LaShawn Merritt
A 400-meter powerhouse whose explosive speed delivered Olympic gold and a rivalry that defined an era of American track and field.
Born 1986 (age 40)·American sprinter·Birthday: June 27·Millennials
Biography
LaShawn Merritt didn't just run the 400 meters; he owned it for a period, emerging from the shadow of a legend to become a champion in his own right. Hailing from Portsmouth, Virginia, his raw talent was evident early, but it was on the world stage where he forged his legacy. For years, the event was dominated by his compatriot Jeremy Wariner, but Merritt's breakthrough came at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, where he stunned the track world by dethroning the favorite to win gold. He backed it up with World Championship titles, combining a powerful, driving style with remarkable consistency. His career was not without interruption, but he returned with a ferocity, anchoring U.S. relay teams to gold and becoming one of only a handful of men to break the 44-second barrier repeatedly. Merritt's career is a study in focused power and the quiet confidence of a man who knew exactly how to pace his race, on and off the track.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
LaShawn was born in 1986, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When LaShawn Was Born
The biggest hits of 1986
#1 Movie
Top Gun
Best Picture
Platoon
#1 TV Show
The Cosby Show
LaShawn's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1986Born
Challenger disaster; Chernobyl nuclear meltdown
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $66,600Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"That's What Friends Are For" — Dionne & FriendsBest Picture: Platoon
1991Started school
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
1999Became a teenager
Columbine shooting; Y2K panic builds
Gas: $1.17/galHome: $113,900Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Believe" — CherBest Picture: American Beauty
2002Could drive
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2004Could vote
Indian Ocean tsunami kills over 230,000
Gas: $1.88/galHome: $157,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Yeah!" — UsherBest Picture: Million Dollar Baby
2007Turned 21
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2016Turned 30
Donald Trump elected president; Brexit vote
Gas: $2.14/galHome: $181,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Love Yourself" — Justin BieberBest Picture: Moonlight
2026Turned 40
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won the Olympic gold medal in the 400 meters at the 2008 Beijing Games.
- Is a three-time World Champion in the 400 meters (2009, 2011, 2013).
- Anchored the gold medal-winning U.S. 4x400 meter relay team at the 2016 Rio Olympics.
- Ran a personal best of 43.65 seconds, making him the eleventh-fastest man in history over 400 meters.
Did You Know?
He ran his first competitive 400-meter race in high school wearing basketball shoes.
He is an avid bowler and has participated in professional celebrity bowling tournaments.
He won the 2008 Olympic gold medal in a pair of distinctive gold-colored running spikes.
He briefly played wide receiver for the football team at East Carolina University before focusing solely on track.
“My faith is the foundation of everything. It keeps me grounded and focused on what's important.”
