Carl Lewis

Born 1961

Fact

Nine Olympic gold medals across four Games

Fact

Four consecutive Olympic long jump golds over twelve years

Fact

Named World Athlete of the Century

Carl Lewis won nine Olympic gold medals and ten World Championship golds across four consecutive Olympic Games — one of the longest sustained periods of dominance in track and field history. He matched Jesse Owens by winning the same four events at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics.

Lewis was the master of the long jump, winning four consecutive Olympic golds in the event from 1984 to 1996 — a feat of consistency spanning twelve years that may never be repeated. His 100-meter gold at Seoul in 1988 came after Ben Johnson was disqualified for doping.

Born in Birmingham, Alabama and raised in New Jersey, Lewis was part of an athletic family. His mother was a former Olympian. He was named World Athlete of the Century by the International Association of Athletics Federations.