Carl Lewis
Lewis emerged from a family of athletes in New Jersey and rose at the University of Houston. He became a global superstar at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, winning four gold medals to match Jesse Owens's 1936 feat. He went on to dominate sprinting and long jump across four Olympic Games.
Athletic Family
Born in Birmingham and raised in Willingboro, New Jersey, Lewis grew up in a track-and-field family. His parents were coaches and his sister Carol also became an Olympic long jumper.
Los Angeles 1984
Lewis announced himself to the world with four gold medals at the 1984 Olympics. The performance deliberately echoed Jesse Owens, whom Lewis idolized, in the 100m, 200m, long jump, and relay.
Sustained Dominance
Few athletes have stayed at the top as long as Lewis, who medaled across four Olympics from 1984 to 1996. His four straight long jump titles capped one of the greatest careers in track history.
Career Timeline
- 1981Ranked world number one in sprints and long jump
- 1983Wins three golds at the first World Championships
- 1984Wins four gold medals at the Los Angeles Olympics
- 1987Sets world bests amid a fierce 100m rivalry
- 1988Awarded 100m gold after Ben Johnson's disqualification
- 1991Sets 100m world record of 9.86 at Tokyo Worlds
- 1992Wins long jump and relay gold in Barcelona
- 1996Wins fourth straight long jump gold in Atlanta
- 1997Retires from competitive athletics
- 2001Inducted into the USA Track and Field Hall of Fame
Biggest Hits
- Lewis was inherited the 1988 Olympic 100m gold after Ben Johnson tested positive for steroids.
- He was voted 'Sportsman of the Century' by the International Olympic Committee and 'Olympian of the Century' by Sports Illustrated.
Portrait: Andreas Ivarsson · CC BY 2.0 · via Wikimedia Commons