In just his second 100m race of the season, Gatlin equaled the world record of 9.77 seconds at the at the Qatar Super Grand Prix in Doha on May 12, 2006. Gatlin equaled the world record with a wind reading of +1.7 meters per second. The record of 9.77 seconds was first achieved by Jamaican Asafa Powell in Athens, Greece, on June 14, 2005. Gatlin is now only the fourth male 100m sprinter to achieve an impressive triple by winning titles at the Olympic Games and World Championships, and setting a World record, with Carl Lewis, Donovan Bailey (CAN) and Maurice Greene the only other such achievers. Gatlin had an amazing season in 2005, highlighted by winning the 100m and 200m gold medals at the World Outdoor Championships in Helsinki, Finland. Gatlin's victories made him only the second man ever to win both 100m and 200m at the same World Outdoor Championships during the 10 occasions the event has been held and his winning margin of .17 seconds in the 100 was the biggest in World Championships history. Gatlin also won both sprints at the 2005 USA Outdoor Championships in becoming the first man to win U.S. 100 and 200-meter titles in the same year since Kirk Baptiste in 1985. One of the finest young U.S. sprinters to come along in years, Gatlin fulfilled his promise at the tender age of 22 in winning the gold medal in the men’s 100 meters at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens. When the gun went off, Gatlin surged immediately to the lead. He never relinquished his advantage - although it was close - finishing in a personal-best, world-leading time of 9.85 seconds. Gatlin finished ahead of fast-finishing Francis Obikwelu of Portugal (9.86) and U.S. teammate Maurice Greene (9.87) as the first five all broke 10 seconds in the fastest Olympic 100m in history. Gatlin’s winning time is second only in Olympic history to Canadian Donovan Bailey’s world-record winning time of 9.84 at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta. Gatlin later added an Olympic bronze medal to his collection in Athens, crossing the finish line in 20.03, and he won a silver medal in the 4x100m relay (38.08). As a collegiate star at the University of Tennessee, Gatlin won six NCAA titles by the end of his sophomore season. He also won the 2003 U.S. and World Indoor titles at 60m. Gatlin ended the 2003 season by winning one of the biggest cash prizes in track and field history at the Moscow Challenge. He won the 100 meters by crossing the finish line in 10.05 seconds to win a jackpot totaling $500,000. In 2002 he announced he would join the professional circuit, moving from Knoxville to Raleigh, N.C., where he is coached by Trevor Graham. He opened his pro career in 2003 by placing second in the 60 meters at the Verizon Millrose Games, beating world record holder Maurice Greene in the process…He ignited Tennessee’s 2001 NCAA team title run by winning the 100m and 200m dashes, becoming the first freshman to get double victory in those events at the NCAA Outdoors since 1976. His then career best of 10.08 in the 100m at the 2001 NCAAs equaled the U.S. Junior record in the event. He also was part of the school record 4x100m relay team that finished second in 38.38…Gatlin was named the SEC Track Freshman of the Year both Indoors and Outdoors…says the difference between college and pro running is, “Now it’s my job.” Coming out of high school, Gatlin received full scholarship offers in track and field as well as graphic design. Gatlin says he nearly went to art school, before changing his mind and pursuing his track career.
Courtesy USATF.org
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