Carl Lewis: Hit The Ground Running

Standing at 6’3, you would not expect Carl Lewis to be a former world record holder for the 100m dash. Taller than most sprinters, Lewis soared past the competition not only by height but by speed as well. But it has not always been this way.

Carl Lewis, born Frederick Carlton Lewis, was born in Birmingham, Alabama. When Lewis first started track, at the age of 10, he was smaller than most of the kids his age. He was a shy, reserved boy growing up in the small town of Willingboro, N.J. However when Lewis hit 15, he suddenly sprouted an astounding 2 ½ inches within a month. His growth was so rapid that he had to walk around on crutches to adjust to his new height. It was not long after his growth spurt that he started setting records.  

The first career record Lewis set was as a high school senior. His 26ft 8in long jump broke the national prep long-jump record. Throughout high school he had been coached by his father, but when he made the move to the University of Houston his new coach was Tom Tellez who remained his coach throughout the rest of his career. With Tellez’s help, Lewis fine-tuned his jumping ability and was able to break his own personal record for the long jump at the USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships, also known as the TAC Champions, by jumping an incredible 28 ft. 3inches. This put him only one spot behind the record holder, Bob Beamon with 29 ft. 2½ in. This was the beginning of Carl Lewis’ incredible gold medal journey. 

Throughout his career, Lewis was named the Associated Press Male Athlete of the Year twice in 1983 and 1984. He received four gold medals in the 1984 Olympics for the long jump, 100m sprint, 200m sprint, and the 4 x 100m relay. An unknown fact about Lewis was that he was drafted, 10^th round, into the NBA in 1984. As well as being drafted in the 12^th round by the Dallas Cowboys in the 1984 draft. He never played in either.

In the 1988 Olympics, Lewis was awarded the gold for the 100m dash only after long time competitor, Ben Johnson had been stripped of the medal after testing positive for performance enhancing drugs. In 1991, Lewis set the record for the 100m dash with an amazing 9.86 seconds. In 1992, he received two more Olympic gold medals for the long jump and the 4 x100m relay. Lastly, in 1996 Olympics Lewis earned his fourth gold medal for the long jump, setting another record of holding the gold for the longest in one event. 

Of course none of this success came without the back lash of the public, and not all of it was due to track and field. Many had viewed Lewis as being cold and egotistical. The public wanted a kind and humble hero, Lewis did not fit that persona and he found it much harder to gain acceptance in the United States. To add insult to injury, there were many rumors swirling around about Lewis being gay and although Lewis denied all of the rumors it caused him to lose many of his potential and current sponsors. However, through all the controversy, Lewis never lost sight of his goals 

As time wore on and he became older, Lewis knew it was time to throw in the towel. After nearly 20 years as being the golden boy of track and field, Carl Lewis retired in 1997. In 1999, Lewis was named the greatest U.S. Olympian of the 20th century by Sports Illustrated. Shortly after, in 2001, Lewis was inducted into the National Track and Field Hall of Fame.

Lewis followed a different path after retirement, still in the spotlight but this time it was on the silver screen. He’s been seen in movies such as Speed Zone!, Perfect Strangers, Tournament of Dreams, and Material Girls. He also attempted to run for Senator in New Jersey but he did not meet the requirements to run and reluctantly withdrew. He owns his own line of fitness products and has started up his own foundation, self- titled, The Carl Lewis Foundation helps to raise awareness of childhood obesity and fight the growing epidemic. Just as Lewis changed the sport of track and field, he is working towards a greater goal of “helping people around the world energize their lives.”

-Stormm Van Rooi