Shawn Crawford
The charismatic and unpredictable American sprinter whose Olympic 200m gold was just the start of a bizarre and memorable saga on the track.
Born 1978 (age 48)·American sprinter·Birthday: January 14·Generation X
Biography
Shawn Crawford burst onto the scene with a showman's flair and blistering speed, winning the 200-meter gold at the 2004 Athens Olympics. Known for his explosive starts and vibrant personality, he seemed poised for track stardom. His career, however, took a series of unexpected turns. In the 2008 Beijing 200m final, he finished fourth but was upgraded to silver after two runners ahead of him were disqualified. In a gesture of sportsmanship that became legendary, he later attempted to give his medal to the original fourth-place finisher, his friend Churandy Martina. Crawford's later years were marred by a two-year suspension for missing drug tests, which he and his coach contested as a paperwork error following his retirement. His legacy is a complex mix of supreme talent, theatrical generosity, and the harsh administrative realities of modern sport.
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.
Shawn 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 Shawn Was Born
The biggest hits of 1978
#1 Movie
Grease
Best Picture
The Deer Hunter
#1 TV Show
Laverne & Shirley
Shawn'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 gold medal in the 200 meters at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens.
- Originally finished 4th in the 2008 Beijing Olympics 200m final, but was awarded the silver medal after two disqualifications.
- Won the 2003 World Athletics Final in the 200 meters.
- Was a member of the USC Trojans track team that won the NCAA championship in 2000.
Did You Know?
He famously tried to hand his 2008 Olympic silver medal to Churandy Martina of the Netherlands, who was disqualified after an appeal.
Crawford once raced a giraffe and a zebra for a TV segment on 'The Tonight Show with Jay Leno'.
He ran a 100-meter personal best of 9.88 seconds in 2004.
His suspension for missing drug tests was controversial, with his coach stating Crawford had already filed retirement papers.
“I'm not a track star. I'm an entertainer who runs track.”
