Carl Lewis
American sprinter and long jumper with nine Olympic gold medals.
Frederick Carlton Lewis, better known as Carl Lewis, was an American track and field star who dominated sprinting and the long jump from 1979 until his final Olympic gold in 1996. Over his career, he collected nine Olympic gold medals, one Olympic silver, and ten World Championships medals (eight of them gold). He is one of only six athletes to win gold in the same individual event at four straight Olympics, and one of just two—along with American discus thrower Al Oerter—to achieve that feat in the same individual athletics event. Today, he serves as head track and field coach at the University of Houston.
Born in Birmingham, Alabama, on July 1, 1961, Lewis grew up in a family steeped in athletics. His mother, Evelyn, was a hurdler on the 1951 Pan-American team, and his father, William, coached local athletes. His older brother, Cleveland, played professional soccer for the Memphis Rogues, while his sister, Carol, became an elite long jumper who placed ninth at the 1984 Olympics and won bronze at the 1983 World Championships. Lewis began competing in the long jump at age 13 and was coached by his father before training under Andy Dudek and Paul Minore at Willingboro High School in New Jersey, where he ranked fourth on the all-time World Junior list for the event.
After high school, Lewis chose the University of Houston, where coach Tom Tellez would guide him for his entire career. Just days after graduating in 1979, Lewis broke the high school long jump record with a leap of 8.13 meters. By the end of that year, he was ranked fifth in the world in the long jump. An old knee injury flared up, but he adapted his technique with Tellez and won the 1980 NCAA title with a wind-assisted jump of 8.35 meters. Though his focus remained the long jump, he began showing promise in the sprints, drawing comparisons to Jesse Owens. He qualified for the 1980 U.S. Olympic team in the long jump and the 4 × 100 m relay, but the U.S. boycott kept him from competing in Moscow. Instead, he jumped 7.77 meters for bronze at the Liberty Bell Classic and ran on the gold-medal 4 × 100 m relay team (38.61 seconds). He later received one of 461 Congressional Gold Medals created for the 1980 U.S. team. By year’s end, he was ranked sixth in the world in the long jump and seventh in the 100 meters.
In 1981, Lewis made his breakthrough. On June 20, he improved his personal best by nearly half a meter, jumping 8.62 meters at the TAC Championships while still a teenager. He became the world’s fastest 100-meter sprinter, running 10.00 seconds at the Southwest Conference Championships—the third-fastest time in history and a low-altitude record. He was ranked number one globally in both the 100 meters and the long jump, won his first national titles in those events, and received the James E. Sullivan Award as the top amateur athlete in the United States. The following year, his dominance continued, and for the first time, it seemed someone might challenge Bob Beamon’s long jump world record.
Lewis topped the world rankings in the 100 m, 200 m, and long jump frequently from 1981 into the early 1990s. He set world records in the 100 m, 4 × 100 m relay, and 4 × 200 m relay, while his indoor long jump world record from 1984 still stands. His 65 consecutive long jump victories over ten years is one of the sport’s longest undefeated streaks. He broke 10 seconds in the 100 meters fifteen times and 20 seconds in the 200 meters ten times, and he long jumped over 8.53 meters 71 times.
His achievements earned him numerous honors: the International Association of Athletics Federations named him “World Athlete of the Century,” the International Olympic Committee called him “Sportsman of the Century,” *Sports Illustrated* selected him as “Olympian of the Century,” and *Track & Field News* named him “Athlete of the Year” in 1982, 1983, and 1984.
After retiring from athletics, Lewis pursued acting, appearing in several films. In 2011, he attempted to run as a Democrat for a seat in the New Jersey Senate but was removed from the ballot due to the state’s residency requirement. He also owns a marketing and branding company called C.L.E.G., which promotes products and services, including his own.
- born
- July 1, 1961
- field
- Track and field (sprints, long jump)
- nationality
- American
- known_for
- Nine Olympic gold medals; four consecutive Olympic golds in the same individual
Verified Timeline
Lore & Background
Carl Lewis was born in Birmingham, Alabama, on July 1, 1961, to William and Evelyn Lewis. His mother was a hurdler on the 1951 Pan-Am team, and his parents ran a local athletics club. Lewis was initially coached by his father and later by Tom Tellez at the University of Houston, who remained his coach for his entire career. Days after graduating high school in 1979, Lewis broke the high school long jump record with a leap of 8.13 m. He won the 1980 NCAA title with a wind-assisted jump of 8.35 m and qualified for the 1980 U.S. Olympic team but was unable to compete due to the boycott; he instead participated in the Liberty Bell Classic, winning bronze in the long jump with 7.77 m and gold in the 4 × 100 m relay with a time of 38.61 s. He received one of 461 Congressional Gold Medals created for the 1980 U.S. Summer Olympics team. Lewis broke through in 1981, running 10.00 s in the 100 m at the Southwest Conference Championships on May 16—the third-fastest in history and the low-altitude record—and leaping 8.62 m at the TAC Championships on June 20. He earned his first world number-one rankings in both the 100 m and long jump, won his first national titles, and received the James E. Sullivan Award. In 1982, he cleared 28 ft 0 in (8.53 m) five times outdoors and twice indoors, going as far as 8.76 m at Indianapolis on July 24. He also ran 10.00 s in the 100 m, the world's fastest time. At the inaugural World Championships in 1983, Lewis won gold in the 100 m (10.07 s), long jump (8.55 m), and 4 × 100 m relay (37.86 s, a world record). He also set an American record in the 200 m that year with 19.75 s on June 19 at the TAC/Mobil Championships, the second-fastest time in history and the low-altitude record. Lewis topped world rankings in the 100 m, 200 m, and long jump frequently from 1981 to the early 1990s. He set world records in the 100 m, 4 × 100 m relay, and 4 × 200 m relay, and his indoor long jump world record has stood since 1984. He had 65 consecutive victories in the long jump over ten years, broke 10 seconds for the 100 m fifteen times, and long jumped over 8.53 m 71 times. After retiring, he became an actor and attempted to run for a seat as a Democrat in the New Jersey Senate in 2011 but was removed from the ballot due to the state's residency requirement. He owns a marketing and branding company named C.L.E.G., which markets and brands products and services, including his own.
Reader's Guide
Carl Lewis is widely regarded as one of the greatest track and field athletes in history. His nine Olympic gold medals and one silver medal, along with eight World Championships golds, place him among the most decorated athletes in the sport. He is one of only six athletes to win gold in the same individual event in four consecutive Olympic Games, and one of two to do so in the same individual athletics event, alongside discus thrower Al Oerter. His dominance in the long jump, with 65 consecutive victories over a decade, and his world records in multiple events underscore his versatility and longevity. Lewis was voted 'World Athlete of the Century' by the International Association of Athletics Federations, 'Sportsman of the Century' by the International Olympic Committee, and 'Olympian of the Century' by Sports Illustrated. He was also named 'Athlete of the Year' by Track & Field News in 1982, 1983, and 1984. His career helped elevate track and field's global profile, and his influence extends beyond competition into coaching, as he is the head track and field coach for the University of Houston.
Did You Know?
- Lewis's mother, Evelyn Lawler Lewis, was a hurdler on the 1951 Pan-Am team.
- Days after graduating high school in 1979, Lewis broke the high school long jump record with a leap of 8.13 m.
- At the 1983 TAC Championships, Lewis set an American record in the 200 m with 19.75 s, the second-fastest time in history and the low-altitude record.
- Lewis received one of 461 Congressional Gold Medals created specifically for athletes on the 1980 U.S. Summer Olympics team.
- In 2011, Lewis attempted to run for a seat as a Democrat in the New Jersey Senate but was removed from the ballot due to the state's residency requirement.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Carl Lewis?
Carl Lewis is the popular name of Frederick Carlton Lewis, an American sprinter and long jumper born on July 1, 1961. He competed at the elite level from 1979 through 1996 and is widely regarded as one of the greatest track and field athletes ever to compete.
How many Olympic gold medals did Carl Lewis win?
Lewis collected nine Olympic gold medals over his career, along with one silver. He also earned ten medals at World Championships, eight of which were gold.
What events did Carl Lewis specialize in?
He was primarily a sprinter and long jumper, competing in the 100 meters, 200 meters, long jump, and relay events. His dominance in both raw speed and jumping made him a uniquely versatile competitor on the track.
What is Carl Lewis's four consecutive Olympic golds achievement?
Lewis is one of only six athletes in Olympic history to win gold in the same individual event at four straight Games. This streak in the long jump across 1984, 1988, 1992, and 1996 remains one of the most remarkable feats in the sport.
What world records did Carl Lewis hold?
At various points in his career, Lewis held world records in the 100 meters, the 4 × 100 meter relay, the 4 × 200 meter relay, and the indoor long jump. These marks cemented his legacy as a record-breaking force in both sprinting and field events.
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