Nadine Faustin-Parker
A trailblazing Haitian hurdler who carried her nation's flag at three Olympics and broke barriers for Caribbean athletes.
Born 1976 (age 50)·Haitian hurdler·Birthday: April 14·Generation X
Biography
Born in Brussels to Haitian parents, Nadine Faustin-Parker chose to compete for Haiti, a nation with little Olympic tradition in track and field. She became a pioneer, specializing in the 100-meter hurdles. Her career was defined by persistence and pride, representing Haiti at three consecutive Summer Games from 2000 to 2008. While major medals at global championships eluded her, her impact was symbolic and substantive. She set and reset national records, giving Haitian athletics a consistent presence on the world stage. Faustin-Parker's journey was one of solitary dedication, often training far from home, yet she remained a vivid symbol of Haitian resilience and athletic potential, paving the way for future generations.
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.
Nadine was born in 1976, 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 Nadine Was Born
The biggest hits of 1976
#1 Movie
Rocky
Best Picture
Rocky
#1 TV Show
All in the Family
Nadine's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1976Born
Apple Computer founded; US bicentennial
Gas: $0.59/galHome: $29,300Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"Silly Love Songs" — WingsBest Picture: Rocky
1981Started school
MTV launches; first Space Shuttle flight; AIDS identified
Gas: $1.31/galHome: $52,300Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Bette Davis Eyes" — Kim CarnesBest Picture: Chariots of Fire
1989Became a teenager
Berlin Wall falls; Tiananmen Square protests
Gas: $1.00/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Look Away" — ChicagoBest Picture: Driving Miss Daisy
1992Could drive
LA riots after Rodney King verdict
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $84,300Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"End of the Road" — Boyz II MenBest Picture: Unforgiven
1994Could vote
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
1997Turned 21
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
2006Turned 30
Twitter launches; Pluto reclassified as dwarf planet
Gas: $2.59/galHome: $174,700Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Bad Day" — Daniel PowterBest Picture: The Departed
2016Turned 40
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 50
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Represented Haiti in the 100m hurdles at three Olympic Games (Sydney 2000, Athens 2004, Beijing 2008).
- Held the Haitian national record in the 100-meter hurdles for over a decade.
- Won a gold medal in the 60m hurdles at the 2003 Central American and Caribbean Games.
Did You Know?
She is married to former American hurdler and bobsledder Joey Parker.
Faustin-Parker earned a degree in marketing from the University of Miami.
She served as the flag bearer for Haiti at the opening ceremony of the 2004 Athens Olympics.
“I ran for Haiti to show the world we belong on this stage.”
