Félix Sánchez (hurdler)
 Félix Sánchez at the 2009 World Championships in Athletics in Berlin | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | August 30, 1977 New York City, United States |
| Years active | 1999–2016 |
| Height | 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in) |
| Weight | 73 kg (161 lb) |
| Sport | |
| Sport | Running |
| Event(s) | 400 meter hurdles, 4 × 400 meters relay |
| College team | USC Trojans |
Medal record | |
Félix Sánchez, (born August 30, 1977) is a retired Dominican-American track and field athlete. He is of Dominican descent, was born and raised in the United States, and competed for the Dominican Republic, specializing in the 400 meter hurdles. He is a two-time Olympic gold medallist, winning gold in 2004 and 2012, and was also World Champion in 2001 and 2003. Just before turning 36, he set the Masters M35 World Record with a time of 48.10. Sanchez acquired many nicknames: "Super Felix", "the Invincible", "Superman", and "the Dictator".[1]
The Félix Sánchez Olympic Stadium, Dominican Republic’s largest stadium, is named after him.
Sánchez retired in April 2016, citing the recent birth of his son.[2][3][4]
Early life and college[edit]
Sánchez was born in New York City to Dominican-born parents and was raised in San Diego, California.[5] He attended University City High School and San Diego Mesa College in the city, and then went on to study psychology at the University of Southern California in 1998.[6][7] Competing for University of Southern California's USC Trojans, he was a Pac-10 champion (400 m hurdles) and All-American relay champion (1600 m) in 1999.[6]
Professional career[edit]
Sánchez opted to represent the Dominican Republic internationally, and made his debut for that nation in the Pan American games in 1999.[8] Between 2001 and 2004 he won 43 races in a row[8] at 400 m hurdles, including the 2001 and 2003 World Championships. He won a share of the Golden League million dollar-jackpot in 2002 after winning all 7 races.[9]
At the 2003 Pan American Games, Sánchez won the Dominican Republic's first gold medal at the competition and also broke the Pan American Games record in the 400 m hurdles.[10][11] He was named Track and Field News Track & Field Athlete of the Year in 2003. Subsequently, he won the first ever Olympic gold medal for the Dominican Republic on August 28, 2004, during the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece.[12]
During his 43-race[8] winning streak, from 2001 to 2004, Sánchez was known for wearing a wristband while competing. The red flashing wristband, a souvenir from the 2000 Olympics, served as a motivation for him after failing to advance to the final in Sydney. After winning the Olympic gold medal in Athens 2004, Sánchez gave the wristband to the IAAF for auction and the profits were donated to charity.[8] In his first race after the Olympics – and his first race without the wristband – at the Van Damme Memorial meet in Brussels, Sánchez injured his leg and had to abandon the race halfway through.[13][14]
In 2012, at the age of 34, Sánchez entered the 2012 Summer Olympics. He posted the fastest qualifying time, and won the final with a time of 47.63 seconds,[15] the same as his winning time in Athens in 2004 and his fastest run for eight years.[16] Sánchez became the oldest man to win the Olympic 400m hurdles title.[16] He was the only Olympic medalist for the Dominican Republic until 45 minutes after his second gold medal, when Luguelín Santos picked up a silver medal in the 400 metres. For his performance in London Sanchez was awarded the Laureus World Comeback of the Year.[17]
Sánchez announced his retirement in April 2016 at the age of 38, citing the recent birth of a son.[2][3][4] He did not compete in the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.
Competition record[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ "California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office > Newsroom > Notable Alumni > FelixSanchez". Archived from the original on July 19, 2013. Retrieved July 17, 2013.
- ^ a b "Double Olympic champion Felix Sanchez retires | NEWS | World Athletics".
- ^ a b "'Super Sanchez' announces retirement".
- ^ a b "Olympic champion Felix Sanchez retires at 38".
- ^ Felix Sanchez Archived July 2, 2012, at the Wayback Machine. Sports Reference. Retrieved on June 30, 2012.
- ^ a b "Player Bio: Felix Sanchez :: Men's Outdoor Track". Archived from the original on May 26, 2009. Retrieved March 21, 2008.
- ^ "California State Meet Results - 1915 to present". Hank Lawson. Archived from the original on October 6, 2014. Retrieved December 25, 2012.
- ^ a b c d "Felix Sanchez". www.london2012.com. Archived from the original on July 30, 2012. Retrieved August 10, 2012.
- ^ How does it feel to win $1m?. Spikes. Retrieved January 5, 2009.
- ^ Felix Sanchez wins first gold medal for Dominican Republic. Xinhua News Agency. Retrieved on July 11, 2009. Archived October 26, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Gonzalez, David (2003-08-08). Games Lift Spirits in Santo Domingo. The New York Times. Retrieved on July 11, 2009.
- ^ Felix Sanchez coming home to NYC for Reebok Grand Prix. Cool Running. Retrieved on July 11, 2009. Archived August 23, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Felix Sanchez donates flashing wristband to the IAAF. Retrieved on September 27, 2011. Archived December 12, 2005, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Leg injury sees Sanchez's three-year win streak end. Retrieved on September 27, 2011.
- ^ "'Superman' Sanchez regains Olympic 400m hurdles title". The Times Of India. Archived from the original on August 10, 2012. Retrieved August 7, 2012.
- ^ a b "London 2012 Olympics: James secures 400m crown as Greene misses hurdles medal". www.athleticsweekly.com. Archived from the original on August 9, 2012. Retrieved August 11, 2012.
- ^ Laureus World Sports Awards 2013: The Winners | Laureus
External links[edit]
- Félix Sánchez at World Athletics
- 2004 interview and profile in Open Your Eyes magazine
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- 1977 births
- Living people
- American male hurdlers
- American sportspeople of Dominican Republic descent
- Athletes (track and field) at the 1999 Pan American Games
- Athletes (track and field) at the 2000 Summer Olympics
- Athletes (track and field) at the 2003 Pan American Games
- Athletes (track and field) at the 2004 Summer Olympics
- Athletes (track and field) at the 2007 Pan American Games
- Athletes (track and field) at the 2008 Summer Olympics
- Athletes (track and field) at the 2011 Pan American Games
- Athletes (track and field) at the 2012 Summer Olympics
- Athletes (track and field) at the 2015 Pan American Games
- Dominican Republic male hurdlers
- Dominican Republic male sprinters
- Junior college men's track and field athletes in the United States
- Laureus World Sports Awards winners
- Medalists at the 2004 Summer Olympics
- Medalists at the 2012 Summer Olympics
- Olympic athletes for the Dominican Republic
- Olympic gold medalists in athletics (track and field)
- Olympic gold medalists for the Dominican Republic
- Pan American Games bronze medalists for the Dominican Republic
- Pan American Games gold medalists for the Dominican Republic
- Pan American Games medalists in athletics (track and field)
- Pan American Games silver medalists for the Dominican Republic
- Track and field athletes from New York City
- Track and field athletes from San Diego
- University of Southern California alumni
- World Athletics Championships athletes for the Dominican Republic
- World Athletics Championships medalists
- Goodwill Games medalists in athletics
- IAAF Golden League winners
- Track & Field News Athlete of the Year winners
- Central American and Caribbean Games gold medalists for the Dominican Republic
- Competitors at the 2002 Central American and Caribbean Games
- Competitors at the 2006 Central American and Caribbean Games
- Competitors at the 2010 Central American and Caribbean Games
- World Athletics Championships winners
- Central American and Caribbean Games medalists in athletics
- Competitors at the 2001 Goodwill Games
- Medalists at the 2003 Pan American Games
- Medalists at the 2007 Pan American Games
- Medalists at the 2011 Pan American Games
- Goodwill Games gold medalists in athletics
- San Diego Mesa College alumni