Topic: Jeremy Wariner

Jeremy Mathew Wariner (born January 31, 1984, in Irving, Texas) is an American track athlete specializing in the 400 meters. He has won four Olympic medals (three gold, one silver) and four World Championships medals. He is the third fastest competitor in the history of the 400 m event with a personal best of 43.45 seconds.

A successful college athlete, Wariner won the 400 m and 4 × 400 meters relay gold medals at his first Olympics in Athens 2004. He followed this with two gold medals at the 2005 World Championships in the same events. He remained undefeated in the 400 m event during the 2006 ÅF Golden League, earning him the $250,000 jackpot. He remained World Champion in the 400 meters individual and relay events at the 2007 Osaka World Championships, earning him the 2007 Best Male Track Athlete ESPY Award. He won the 400 m relay gold medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics but took silver in the 400 m, finishing behind fellow countryman LaShawn Merritt.

Wariner attended Lamar High School in Arlington, Texas, and participated in multiple sports and was recognized for his outstanding speed. Under the coaching of Mike Nelson, who also coached state champion 110 meters hurdler Reggie Harrell, he was the 2002 Texas 5A state sprint champion at both 200 meters and 400 meters, setting high school bests of 20.41 seconds (wind assisted) and 45.57 s respectively. Enrolling at Baylor University, he quickly established himself as a collegiate sprint talent under the guidance of Clyde Hart, who was also coach of Baylor alumnus and two-time Olympic 400 m gold medal winner and nine-time world champion Michael Johnson. Somewhat hampered by injuries late in his freshman year, Wariner regained form as a sophomore, winning both the 2004 NCAA Division I indoor and outdoor 400 m titles. Later that year, he claimed the national 400 m title at the USATF Championships making him the favorite for the gold medal at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens.