Angelo Taylor
An American hurdler who conquered Olympic glory eight years apart, proving elite athleticism can have a second act.
Born 1978 (age 48)·American track and field athlete·Birthday: December 29·Generation X
Biography
Angelo Taylor's story is one of resilience and a staggering return to the top. He exploded onto the scene as a 21-year-old, winning gold in the punishing 400-meter hurdles at the 2000 Sydney Olympics. But the path after his first triumph was rocky, marred by injuries and a failure to qualify for the 2004 Games. Many wrote him off. Taylor, however, retooled his approach, focusing on raw speed. His comeback was cinematic: at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, not only did he reclaim his hurdles crown, but he also anchored the U.S. 4x400 meter relay team to another gold. With a powerful, upright running style, he became only the second man ever to win two Olympic titles in his specialist event, bookending a near-decade with moments of pure golden triumph.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Angelo was born in 1978, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Angelo Was Born
The biggest hits of 1978
#1 Movie
Grease
Best Picture
The Deer Hunter
#1 TV Show
Laverne & Shirley
Angelo's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1978Born
First test-tube baby born
Gas: $0.63/galHome: $35,300Min wage: $2.65/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Shadow Dancing" — Andy GibbBest Picture: The Deer Hunter
1983Started school
Internet adopts TCP/IP, creating the modern internet
Gas: $1.16/galHome: $57,700Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Every Breath You Take" — The PoliceBest Picture: Terms of Endearment
1991Became a teenager
Soviet Union dissolves; World Wide Web goes public
Gas: $1.14/galHome: $82,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" — Bryan AdamsBest Picture: The Silence of the Lambs
1994Could drive
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
1996Could vote
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
1999Turned 21
Columbine shooting; Y2K panic builds
Gas: $1.17/galHome: $113,900Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Believe" — CherBest Picture: American Beauty
2008Turned 30
Barack Obama elected first Black US president; financial crisis
Gas: $3.27/galHome: $153,100Min wage: $6.55/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Low" — Flo RidaBest Picture: Slumdog Millionaire
2018Turned 40
Royal wedding of Harry and Meghan; Parkland shooting
Gas: $2.72/galHome: $211,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"God's Plan" — DrakeBest Picture: Green Book
2026Age 48 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won the Olympic gold medal in the 400-meter hurdles at both the 2000 Sydney and 2008 Beijing Games.
- Anchored the gold medal-winning U.S. men's 4x400 meter relay team at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
- Earned a bronze medal in the 400-meter dash at the 2007 World Championships in Athletics.
- Holds a personal best of 47.25 seconds in the 400m hurdles, ranking among the top 15 performers ever.
Did You Know?
He ran a blistering 44.05 second 400-meter dash, showcasing world-class flat speed.
Between his two Olympic golds, he failed to make the 2004 U.S. Olympic team.
He was a standout athlete at Georgia Tech before turning professional.
Taylor served as a pallbearer at the funeral of fellow Olympic champion Florence Griffith Joyner.
“The hurdles are a test of rhythm and precision; you break that rhythm, you break the race.”
