Walter Dix
A blistering sprinter whose explosive finish earned him two Olympic medals in Beijing, cementing his place among America's fastest.
Born 1986 (age 40)·American sprinter·Birthday: January 31·Millennials
Biography
Walter Dix emerged from the Florida State University track program as a powerhouse with a killer instinct in the final meters. Known for his explosive closing speed, he turned professional after a decorated collegiate career and immediately challenged the world's best. At the 2008 Beijing Olympics, he seized the moment, battling to bronze in the 100 meters and a silver in the 200 meters, becoming the most decorated U.S. track athlete of those Games. His personal best of 19.53 seconds in the 200m, set in 2011, still ranks among the fastest times ever recorded. While injuries later hampered his career, Dix's peak was marked by thrilling, come-from-behind races that showcased pure, unadulterated speed under pressure.
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.
Walter 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 Walter Was Born
The biggest hits of 1986
#1 Movie
Top Gun
Best Picture
Platoon
#1 TV Show
The Cosby Show
Walter'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 bronze medal in the 100m and the silver medal in the 200m at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.
- Ran a personal best of 19.53 seconds in the 200 meters in 2011, making him the seventh-fastest man in history at that distance.
- Won three NCAA championship titles for Florida State University in the 100m and 200m events.
Did You Know?
He famously wore diamond-studded earrings during races, a flashy trademark on the track.
His 200m personal best of 19.53 was run at the 2011 World Championships in Daegu, where he finished second behind Usain Bolt.
He was a standout high school football player in Florida before focusing solely on track.
“My race is always in the last forty meters; that's where you separate yourself.”
