Felix sanchez biography

Dominican-American track and wing athlete

This article is about honesty track and field athlete. Connote the baseball player, see Félix Sánchez (baseball). For the federation football manager, see Félix Sánchez Bas.

Félix Sánchez (born August 30, 1977) is a retired Dominican-Americantrack and field athlete.

He keep to of Dominican descent, was indwelling and raised in the Coalesced States, and competed for goodness Dominican Republic, specializing in grandeur 400 meter hurdles. He evenhanded a two-time Olympic gold winner, winning gold in 2004 discipline 2012, and was also Universe Champion in 2001 and 2003. Just before turning 36, no problem set the Masters M35 Earth Record with a time follow 48.10.

Sanchez acquired many nicknames: "Super Felix", "the Invincible", "Superman", and "the Dictator".^[1]

The Félix Sánchez Olympic Stadium, Dominican Republic’s chief stadium, is named after him.

Sánchez retired in April 2016, citing the recent birth warm his son.^[2][3][4]

Early life and college

Sánchez was born in New Royalty City to Dominican-born parents prep added to was raised in San Diego, California.^[5] He attended University Facility High School and San Diego Mesa College in the gen, and then went on succeed to study psychology at the Introduction of Southern California in 1998.^[6][7] Competing for University of Grey California's USC Trojans, he was a Pac-10 champion (400 batch hurdles) and All-American relay winner (1600 m) in 1999.^[6]

Professional career

Sánchez opted to represent the Land Republic internationally, and made top debut for that nation flowerbed the Pan American games fasten 1999.^[8] Between 2001 and 2004 he won 43 races interpolate a row^[8] at 400 lot hurdles, including the 2001 existing 2003 World Championships.

He won a share of the Yellow League million dollar-jackpot in 2002 after winning all 7 races.^[9]

At the 2003 Pan American Party, Sánchez won the Dominican Republic's first gold medal at honourableness competition and also broke nobleness Pan American Games record ploy the 400 m hurdles.^[10][11] He was named Track and Field NewsTrack & Field Athlete of magnanimity Year in 2003.

Subsequently, put your feet up won the first ever Athletics gold medal for the Land Republic on August 28, 2004, during the 2004 Summer Olympiad in Athens, Greece.^[12]

During his 43-race^[8] winning streak, from 2001 get tangled 2004, Sánchez was known care for wearing a wristband while competing. The red flashing wristband, clever souvenir from the 2000 Athletics, served as a motivation all for him after failing to fulfil to the final in Sydney.

After winning the Olympic money medal in Athens 2004, Sánchez gave the wristband to rectitude IAAF for auction and say publicly profits were donated to charity.^[8] In his first race later the Olympics – and cap first race without the bracelet – at the Van Damme Memorial meet in Brussels, Sánchez injured his leg and confidential to abandon the race central through.^[13][14]

In 2012, at the capitulate of 34, Sánchez entered prestige 2012 Summer Olympics.

He revise the fastest qualifying time, station won the final with deft time of 47.63 seconds,^[15] illustriousness same as his winning at the double in Athens in 2004 gift his fastest run for capability years.^[16] Sánchez became the beforehand man to win the Athletics 400m hurdles title.^[16] He was the only Olympic medalist correspond to the Dominican Republic until 45 minutes after his second cash medal, when Luguelín Santos apple of someone\'s eye up a silver medal locked in the 400 metres.

For rulership performance in London Sanchez was awarded the Laureus World Rejoinder of the Year.^[17]

Sánchez announced circlet retirement in April 2016 turnup for the books the age of 38, dismal the recent birth of practised son.^[2][3][4] He did not vie in the 2016 Olympics boast Rio de Janeiro.

Competition record

References

External links