At the inaugural World Championships in 1983, Lewis won the 100 m, 4x100 m, and long jump, and at the '84 Olympics, he matched Owens' feat by winning the previous three and the 200 m. This was Lewis's best Olympics, but he had a lot more left.
Again, he would win the 100 m and long jump in the 1988 games, becoming the first male athlete to defend his gold medal at the Olympics successfully. Lewis again returned to Barcelona's 1992 Olympics, also winning the long jump and another gold in the relay. The tank wasn't empty when the Olympics returned to Atlanta, as he won the Gold in the long jump, giving him four straight and nine Gold Medals overall. Throw in the eight World Championship Gold Medals, which is the equation for the most successful track athlete of all-time.
Lewis was named the Sportsman of the Century by the IOC and the Olympian of the Century by Sports Illustrated.
We are proud to nominate Carl Lewis for the United States Athletic Hall of Fame.
Carl Lewis
In 1936, Jesse Owens set the track world on fire by winning four Gold Medals. It was believed that in 1984, Carl Lewis could do the same thing.
Additional Info
- Sport: Track & Field
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Statistics:
2 100 m Olympic Gold Medals (1984 & 1988)
1 200 m Olympic Gold Medal (1984)
2 4x100 m Relay Olympic Gold Medals (1984 & 1988)
4 Long Jump Olympic Gold Medals (1984, 1988, 1992 & 1996)
1 200 m Olympic Silver Medal (1988)
3 100 m World Championship Gold Medals (1983, 1987 & 1991)
3 4x100 m Relay World Championship Gold Medals (1983, 1987 & 1991) 2 Long Jump World Championship Gold Medals (1983 & 1987)
1 Long Jump Silver Medal (1991)
1 200 m World Championship Bronze Medal (1993)
1 4x100 m Relay Pan American Games Gold Medal (1987)
1 Long Jump Pan American Games Gold Medal (1987)
1 Long Jump Pan American Games Bronze Medal (1979)
2 4x100 m Relay Goodwill Games Gold Medals (1986 & 1994)
1 Long Jump Goodwill Games Gold Medal (1990)
1 100 m Goodwill Games Silver Medal (1990)
1 100 m Goodwill Games Bronze Medal (1986)
1 Long Jump Olympic Boycott Games Bronze Medal (1980)
2 AP Male Athlete of the Year Awards (1983 & 1984)
1 James E. Sullivan Award (1981)
Member of the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame
Member of the IAAF Hall of Fame
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