Carl Lewis(1961 — ?)
Carl Lewis
États-Unis
6 min read
Carl Lewis is an American athlete who specialized in sprinting and the long jump. Regarded as one of the greatest athletes in history, he won nine Olympic gold medals between 1984 and 1996.
Frequently asked questions
Key Facts
- Born on July 1, 1961, in Birmingham, Alabama (United States).
- Won 4 gold medals at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games (100 m, 200 m, long jump, 4x100 m relay), matching Jesse Owens's feat from 1936.
- Unbeaten in the long jump for a decade, he claimed Olympic gold in this event at four consecutive Games (1984, 1988, 1992, 1996).
- Amassed a total of 9 Olympic gold medals and 8 world championship titles over the course of his career.
- Awarded the 100 m gold medal from Seoul 1988 after Ben Johnson was disqualified for doping.
Works & Achievements
Four gold medals (100 m, 200 m, long jump, relay), a feat matching that of Jesse Owens in 1936.
Set at the World Championships in Tokyo, this record confirmed Lewis as the fastest sprinter of his era.
Unmatched dominance of the event across four Olympic Games, from Los Angeles to Atlanta.
Ten years of unbeaten competition, one of the greatest winning streaks in the history of athletics.
In Helsinki, Lewis won the 100 m, the long jump and the relay, establishing himself as the star of the sport.
An account of his career and ambitions, in which he reflects on the legacy of Jesse Owens.
Recognition by the International Olympic Committee of his entire exceptional career.
Anecdotes
At the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games, Carl Lewis won four gold medals (100 m, 200 m, long jump and 4×100 m relay). In doing so, he matched the legendary feat of his idol **Jesse Owens**, achieved at the **1936** Berlin Games.
At the 1988 Seoul Games, Lewis finished second in the 100 m behind Canadian **Ben Johnson**. But Johnson was disqualified a few days later for doping, and Lewis was awarded the gold medal and the Olympic title.
In the long jump, Carl Lewis remained unbeaten in competition for ten years, from **1981** to **1991**, stringing together 65 consecutive victories. It is one of the longest unbeaten streaks in the history of athletics.
In **1996** in Atlanta, at nearly 35 years old, Lewis won his fourth consecutive Olympic title in the long jump, becoming one of the few athletes to dominate a single event across four Olympic Games.
After his sporting career, Carl Lewis tried his hand at singing and film, and even sang the American national anthem before some competitions. He later became a track and field coach at the **University of Houston**, where he had studied himself.
Primary Sources
“I wanted to be the best, just as Jesse Owens had been. Four gold medals in Los Angeles — that was my childhood dream come true.”
Carl Lewis (United States) wins the 100 m, the 200 m, the long jump and the 4×100 m relay, equalling Jesse Owens's tally of four titles in 1936.
Ben Johnson is disqualified after testing positive for stanozolol; the 100 m gold medal is reassigned to Carl Lewis.
Key Places
City in the southern United States where Carl Lewis was born in 1961, into a family of athletics coaches.
Texas institution where Lewis studied and trained under Tom Tellez; he would later return as a coach.
Stadium of the 1984 Olympic Games where Lewis won his first four gold medals, matching Jesse Owens.
Site of the 1988 Games where Lewis was awarded the 100 m title after Ben Johnson's disqualification for doping.
Venue of the 1992 Games where Lewis triumphed in the long jump and the 4×100 m relay.
Stadium of the 1996 Games where Lewis, at nearly 35, claimed his ninth and final Olympic gold.