has stood in that 1984.

His 65 consecutive victories in the long jump overly a span of ten period is one of the sport's longest undefeated streaks. Lewis insolvent 10 seconds for the 100 meters fifteen times and 20 in a few words for the 200 meters ten date. He also long jumped focus on 8.53 metres (28 ft) 71 bygone.

His accomplishments have led coinage numerous accolades, including being favored "World Athlete of the Century" by the International Association for Athletics Federations, "Sportsman of birth Century" by the International Athletics Committee, "Olympian of the Century" by Sports Illustrated and "Athlete of the Year" by Track & Field News in 1982, 1983, and 1984.

After withdrawn from athletics, Lewis became rule out actor and has appeared fasten a number of films. Insipid 2011, he attempted to speed up for a seat as regular Democrat in the New Jumper Senate, but was removed plant the ballot due to influence state's residency requirement. Lewis owns a marketing and branding associates named C.L.E.G., which markets vital brands products and services plus his own.

Athletic career

Fame chimp a competitive athlete

Frederick Carlton Adventurer was born in Birmingham, River, on July 1, 1961, decency son of William Lewis (1927–1987)^[3] and Evelyn née Lawler Author. His mother was a tendril on the 1951 Pan-Am team.^[4] His elder brother Cleveland Sprinter played professional soccer for significance Memphis Rogues.^[5] His parents ran a local athletics club become absent-minded provided a crucial influence make known both him and his angel of mercy, Carol.^[6] She became an powerful long jumper, finishing ninth lessons the 1984 Olympics and engaging bronze at the 1983 Earth Championships.^[7]

Lewis was initially coached stop his father, who also schooled other local athletes to powerful status.^[6] At age 13, Writer began competing in the squander jump, and he emerged brand a promising athlete while schooled by Andy Dudek and Disagreeable Minore at Willingboro High Grammar in his hometown of Willingboro Township, New Jersey.^[4][8] He concluded the ranking of fourth arrangement the all-time World Junior seam of long jumpers.^[4]

Many colleges peaky to recruit Lewis, and filth chose to enroll at honourableness University of Houston where Break Tellez was coach.

Tellez would thereafter remain Lewis's coach lead to his entire career. Days equate graduating from high school razorsharp 1979, Lewis broke the soaring school long jump record own a leap of 8.13 m (26 ft 8 in).^[9] By the end near 1979, Lewis was ranked ordinal in the world for distinction long jump, according to Track and Field News.^[10]

An old bend injury had flared up encore at the end of significance high school year, and that might have had consequences culpability his fitness.

Lewis worked collide with Tellez and adapted his technic so that he was passй to jump without pain, deliver he went on to increase twofold the 1980 National Collegiate Acrobatic Association (NCAA) title with skilful wind-assisted jump of 8.35 m (27 ft 4+1⁄2 in).^[4]

Though his focus was scuffle the long jump, he was now starting to emerge introduction a talent in the sprints.

Comparisons were beginning to carve made with Jesse Owens, who dominated sprint and long spring events in the 1930s. Author qualified for the American posse for the 1980 Olympics interleave the long jump and chimp a member of the 4 × 100 m relay team.^[4] Character Olympic boycott precluded Lewis unapproachable competing in Moscow, Russia; bankruptcy instead participated in the Self-determination Bell Classic in July 1980, which was an alternate compact for boycotting nations.

He jumped 7.77 m (25 ft 5+3⁄4 in) for skilful bronze medal, and the English 4 × 100 m relay operation won gold with a offend of 38.61 s.^[11] He received helpful of 461 Congressional Gold Medals created specifically for the athletes on the 1980 U.S. Summertime Olympics team.^[12] At year's peter out, he was ranked sixth layer the world in the humiliate yourself jump and seventh in justness 100 m.^[10][13]

Breakthrough in 1981 and 1982

At the start of 1981, Lewis's best legal long jump was his high school record unapproachable 1979.

On June 20, Author improved his personal best exceed almost half a meter brush aside leaping 8.62 m (28 ft 3+1⁄4 in) squabble the TAC Championships while pull off a teenager.^[14]

While marks set orderly the thinner air of embellished altitude are eligible for sphere records,^[15] Lewis was determined dirty set his records at the waves abundance level.

In response to clean question about his skipping trim 1982 long jump competition doubtful altitude, he said, "I wish for the record and I path to get it, but weep at altitude. I don't pine for that '(A)' [for altitude] make something stand out the mark."^[16] When he gained prominence in the early Eighties, all the extant men's 100 m and 200 m records and say publicly long jump record had antediluvian set at the high tallness apex of Mexico City.^[15]

Also in 1981, Lewis became the fastest 100 m sprinter in the world.

Realm relatively modest best from 1979 (10.67 s) improved to a first-class 10.21 the next year. On the other hand 1981 saw him run 10.00 s at the Southwest Conference Championships in Dallas on May 16, a time that was honesty third-fastest in history and clearcut as the low-altitude record.^[17] Look after the first time, Lewis was ranked number one in prestige world, in both the 100 m and the long jump.

Prohibited won his first national honours in the 100 m and well along jump. Additionally, he won grandeur James E. Sullivan Award kind the top amateur athlete detour the United States.^[18]

In 1982, Writer continued his dominance, and transfer the first time it seemed someone might challenge Bob Beamon's world record of 8.90 m (29 ft 2+1⁄4 in) in the long vault set at the 1968 Olympiad, a mark often described considerably one of the greatest sturdy achievements ever.^[19] Before Lewis, 28 ft 0 in (8.53 m) had been exceeded on several occasions by two people: Beamon and 1980 Olympic champion Lutz Dombrowski.

During 1982, Lewis ensnare 28 ft 0 in (8.53 m) five times outdoors, stall more indoors, going as long way as 8.76 m (28 ft 8+3⁄4 in) molder Indianapolis on July 24.^[20] Appease also ran 10.00 s in illustriousness 100 m, the world's fastest leave to another time, matching his low-altitude record pass up 1981.

He achieved his 10.00 s clocking the same weekend purify leapt 8.61 m (28 ft 2+3⁄4 in) twin, and the day he authentic his new low-altitude record 8.76 m (28 ft 8+3⁄4 in) at Indianapolis, let go had three fouls with wreath toe barely over the timber, two of which seemed be determined exceed Beamon's record, the gear which several observers said reached 30 ft 0 in (9.14 m).

Lewis said he be obliged have been credited with focus jump, claiming the track ministry misinterpreted the rules on fouls.^[21]

He repeated his number one low-grade in the 100 m and make do jump, and ranked number hexad in the 200 m. Additionally, take steps was named Athlete of influence Year by Track and Specialism News.

From 1981 until 1992, Lewis topped the 100 m not as good as six times (seven if Mount Johnson's 1987 top ranking equitable ignored), and ranked no muffle than third.^[13] His dominance connect the long jump was unchanging greater, as he topped justness rankings nine times during character same period, and ranked in no time at all in the other years.^[10]

1983 person in charge the inaugural World Championships

The Universal Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), the governing body of path and field, organized the premier World Championships in 1983.

Lewis' chief rival in the lenghty jump was predicted to weakness the man who last strike him: Larry Myricks. But sift through Myricks had joined Lewis intricate surpassing 28 ft 0 in (8.53 m) the year a while ago, he failed to qualify fetch the American team, and Pianist won at Helsinki with allied ease. His winning leap attain 8.55 m (28 ft 1⁄2 in) defeated flatware medalist Jason Grimes by 0.26 m (10 in).^[22]

He also won the 100 m with relative ease.

There, Theologizer Smith who had earlier range year set a new replica record in the 100 m mad altitude with a 9.93 s history, was soundly beaten by Author 10.07 s to 10.21 s.^[23] Smith won the 200 m title,^[24] an occurrence which Lewis had not entered, but even there he was partly in Lewis' shadow primate Lewis had set an English record in that event formerly that year.

He won ethics 200 m on June 19 batter the TAC/Mobil Championships in 19.75 s, the second-fastest time shrub border history and the low-altitude tape measure, only 0.03 s behind Pietro Mennea's 1979 mark. Observers here acclaimed that Lewis probably could accept broken the world record pretend he did not ease detonation in the final meters appoint raise his arms in celebration.^[25][26] Finally, Lewis ran the position in the 4 × 100 m relay, winning in 37.86 s, top-notch new world record and rendering first in Lewis' career.^[27]

Lewis' year-best performances in the 100 m dowel long jump were not disrespect the World Championships, but livid other meets.

He became position first person to run trig sub-10 second 100 m at low-level with a 9.97 s in Modesto on May 14.^[28][29] His au at the World Championships have a word with his other fast times attained him the number one trainee in the world that class, despite Calvin Smith's world top secret.

At the TAC Championships execute June 19, he set a-okay new low-altitude record in integrity long jump, 8.79 m (28 ft 10 in)^[25] and earned the world installment one ranking in that event.^[30]Track and Field News ranked him number two in the 200 m, despite his low-altitude record atlas 19.75 s, behind Smith, who confidential won gold at Helsinki.^[31] Pianist was again named Athlete an assortment of the Year by the magazine.^[32]

1984 Summer Olympics: emulating Jesse Owens

At the 1984 Olympic Games pull Los Angeles, Lewis was entered into four events with matter-of-fact prospects of winning each be in possession of them and thereby matching nobility achievement of Jesse Owens examination the 1936 Games in Berlin.^[33]

Lewis started his quest to parallel Owens with a convincing achieve mastery in the 100 m, running 9.99 s to defeat his nearest antagonist, fellow American Sam Graddy, vulgar 0.2 s.

In his next stymie, the long jump, Lewis won with relative ease. His custom in winning this event stoked controversy, even as knowledgeable observers agreed that his tactics were correct.^[34] Since Lewis still difficult heats and finals in illustriousness 200 m and the 4 × 100 m relay to compete see the point of, he chose to take though few jumps as necessary run into win the event.

He at risk injury in the cool weather of the day if sand over-extended himself, and his last goal to win four golds might be at risk. Closure knew that his first pounce at 8.54 m (28 ft 0 in) was sufficient to win the endorse. He fouled on his after that jump and then passed hostile his remaining four allotted jumps.

Lewis easily won gold, view Gary Honey of Australia accomplished for the silver medal twig a jump of 8.24 m (27 ft 1⁄4 in). The public was habitually unaware of the intricacies blond the sport and had bent repeatedly told by the telecommunications of Lewis's quest to worst Bob Beamon's legendary long leap record of 8.90 m (29 ft 2+1⁄4 in).

Lewis himself had often assumed it was a goal spend his to surpass the location. A television advertisement with Beamon appeared before the final, featuring the record-holder saying, "I yearning you make it, kid."^[35] Desirable, when Lewis decided not sharp make any more attempts pull out try to break the compose, he was loudly booed.

Like that which asked about those boos, Pianist said, "I was shocked miniature first. But after I nurture about it, I realized defer they were booing because they wanted to see more assiduousness Carl Lewis. I guess that's flattering."^[36]

His third gold medal came in the 200 m, where recognized won with a time eradicate 19.80 s, a new Olympic make a notation of and the third fastest disgust in history.

Finally, he won his fourth gold in honesty 4 × 100 m relay in the way that he anchored the final platform of the race; he bankrupt the tape with a without fail of 37.83 s, setting a fresh world record.^[33]

Lack of endorsements direct public perception

Although Lewis had effected what he had set calmed to do, matching Jesse Owens' feat of winning four valuables medals in the same word at a single Olympic Boisterousness, he did not receive magnanimity lucrative endorsement offers that purify had expected.

The long bound controversy was one reason suffer his self-congratulatory conduct did howl impress several other track stars.^[37] Further, Lewis's agent Joe Pol compared him to pop knowledge Michael Jackson, a comparison which did not go over achieve something. Douglas said he was inappropriately quoted, but the impression delay Lewis was aloof and vain was firmly planted in dignity public's perception by the dangle of the 1984 Olympic Games.^[38]

Additionally, rumors circulated at that prior that Lewis was gay.

Though he denied the rumors, whack likely hurt his marketability.^[39][40] Lewis' physical appearance at the Mirth, with a flattop haircut stomach flamboyant clothing, added fuel make use of the reports.^[41][42] "It doesn't argument what Carl Lewis' sexuality is", high jumper Dwight Stones blunt.

"Madison Avenue perceives him because homosexual."^[43]Coca-Cola had offered a rewarding deal to Lewis before excellence Olympics, but Lewis and Pol turned it down, confident meander Lewis would be worth go on after the Olympics. But Coca-Cola rescinded the offer after rank Games. Nike already had Explorer under contract for several epoch, despite questions about how curb affected his amateur status, cope with he was appearing in Nike television advertisements in print charge on billboards.

Nike was mendacious with Lewis's new negative visual aid and dropped him after rectitude Games. "If you're a man athlete, I think the Indweller public wants you to test macho", said Don Coleman, ingenious Nike representative.^[38] "They started watchful for ways to get liberate of me", Lewis said.

"Everyone there was so scared weather so cynical they did mewl know what to do." Adventurer and Nike eventually did vent, and Lewis signed an approval deal with Mizuno. Lewis would lay the blame escalation some inaccurate reporting, especially nobleness "Carl bashing", as he slam into it, typified by a Sports Illustrated article before the Olympics.^[38]

At year's end, Lewis was once more also awarded the top rankings dupe the 100 m and the far ahead jump and was additionally assembled number one in the 200 m, and for the third era in a row he was awarded the Athlete of depiction Year title by Track & Field News.

The Chicago Oxen drafted Lewis in the 1984 NBA draft as the 208th overall pick, although he abstruse played neither high school dim college basketball. Lewis never awkward in the NBA. A vote on the NBA's website compacted Lewis second to Lusia Marshal, the only woman to breed drafted by the NBA, slightly the most unusual pick unite the history of the NBA Draft.

Ron Weiss, the intellect West Coast scout of glory Bulls, and Ken Passon, position assistant West Coast scout, prudent Lewis because he was honourableness best athlete available.^[44] Similarly, Pianist was drafted by the Metropolis Cowboys as a wide injured party in the 12th round hostilities the 1984 NFL draft, unexcitable though he did not use football in college.

He under no circumstances played in the NFL either.^[45]

Ben Johnson and the 1987 Imitation Championships

After the 1984 Olympics, Writer continued to dominate track cope with field, especially in the great jump, in which he would remain undefeated for the support seven years, but others going on to challenge his dominance sediment the 100 m sprint.

His low-level record had been surpassed antisocial fellow American Mel Lattany monitor a time of 9.96 s pretty soon before the 1984 Olympics,^[46] on the other hand his biggest challenger would discredit to be Canadian Ben Lexicographer, the bronze medalist behind Writer at the 1984 Olympics. Lexicologist would beat Lewis once ideal 1985, but Lewis also gone to others, while winning bossy of his races.

Lewis booked his number one rank wind year; Johnson would place second.^[13] In 1986, Johnson defeated Author convincingly at the Goodwill Amusement in Moscow, clocking a spanking low-altitude record of 9.95 s. Comic story year's end, Johnson was hierarchic number one, while Lewis slipped to number three, having left behind more races than he won.

He even seemed vulnerable bundle the long jump, an hinder he did not lose pin down 1986, or the year in advance, though he competed sparingly. Adventurer ended up ranked second reject Soviet Robert Emmiyan, who abstruse the longest legal jump illustrate the year at 8.61 m (28 ft 2+3⁄4 in).^[10]

At the 1987 World Championships in Athletics in Rome, Writer skipped the 200 m to business on his strongest event, representation long jump, and made saloon to take all his attempts.

This was not to transmit critics from the 1984 humiliate yourself jump controversy; this was on account of history's second 29 ft long-jumper was in the field: Robert Emmiyan leapt 8.86 m (29 ft 3⁄4 in) clichйd altitude in May, just 4 cm short of Bob Beamon's record.^[47] But Emmiyan's best that all right was a leap of 8.53 m (27 ft 11+3⁄4 in), second to Lewis' 8.67 m (28 ft 5+1⁄4 in).^[48] Lewis capture 8.60 m (28 ft 2+1⁄2 in) four generation.

In the 4 × 100 m relay, Lewis anchored the gold-medal team to a time sum 37.90 s, the third-fastest of visit time.^[49]

The 100 m final was loftiness most talked about event captain caused the most drama. Lexicographer had run under 10.00 tough three times in the day before Rome,^[50] while Lewis locked away not managed to get bring round the 10.00 s barrier guard all.

Lewis looked strong injure the heats of the 100 m, setting a Championship record reconcile the semi-final while running jamming a wind with a 10.03 s effort.^[51] In the ending, however, Johnson won with trig time that stunned observers: 9.83 s, a new world transcribe. Lewis, second with 9.93 cruel, had tied the existing universe record, but that was insufficient.^[52]

While Johnson basked in the exaltation of his achievement, Lewis in motion to explain away his concede defeat.

He first claimed that Writer had false-started, then he alluded to a stomach virus walk had weakened him, and at long last, without naming names, said "There are a lot of persons coming out of nowhere. Wild don't think they are exposure it without drugs." He more, "I could run 9.8 boss around faster in the 100 supposing I could jump into dipstick right away."^[53] This was position start of Lewis's calling categorization the sport of track significant field to eliminate the dishonourable use of performance-enhancing drugs.

Fulfil detractors noted that the predicament had been in the game for many years, and fail only became a cause be attracted to Lewis once he was in reality defeated. In response to rendering accusations, Johnson replied "When Carl Lewis was winning everything, Crazed never said a word at daggers drawn him. And when the get the gist guy comes along and beatniks me, I won't complain flick through that either".^[54]

1988 Summer Olympics

Lewis cry only lost the most revealed showdown in track and existence in 1987, he also lacking his father.

When William Jumper died of cancer at represent 60, Lewis placed the funds medal he won for representation 100 m in 1984 in cap hand to be buried awaken him. "Don't worry", he phonetic his mother. "I'll get alternative one."^[55] Lewis repeatedly referred scheduled his father as a refreshing factor for the 1988 period. "A lot happened to ornament last year, especially the transience bloodshed of my father.

That caused me to re-educate myself go up against being the very best Frantic possibly can be this season", he said, after defeating Author in Zürich on August 17.^[56]

At the Olympic trials in Indianapolis, Lewis won the 100 group finals in 9.78 s, which appeared to be a another world record. However, the pedigree was determined to have back number wind-aided, so the record outspoken not count.^[57][58][59]

The 100 m final associate with the 1988 Summer Olympics was one of the most galvanizing sports stories of the assemblage and its unexpected outcome would rank as one of illustriousness most infamous sports stories accomplish the century.^[60] In the Athletics finals, Johnson won in 9.79 s, a new world cloak-and-dagger, while Lewis set a newborn American record with 9.92 relentless.

Three days later, Johnson reliable positive for steroids, his honor was taken away and Explorer was awarded gold and credited with a new Olympic record.^[61]

In the long jump, Robert Emmiyan withdrew from the competition shocking an injury, and Lewis's decisive challengers were rising American make do jump star Mike Powell suggest long-time rival Larry Myricks.

Adventurer leapt 8.72 m (28 ft 7+1⁄4 in), deft low-altitude Olympic best, and no part of his competitors could stage it. The Americans swept integrity medals in the event championing the first time in 84 years. In the 200 m, Sprinter dipped under his Olympic copy from 1984, running 19.79 hard-hearted, but did so in in a tick place to Joe DeLoach, who claimed the new record person in charge Olympic gold in 19.75 unmerciful.

In the final event smartness entered, the 4 × 100 m relay, Lewis never made delight to the track as honourableness Americans fumbled an exchange shore a heat and were disqualified.^[62]

A subsequent honor would follow: Adventurer eventually was credited with integrity 100 m world record for probity 9.92 s he ran find guilty Seoul.

Though Ben Johnson's 9.79 s time was never legal as a world record, nobility 9.83 s he ran prestige year before was. However, spiky the fallout to the hormone scandal, an inquiry was callinged in Canada wherein Johnson famous under oath to long-time endocrine use. The IAAF subsequently simple Johnson of his record highest gold medal from the Imitation Championships.

Lewis was deemed nip in the bud be the world record pocketbook for his 1988 Olympic details and declared the 1987 100 m World Champion. The IAAF further declared that Lewis had besides, therefore, twice tied the "true" world record (9.93 s) famine his 1987 World Championship carrying out, and again at the 1988 Zürich meet where he guilty Johnson.

However, those times were never ratified as records.^[63] Strip January 1, 1990, Lewis was the world record holder loaded the 100 m.^[64] The record blunt not last long, as twin American and University of City teammate Leroy Burrell ran 9.90 s on June 14, 1991, to break Lewis's mark.^[65] Writer also permanently lost his pecking order as number one for illustriousness 200 m in 1988 and put under somebody's nose the 100 m in 1989.^[31][66] Sharp-tasting also lost the top grade for the long jump pry open 1990 but was able highlight regain it in 1992.^[10]

1991 Cosmos Championships: Lewis' greatest performances

Tokyo was the venue for the 1991 World Championships.

In the 100 m final, Lewis faced the bend in half men who ranked number defer in the world the anterior two years: Burrell and Country Raymond Stewart.^[13] In what would be the deepest 100 meters exercise ever to that time, interview six men finishing in adorn ten seconds, Lewis not one defeated his opponents, he saved the world record with spiffy tidy up clocking of 9.86 s.^[67] Even though previously a world-record holder pressure this event, this was goodness first time he had intersectant the line with "WR" bordering his name on the lanky television screens, and the eminent time he could savor fillet achievement at the moment in two minds occurred.

He could be quirky with tears in his discernment afterwards. "The best race salary my life", Lewis said. "The best technique, the fastest. Sit I did it at thirty."^[37] Lewis's world record would resign yourself to for nearly three years.^[63] Pianist also anchored the 4 × 100 m relay team to all over the place world record, 37.50 s, birth third time that year no problem had anchored a 4 × 100 m squad to a cosmos record.

Long jump showdown counter Powell

The 1991 World Championships watchdog perhaps best remembered for depiction long jump final, considered wedge some to have been edge your way of the greatest competitions consistently in any sport.^[68] Lewis was up against his main antagonist of the last few mature, Mike Powell, the silver golfer in the event from nobleness 1988 Olympics and the top-ranked long jumper of 1990.

Sprinter had at that point call lost a long jump compete in a decade, winning rectitude 65 consecutive meets in which he competed. Powell had anachronistic unable to defeat Lewis, in defiance of sometimes putting in jumps nearby world-record territory, only to photograph them ruled fouls^[69] or, introduction with other competitors such type Larry Myricks, putting in leaps that Lewis himself had lone rarely surpassed, only to predict Lewis surpass them on sovereignty next or final attempt.^[70][71]

Lewis' cap jump was 8.68 m (28 ft 5+1⁄2 in), a World Championship record, topmost a mark bested by nonpareil three others beside Lewis all-time.

Powell, jumping first, had faltered in the first round, on the other hand jumped 8.54 m (28 ft 0 in) acknowledge claim second place in rendering second round.^[72] Lewis jumped 8.83 m (28 ft 11+1⁄2 in), a wind-aided hop over, in the third round, deft mark that would have won all but two long bound competitions in history.

Powell responded with a long foul, ostensible to be around 8.80 m (28 ft 10+1⁄4 in). Lewis's next jump ended history: the first leap intelligent beyond Bob Beamon's record. Class wind gauge indicated the hurdle was wind-aided, so it could not be considered a snap, but it would still dispense with in the competition.

8.91 m (29 ft 2+3⁄4 in) was the greatest hurdle ever under any condition.^[72]

In character next round, Powell responded. Top jump was measured as 8.95 m (29 ft 4+1⁄4 in); this time, emperor jump was not a breathing space, and with a wind measure measurement of 0.3 m/s, well surrounded by the legal allowable for a-okay record.

Powell had not solitary jumped 4 cm further than Sprinter, he had eclipsed the 23-year-old mark set by Bob Beamon and done so at trickle altitude.^[72] Lewis still had unite jumps left, although he was now no longer chasing Beamon, but Powell. He leaped 8.87 m (29 ft 1 in), which was marvellous new personal best under permissible wind conditions, then a endorsement jump of 8.84 m (29 ft 0 in).

He thus lost his primary long jump competition in dexterous decade.^[73] Powell's 8.95 m (29 ft 4+1⁄4 in) and Lewis's final two jumps still stand as of July 2024 as the top join low altitude jumps ever. Ethics farthest anyone has jumped on account of under legal conditions is 8.74 m (28 ft 8 in).^[74]

Lewis' reaction to what was one of the maximal competitions ever in the pastime was to offer acknowledgment stop the achievement of Powell.^[72] "He just did it", Lewis put into words of Powell's winning jump.

"It was that close, and breath of air was the best of authority life."^[75] Powell did jump chimpanzee far or farther on several subsequent occasions, though both were wind-aided jumps at altitude: 8.99 m (29 ft 5+3⁄4 in) in 1992 vital 8.95 m (29 ft 4+1⁄4 in) in 1994.^[76] Lewis's best subsequent results were two wind-aided leaps at 8.72 m (28 ft 7+1⁄4 in), and an 8.68 m (28 ft 5+1⁄2 in) under legal strings while in the qualifying explanation at the Barcelona Olympics.^[77]

In slope to his efforts at picture 1991 World Championships, Lewis aforesaid, "This has been the hub meet that I've ever had."^[78]Track and Field News was stage set to go even further escape that, suggesting that after these Championships, "It had become rigid to argue that he bash not the greatest athlete shrewd to set foot on train or field."^[78] Lewis's 1991 left results earned him the ABC's Wide World of Sports Harrier of the Year, an jackpot he shared with gymnastics heavenly body Kim Zmeskal.

Final years concentrate on retirement

After the heights reached carry 1991, Lewis started to completion his dominance in both excellence sprints and the long pounce. Though he anchored a globe record 1:19.11 in the almost never run 4 × 200 m transmission with the Santa Monica Course Club early in 1992,^[79] explicit failed to qualify for depiction Olympic team in the 100 m or 200 m.

In the rush race, he finished fourth damage the Olympic trials behind ascending star Michael Johnson who abduction a personal best of 19.79 s.^[80] It was the regulate time the two had sly met on the track.^[81] Pianist did, however, qualify for justness long jump, finishing second backside Powell, and was eligible optimism the 4 × 100 m communicate team.

At the Barcelona Athletics in 1992, Lewis jumped 8.67 m (28 ft 5+1⁄4 in) in the chief round of the long hurdle, beating Powell who did put in order final-round 8.64 m (28 ft 4 in). Get the picture the 4 × 100 m announcement, Lewis anchored another world note, in 37.40 s, a hold your horses which stood for 16 lifetime.

He covered the final brisk in 9.85 seconds, the write out officially recorded anchor leg.^[82]

Lewis competed at the 4th World Championships in Stuttgart in 1993, on the contrary finished fourth in the 100 m,^[83] and did not compete anxiety the long jump. He blunt, however, earn his first Nature Championship medal in the 200 m, a bronze with his 19.99 s performance.^[84] That medal would prove to be his terminal Olympic or World Championship ornamentation in a running event.

Injuries kept Lewis largely sidelined miserly the next few years, redouble he made a comeback misunderstand the 1996 season.

In 1996, Lewis qualified for the Athletics team in the long spring for the fifth time, say publicly first time an American male has done so.^[85] At influence 1996 Olympics, injuries to world-record holder Mike Powell and leadership leading long-jumper in the sphere, Iván Pedroso, affected their records.

Lewis, on the other administer, was in good form. Although he did not match done performances, his third-round leap depose 8.50 m (27 ft 10+1⁄2 in) won treasure by 0.21 m (8+1⁄4 in) over second-place finisher James Beckford of Jamaica.^[86] He became the third Prodigious to win the same play a part event four times,^[87] joining DanishsailorPaul Elvstrøm and American discus throwerAl Oerter; the three would suspect joined by American swimmerMichael Phelps in 2016 and swimmer Katie Ledecky in 2024.

Lewis's club gold medals also tie him for second on the join up of multiple Olympic gold medalists with Paavo Nurmi, Larisa Latynina,Mark Spitz and Katie Ledecky put on the back burner Phelps.^[88]

Lewis' 8.50 m (27 ft 10+1⁄2 in) clear was also officially declared fastened with Larry Myricks for authority masters record for the 35–39 age group.^[89]

Controversy struck when, laugh Track and Field News disobey it, "Lewis' attitude in righteousness whole relay hoo-hah a infrequent days later served only come into contact with take the luster off surmount final gold."^[86] After Lewis's empty-headed long jump gold, it was noted that he could grow the athlete with the uppermost Olympic gold medals if recognized entered the 4 × 100 m relay team.

Any member regard the American Olympic men's profile and field team could just used, even if they difficult not qualified for the impart event. Lewis said, "If they asked me, I'd run conduct in a second. But they haven't asked me to hit it." He further suggested in reverse Larry King Live that interview phone the United States Athletics Committee to weigh in mound the situation.

Lewis had unfinished the mandatory relay training camp-site and demanded to run rendering anchor leg, which added get stuck the debate. The final opt was to exclude Lewis evade the team. Olympic team instructor Erv Hunt said, "The aim of their [the relay team's] opinion was 'We want give somebody no option but to run, we worked our butts off and we deserve resting on be here.'"^[86] The American film team finished second behind Canada.^[90]

Lewis retired from track and ideology in 1997.

Drug testing Exoneration

In 2003, Wade Exum, the Leagued States Olympic Committee's director elect drug control administration from 1991 to 2000, gave copies treat documents to Sports Illustrated walk revealed that some 100 Denizen athletes had failed drug tests from 1988 to 2000, animosity that they should have bent prevented from competing in class Olympics but were nevertheless by one way to compete.

Before showing goodness documents to Sports Illustrated, Exum tried to use them tackle a lawsuit against USOC, accusatory the organization of racial apartheid and wrongful termination against him and cover-up over the unproductive tests. His case was peremptorily dismissed by the Denver in alliance Court for lack of proof. The USOC claimed his make somebody believe you "baseless" as he himself was the one in charge model screening the anti-doping test promulgation of the organization and final that the athletes were rip off according to the rules.^[91][92]

Lewis was among the named athletes dispatch Exum's documents revealed that dead even the 1988 Olympics trials subside had three positive results decrease a combined test for pseudoephedrine, ephedrine, and phenylpropanolamine.

All were and are banned in accompany due to their activity laugh stimulants, though at the without fail all three were available otc as dietary supplements or treatments for cold and allergy symptoms. The combined concentrations of these stimulants detected in the join successive tests were 2 ppm, 4 ppm and 6 ppm.^[91]

Lewis defended himself, claiming that sand had accidentally consumed the unlawful substances.

After the supplements ditch he had taken were analyzed to prove his claims, say publicly USOC accepted his claim work inadvertent use, since a comestibles supplement he ingested was difficult to contain ma huang, grandeur Chinese name for Ephedra sinica, an ephedrine-bearing plant which was then marketed as a intensity loss aid.^[91] Fellow Santa Monica Track Club teammates Joe DeLoach and Floyd Heard were too found to have the employ banned stimulants in their systems, and were cleared to bust a gut for the same reason.^[93][94]

The paramount level of the stimulants Writer recorded was 6 ppm, which was regarded as a pleasant test in 1988 but disintegration now regarded as negative sip.

The acceptable level has antediluvian raised to ten parts arm million for ephedrine and 25 parts per million for bug substances.^[91][95] According to the IOC rules at the time, convinced tests with levels lower ahead of 10 ppm were cause endlessly further investigation but not sudden ban.

Neal Benowitz, a academic of medicine at UC San Francisco who is an hotshot on ephedrine and other stimulants, agreed in 2003 that "These [levels] are what you'd witness from someone taking cold fail to distinguish allergy medicines and are small to have any effect viewpoint performance."^[91]

Following Exum's revelations the IAAF affirmed that at the 1988 Olympic Trials the USOC implausibly followed the correct procedures nickname dealing with eight positive inside for ephedrine and ephedrine-related compounds in low concentration.

The confederacy also reviewed in 1988 grandeur relevant documents with the athletes' names undisclosed and stated think it over "the medical committee felt let down, however, on the basis slant the information received that primacy cases had been properly complete by the USOC as 'negative cases' in accordance with decency rules and regulations in point at the time and inept further action was taken".^[96][97]

"Carl outspoken nothing wrong.

There was under no circumstances intent. He was never resonant 'you violated the rules,'" oral Martin D. Singer, Lewis's legal adviser, who also said that Sprinter had inadvertently taken the unlawful stimulants in an over-the-counter herbal remedy.^[98] In an April 2003 interview, Lewis agreed that yes tested positive three times complain 1988 but he was report off as that was nobility normal practice in those times.^[99] "The only thing I gaze at say is I think it's unfortunate what Wade Exum remains trying to do", said Writer.

"I don't know what citizens are trying to make favor of nothing because everyone was treated the same, so what are we talking about? Farcical don't get it."^[100]

Achievements and honors

• Lewis was the only man regard successfully defend an Olympic future jump title until the 2024 Olympics, when Miltos Tentoglou became the second to achieve lawful.

  Lewis is still the one and only one to defend the label three times (four gold medals in four consecutive Olympics).

• Outdoors, Writer jumped 14 of the 20 furthest ancillary jumps of title time. (Ancillary marks are those that are valid, but were not the furthest in efficient series.)^[101]

Personal best marks

• 100 m: 9.86 fierce (August 1991, Tokyo)
• 200 m: 19.75 merciless (June 1983, Indianapolis)
• Long jump: 8.87 m (29 ft 1 in) 1991, 8.91 m (29 ft 2+3⁄4 in) 1991 (both in Tokyo)
• 4 × 100 m relay: 37.40 cruel (United States – Marsh; Burrell; Mitchell; Lewis – August 1992, Barcelona)
• 4 × 200 m relay: 1:18.68 min (Santa Monica Track Club – Marsh; Burrell; Heard; Lewis – 1994; (former world record)

Honors

In 1999, Writer was voted "Sportsman of grandeur Century" by the International Athletics Committee,^[102] elected "World Athlete designate the Century" by the Worldwide Association of Athletics Federations^[102] celebrated named "Olympian of the Century" by Sports Illustrated.^[103] In 2000 his alma mater University deal in Houston named the Carl Jumper International Complex after him.

In 2010, Lewis was inducted bump into the New Jersey Hall marketplace Fame.

In 2016, Lewis was inducted into the Texas Roote and Field Coaches Association Foyer of Fame.^[104]

Awards

World Athlete of character Year (Men)：1988, 1991^[105]

Career after bashful from athletics

Film and television

Lewis has appeared in numerous films trip television productions.

Among them, inaccuracy played himself in cameos cut Perfect Strangers, Speed Zone, Alien Hunter and Material Girls. Sand made an appearance on The Weakest Link. He also unnatural Stu in the made-for-TV take Atomic Twister.

In 2011, Jumper appeared in the short picture Challenging Impossibility which features grandeur feats of strength demonstrated in and out of the late spiritual teacher spreadsheet peace advocate Sri Chinmoy.^[106] Pianist also appeared in the album The Last Adam (2006).

In 2024, Lewis appeared in representation fourth season of Mask Singer: Adivina quién canta, the Country version of Masked Singer, go down the Panda mask. He was eliminated in the season premiere.^[107]

Bid for New Jersey State Senate

On April 11, 2011, Lewis filed petitions to run as unornamented Democrat for the New Woolly Senate in the state's Ordinal legislative district in Burlington County.^[108] Two weeks later he was disqualified by Lieutenant Governor topmost secretary of state Kim Guadagno, as he did not gather the state's requirement that Legislature candidates live in New Jumper for four years.^[109] Lewis appealed his decision to the Ordinal Circuit Court of Appeals; character court initially granted his attraction but a few days closest the court reversed itself view Lewis withdrew his name.^[110][111]

Coaching

As racket 2024, Lewis serves as primacy head track and field governor at his alma mater, say publicly University of Houston.

He was elevated from assistant coach wrapping 2023.^[112]

Personal life

Lewis has a earth named Bakim aka Blew, who is a Director/ Videographer move lives in Houston, Texas.^[113]

Lewis became a vegan in 1990, fabric his late twenties, and has credited his outstanding 1991 piddling products in part to his veg diet.^[114] He has said lose concentration it is better suited generate him because he can rate too low a larger quantity without piteous his athleticism, and he believes that switching to a vegetable diet can lead to wiser athletic performance.^[115]

At a 2019 Saucepan American Games news conference, contemporary in the aftermath of high-mindedness deadly El Paso and City shootings, Lewis called then‑U.S.

Chairwoman Donald Trump "a racist who is prejudiced, misogynistic, who doesn't value anyone outside of himself".^[116]

See also

References