Sanya Richards

Athlete 

Sanya Richards is a two-time Olympic Gold Medalist and one of the world's fastest women. She represented the United States in the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games and brought home a Gold Medal in the 4x400m relay as well as a Bronze Medal in the individual 400m.

In the 2007 World Championships, Sanya won a Gold Medal in the 4x400m relay. By winning every IAAF Golden League 400m event, Sanya shared the 2007 Golden League Jackpot, earning a $500,000 bonus. She ran the fastest 400m time in the world in 2007 at 49.27 and finished the season ranked No. 1 by the IAAF World rankings in the 400m.

Sanya's pre-2007 career highlights include a Gold Medal in the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Greece. She is the all time US 400m record holder at 48.70. In 2006, she was the USA Indoor 400m Champion, World Cup 200m and 400m Champion, IAAF World Athlete of the Year and Jesse Owens Award Winner. In a stretch from 2005 - 2007, Sanya won 18 consecutive 400m races.

In 2005, Sanya was the Visa Humanitarian Athlete of the Year, the World Outdoor 400m Silver Medalist, and the US Outdoor 400m Champion.

She was the 2003 World Outdoor 4x400m relay Gold Medalist, and the USATF Youth Athlete of the Year.

In 2002, she was the World Junior 400m Silver Medalist, World Junior 200m Bronze Medalist and the US Junior 200m and 400m champion.

Sanya was born on February 26, 1985 in Kingston, Jamaica. She left Jamaica for the USA at the age of 12 and became a US citizen in May 2002. At St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Sanya enjoyed success both academically and athletically. In addition to her selection as a member of the National Honor Society, she maintained a 4.0 grade point average and was named 2002 National High School Female Athlete of the Year, USA Track and Field's Youth Athlete of the Year, and Track and Field News Women's Prep Athlete of the Year.

Sanya attended the University of Texas and finished her collegiate career with a total of four NCAA individual titles.