LaShawn Merritt
| Full Name : | LaShawn Merritt |
| Public : | LaShawn Merritt |
| Nickname : | |
| Country : | United States (USA)  |
| DOB : | June 27, 1986 (Age 23) |
| Place : | Portsmouth, Virginia |
| Height : | 6' 2" |
| Weight : | 181 lbs. |
| Sport : | Olympics - Summer |
| Team : | Track & Field |
| Level : | Olympic |
| Status : | Superstar |
| 2008 Beijing Olympics | ||
| Gold | 400 m | 43.75 |
| Gold | 4x400 m relay | 2:55.39 |
| 2009 World Championships | ||
| Gold | 400 m | 44.06 |
| Gold | 4x400 m relay | 2:57.86 |
| 2007 World Championships | ||
| Gold | 4x400 m relay | 2:55.56 |
| Silver | 400 m | 43.96 |
LaShawn Merritt is an American professional sprinter. He was born on June 27, 1986 in Portsmouth, Virginia.
Merritt made his international debut at the 2004 World Junior Championships in Athletics, where won and took home the gold medal in the 400-meter event. He also ran as part of the record breaking United States relay team in the 4×100-meter and 4×400-meter relay events.
Merritt earned his first recognition at the senior level in the 2007 World Championships. He won as part of the United States relay team a Gold Medal in the 4x400-meter relay, while also earning a Silver Medal as an individual in the 400-meter.
The United States team again competed in the 2008 Beijing Olympics, at the 4x400-meter relay event, winning the Gold Medal. Merritt also competed in the 400-meter, winning the Gold at 0.99 second margin over Jeremy Wariner. The two will again meet in the 2009 World Championships' 400-meter event, with Merritt once again beating Wariner.
Merritt is a native of Portsmouth, Virginia where he graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School. LaShawn spent one year as a college athlete at East Carolina University, signing an endorsement contract with Nike during his first season of indoor track, making him no longer eligible to compete in an NCAA event. He is currently enrolled at Old Dominion University in Norfolk,Virginia.
Merritt came to prominence as a junior athlete at the 2004 World Junior Championships in Athletics. He took the gold medal in the 400 meters race, and set two junior world records as part of the American 4×100 and 4×400 meter relay teams.
Merritt claimed the 400m silver medal at the 2007 World Championships in Athletics in Osaka. He also won his first gold medal in a major tournament with the 4×400 meter relay team.
Merritt won the 400 m at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. A close race between Merritt and Jeremy Wariner was expected, though it ultimately ended in a rout. The 0.99 second margin between Merritt's first-place finish and Wariner's second-place finish was the largest in an Olympic 400 m final. His time of 43.75 makes him the fifth fastest 400 m runner in history.
He won the 400m at the 2009 US Championships, equalling his own world leading time of 44.50seconds. At the 2009 World Championships in Athletics, in Berlin, Merritt went on to win the 400m in a world-leading time of 44.06 seconds, once again beating Wariner.
