Carl Lewis, athlete: biography, achievements in sport

Carl Lewis - a unique American athlete. He became the Olympic champion in several disciplines -sprinterskom running and long jump. All in its kitty 9 the highest dignity of awards to four Olympic Games.

Childhood athlete

Carl Lewis, athlete: biography, achievements in sport

Carl Lewis was born in Birmingham (Alabama) in 1961. A great sport for the first time struck his fancy at 7 years of age, when he saw a television performance of the American jumper Bob Beamon. At the Olympic Games in Mexico City Beamon flew to 8 meters 90 centimeters. Then it was called the jump in the XXI century. Indeed, his record was broken in 1991 by another American, Mike Powell at the World Cup (he flew to 8 meters 95 centimeters). At the Olympics Beamon achievement remains unsurpassed.

Then, in the 68th, stunned Carl Lewis immediately after the broadcast went out into the yard to measure the length of the car, parked near the house. He wanted to personally imagine what 8, 90.

His father was a sports coach, so Lewis from childhood knew the value of meter and second in the sport. Sporty implicit was the whole family. Mother stood in the race with hurdles at the Pan American Games.

However, the parents did not want to give her son to the sport. We are encouraged in him a craving for music, singing and dancing. On himself knew what a heavy share. At the same time, still in high school, he worked in parallel Soccer, swimming and jogging.

In 1971, at the school competitions Carl Lewis has shown good results in the long jump. After the award ceremony, he was approached by a stranger, who praised him and predicted a future champion, if he continues in the same spirit. So Lewis met with another legend of the sport - Jesse Owens. Carl heard about it for the first time. So the whole night my father told him about his incredible athletic feats: five world records in 45 minutes in 1935, a victory at the Olympic Games. Lewis himself admits that it was in the evening finally decided for myself that it would be a great athlete.

The first successes of

Carl Lewis, athlete: biography, achievements in sport

However, a career in the sport almost ended in 12 years for him. Playing in the yard, he injured his right tendon. The injury was so severe that doctors strongly advised him to forget about jumping forever.

But Charles would not listen to them. Barely recovered, he returned to the sector for jumps. A year later he achieved the result in 5, 5 meters. In 17 years, his record was 7 meters 85 centimeters.

As soon as he turned 18, he was included in the US team in athletics. He strenuously preparing for the Moscow Olympics. But because of the war in Afghanistan he was forced to boycott the Games, together with the whole American team.

Therefore, he continued to study the University of Houston and train.

Universal athlete

Lewis did not limited to the long jump. He was actively engaged in running. In 1981, the competition in Dallas one day won the race in the 100 and 200 meters, as well as in the long jump.

In this case, the coaches insisted that the time of his idol Owens long gone and in athletics must be chosen narrow specialization.

The Olympic Games in Los Angeles

Carl Lewis, athlete: biography, achievements in sport

In spite of this, at the Olympic Games in Los Angeles in 1984 in several disciplines played Carl Lewis. Athlete running sprint and jump in length.

The first Olympic gold medal in his career, he won the 100 meters. In the final, he ran for 9, 99 seconds, ahead of two-tenths of his compatriot Sam Greddi. In the women's 200 meters, Lewis set an Olympic record with a score of 19, 8 seconds.

Third gold medal he won in the relay 4 by 100 meters. In the final race, Lewis performed at the last stage. Americans almost a second ahead of the teams of Jamaica and Canada.

But, perhaps, the most important were the long jump for him. Already in qualifying he announced himself, departed on 8 meters 30 centimeters. At the end, in the first attempt, it showed the result of 8, 54 m. The runner Australian Gary Hani score of 30 cm worse. So, already in his first Olympics Carl Lewis, whose biography was now entirely devoted to sports, he became a four-time champion.

Olympics in Seoul

Carl Lewis, athlete: biography, achievements in sport

On the eve of the Olympic Games in Seoul, Lewis found himself a serious contender. Athlete Ben Johnson of Canada. He abruptly started and was able to make a decisive breakthrough on the finish.

Before the Games in Seoul, Lewis managed to overtake several times, but in the Olympic final of the 100 meters at the finish line first was Johnson. He ran the distance in 9, 83 seconds. With the result of 9, 92 second was Carl Lewis. Doping scandal erupted in this discipline. Johnson caught in the use of illicit drugs. The victory eventually went to Lewis, and its result was recognized as a world record.

At a distance of 200 meters Lewis ran a second, yielding compatriot Joe DeLoach 4 hundredths of a second.

Sixth gold medal he brought the long jump. Lewis appeared worthy rival - another American, Mike Powell. Karl even conceded in qualifying it. But in the finals, in the fourth attempt flew to 8 meters 72 cm. Powell is in the best attempt of one centimeter is not enough to 8, 5 meters.

Beamon defeated

Dream to surpass his idol Bob Beamon Lewis cherished since childhood. In training, he already showed similar results to the 8, 90 m, but at the official launch so far has not jumped.

It happened in 1991 at the World Championships in Tokyo. Lewis competed again with his main rival Powell. And in the best attempt score of 8 meters 91 centimeters. Beamon defeated. But the joy was short-lived Karl. His record lasted only a few minutes. In his next attempt Powell flew to 8, 95 m. This result remains unsurpassed to this day.

Barcelona

Carl Lewis, athlete: biography, achievements in sport

Olympic Games in 1992 became the third in Lewis' career. 100 and 200 meters, he has not played because of health problems. But in the relay race wins gold again.

In the sector for long jump Lewis in the first attempts to show the result of 8, 67 m. Powell entire finale tried to approach him. But in his last jump he showed only 8, 64 Olympic gold again appeared in Lewis.

Last Olympics

Carl Lewis, athlete: biography, achievements in sport

The Olympic Games in Atlanta, Lewis was already 35 years old. Many it is no longer believed. Indeed, he was haunted by injuries and bad luck. On the qualifying rounds for the Olympics, he showed only the third result, but did not leave his desire to go to the competition. At home, many of them even started to laugh.

In qualifying, Lewis needed all three attempts to show the result, which allowed him to play in the finals. His main rival was still a young Powell, the world record holder, who dreamed to win Olympic gold. Finals unfolded dramatically. In the first attempt Lewis spade, Powell 7 shows the result of 89 m, and becomes the best French Emmanuel Bange (8, 19 meters). In the second attempt, Lewis departs at 8, 14 m. The decisive becomes the third. Karl jumping exactly 8, 5 meters. As a result, none of his opponents can not even come close to this result.

Second becomes Jamaican James Beckford (8, 29 m), bronze at the American Green Gioia (8, 24 meters). Powell with the best jump of 8, 17 m only fifth. In the last three attempts he desperately risked, but always stand up for the line.

As a result, Carl Lewis (nickname - Great Karl), it becomes nine times Olympic champion and the owner of a silver medal.

In addition, he has 8 gold medals at the world championships - in the women's 100 meters relay and the long jump.

He is now 55 years old and lives in the United States. Is the author of a series of books about a healthy lifestyle, promotes sporting goods.