Justin Gatlin retired from professional athletics in 2022 on his 40th birthday, concluding a career defined by extensive medal collections in the 60, 100, and 200-meter sprints. Born in Brooklyn in 1982, he emerged from collegiate competition to become one of the most decorated sprinters in the history of the World Athletics Championships.
Collegiate Origins and Early Success
Gatlin attended Woodham High School in Pensacola, Florida, before joining the University of Tennessee. Under coaches Vince Anderson and Bill Webb, he transitioned from hurdling to sprinting. During his 2001 freshman year, he secured NCAA outdoor titles in both the 100 and 200-meter events. Although he faced a brief suspension in 2001 for a positive test for amphetamines, an appeal regarding his attention deficit disorder medication led to early reinstatement. He eventually turned professional after his sophomore season, forgoing further collegiate eligibility.
Olympic and World Championship Performance
The 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens marked a career peak, as Gatlin captured the gold medal in the 100 meters with a time of 9.85 seconds. He also earned a bronze medal in the 200 meters and a silver in the 4 × 100 meters relay. In 2005, he became the second man to win both the 100 and 200-meter titles at a single World Championships in Helsinki. Over his career, he achieved 12 World Championship medals and 5 Olympic medals, finishing his tenure as the most decorated 100-meter sprinter in global championship history.
Twenty questions, eight minutes on the clock, and a percentile measured against everyone who has taken it. No sign-up.
Take the IQ test →Personal Bests and Longevity
Gatlin set his personal best of 9.74 seconds in the 100 meters at the 2015 IAAF Doha Diamond League. His consistency saw him record 81 sub-10-second runs during his career. In 2016, he became the oldest man to win an Olympic medal in a non-relay sprint event at age 34. He continued competing at the highest level into his late thirties, securing a 100-meter gold at the 2017 World Championships and a relay gold at the 2019 World Championships in Doha.
Regulatory Challenges
Beyond his initial 2001 suspension, Gatlin faced a significant four-year ban in 2006 following a positive test for testosterone. This sanction resulted in the nullification of his then-world-record time of 9.77 seconds. He returned to formal international competition in August 2010 and continued to perform at an elite level, including winning the 2012 World Indoor Championship title in the 60 meters and securing a bronze medal at the London 2012 Olympics.
Fast facts
- Born: 1982, Brooklyn, United States
- Education: University of Tennessee; Woodham High School
- Olympic Medals: 5
- World Championship Medals: 12
- 100m Personal Best: 9.74 seconds
- Diamond League Titles: 3
- Retirement: 2022
Questions readers ask
How many times did Justin Gatlin win the 100-meter world title?
He won the 100-meter World Championship gold medal twice, in 2005 and 2017.
What is Gatlin's fastest recorded 100-meter time?
His personal best is 9.74 seconds, achieved in May 2015.
When did Justin Gatlin retire?
He announced his retirement from professional athletics in 2022 on his 40th birthday.
Achievements
- Competed at the 2004 Summer Olympics
- Competed at the 2016 Summer Olympics
- Competed at the 2012 Summer Olympics
.jpg)