Topic: Carl Lewis

Frederick Carlton "Carl" Lewis (born July 1, 1961) is an American former track and field athlete, who won 10 Olympic medals including 9 gold, and 10 World Championships medals, of which 8 were gold. He is currently running as a Democrat for the New Jersey State Senate's 8th legislative district seat in Burlington County, New Jersey.

His career spanned from 1979 when he first achieved a world ranking to 1996 when he last won an Olympic title and subsequently retired. Lewis became an actor and has appeared in a number of films. In early 2011 Lewis announced a run as a Democratic candidate to represent the 8th Legislative District in the New Jersey Senate, a seat currently held since November 2010 by Republican Dawn Marie Addiego. In April, New Jersey Lt. Gov. and Secretary of State Kim Guadagno ruled that Lewis was ineligible to run because he failed to meet state residency requirements. A federal district court in Philadelphia ruled on September 7, 2011 that Lewis did not meet the residency requirement, that the law was constitutional, and that his name may be removed from the ballot for the November 2011 general election. A week later, on Sept 13, the U.S. Court of Appeals overruled the lower court decision, and Carl Lewis was back in the race.

Lewis was a dominant sprinter and long jumper who topped the world rankings in the 100 m, 200 m and long jump events frequently from 1981 to the early 1990s, was named Athlete of the Year by Track and Field News in 1982, 1983 and 1984, and set world records in the 100 m, 4 x 100 m and 4 x 200 m relays. His world record in the indoor long jump has stood since 1984 and his 65 consecutive victories in the long jump achieved over a span of 10 years is one of the sport’s longest undefeated streaks.