LaShawn Merritt

Birth dateJun 27, 1986

BirthplacePortsmouth, United States

Height1.88 m

Weight84 kg

LaShawn Merritt is an American retired sprinter born on June 27, 1986, in Portsmouth, Virginia. Standing 188 cm and weighing 84 kg, he specialized in the 400 metres and achieved a personal best of 43.65 seconds, making him the eleventh fastest performer of all time in the event.

Merritt won Olympic gold in the 400 metres at the 2008 Beijing Games, defeating rival Jeremy Wariner by a record margin of 0.99 seconds. He also helped the American relay team break the Olympic record, recording the second fastest 4x400 metres ever. He became World Champion by winning both the 400m and 4x400m at the 2009 World Championships.

His career began with success at the 2004 World Junior Championships, where he won 400m gold and set two world junior relay records. Merritt went on to win gold at the 2006 World Indoor Championships in the relay and silver at the 2007 World Championships. His combination of Olympic and World Championship titles established him as one of the greatest quarter-milers in history.

Key facts

400 m

43.65

#12 all-time

200 m

19.74

#25 all-time

2021 season best

45.45

May 30, 2021 · National Training Center, Clermont, FL (USA)

2021 season best

Last competition

U.S. Olympic Trials, Hayward Field, Eugene, OR

Jun 26, 2021 · 20.41

U.S. Olympic Trials, Hayward Field, Eugene, OR

Medals

Olympic Games: 3 gold, 1 bronze · World Championships: 8 gold, 3 silver

Age

40 years old

As of Sep 13, 2026: 400 m 43.65 (#12 all-time), 200 m 19.74 (#25 all-time), 2021 season best 45.45 (May 30, 2021, National Training Center, Clermont, FL (USA)) · Last competition: U.S. Olympic Trials, Hayward Field, Eugene, OR, Jun 26, 2021, 20.41 · Olympic Games: 3 gold, 1 bronze · World Championships: 8 gold, 3 silver · 40 years old

Personal bests

10.47

19.74

43.65

38.66

2:55.39

3:03.24

6.68

44.93

20.40

31.23

31.94

1:01.39

1:01.39

1:21.60

1:21.60

6.33

18.58

1:46.68

🏅

Medals

	🥇	🥈	🥉	Total
Olympic Games	3	-	1	4
World Championships	8	3	-	11
Total	11	3	1	15

Performance Charts

Season bests

Season	Discipline	Result	Wind	Date	Trend	Competitions
2021	100m	10.53	+1.9	May 23, 2021	↑	Olympia HS, Orlando, FL (USA)
2021	200m	20.41	+0.9	Jun 26, 2021	↑	U.S. Olympic Trials, Hayward Field, Eugene, OR
2021	400m	45.45	-	May 30, 2021	↑	National Training Center, Clermont, FL (USA)
2020	60m	8.06	+1.0	Jul 20, 2020	↓	AP Ranch, Fort Worth, TX (USA)
2020	100m	12.44	+1.7	Jul 20, 2020	↑	AP Ranch, Fort Worth, TX (USA)
2020	150m	18.58	+1.8	Jul 20, 2020	-	AP Ranch, Fort Worth, TX (USA)
2020	400m	45.98	-	Jul 4, 2020	↑	Montverde Academy, Montverde, FL (USA)
2020	300m	53.25	-	Jul 20, 2020	↓	AP Ranch, Fort Worth, TX (USA)
2019	200m	20.51	+0.6	Jun 8, 2019	↑	Montverde, FL (USA)
2019	400m	45.82	-	Sep 1, 2019	↑	Galà dei Castelli, Bellinzona
2018	200m	20.48	+0.3	Apr 13, 2018	↑	Gainesville, FL (USA)
2017	200m	20.27	-0.4	May 13, 2017	↑	Shanghai IAAF Diamond League, Shanghai Stadium, Shanghai - Diamond Discipline
2017	400m	44.78	-	May 5, 2017	↑	Doha IAAF Diamond League, Suhaim bin Hamad Stadium, Doha - Regional Races
2017	4x400m	3:02.13	-	Apr 23, 2017	↓	IAAF World Relays, T. Robinson Stadium, Nassau
2016	200m	19.74	+1.4	Jul 8, 2016	↑	Hayward Field, Eugene, OR (USA)
2016	300m	31.23	-	Jun 11, 2016	↓	Kingston (JAM)
2016	400m	43.85	-	Aug 14, 2016	↑	The XXXI Olympic Games
2016	4x400m	2:57.30	-	Aug 20, 2016	↓	The XXXI Olympic Games
2015	300m	31.53	-	Aug 1, 2015	↓	Atlanta, GA (USA)
2015	400m	43.65	-	Aug 26, 2015	↑	IAAF World Championships, National Stadium, Beijing
2015	4x400m	2:57.82	-	Aug 30, 2015	↓	IAAF World Championships, National Stadium, Beijing
2014	200m	20.42	+0.2	Mar 15, 2014	↑	Sydney (AUS)
2014	400m	43.92	-	Jul 3, 2014	↑	Athletissima Lausanne, Stade Olympique de la Pontaise, Lausanne - Diamond Discipline
2014	4x400m	2:57.25	-	May 25, 2014	↓	IAAF World Relays
2013	200m	20.26	+0.7	May 8, 2013	↑	George Town (CAY)
2013	400m	43.74	-	Aug 13, 2013	↑	IAAF World Championships, Luzhniki Stadion, Moskva
2013	4x400m	2:58.71	-	Aug 16, 2013	↓	IAAF World Championships, Luzhniki Stadion, Moskva
2012	200m	20.16	+0.9	May 5, 2012	↑	St-Martin (FRA)
2012	400m	44.12	-	Jun 24, 2012	↑	Hayward Field, Eugene, OR (USA)
2012	500m-short-track	1:01.39	-	Feb 11, 2012	↑	New York, NY (USA) (i)
2012	500Metres	1:01.39	-	Feb 11, 2012	↑	New York, NY (USA) (i)
2012	4x400m	3:00.15	-	Apr 28, 2012	↓	Philadelphia, PA (USA)
2011	200m	20.13	+0.2	Sep 10, 2011	↑	Stadio Guidobaldi, Rieti (ITA)
2011	400m	44.35	-	Aug 28, 2011	↑	IAAF World Championships, DS, Daegu
2011	4x400m	2:58.82	-	Sep 1, 2011	↓	IAAF World Championships, DS, Daegu
2009	200m	20.07	-0.5	May 16, 2009	↑	Carson, CA (USA)
2009	300m	31.30	-	Jun 7, 2009	↓	Eugene, OR (USA)
2009	400m	44.06	-	Aug 21, 2009	↑	IAAF World Championships
2009	4x400m	2:57.86	-	Aug 23, 2009	↓	IAAF World Championships
2008	200m	19.80	+3.2	Apr 19, 2008	↑	Greensboro, NC (USA)
2008	200m-short-track	20.82	-	Mar 8, 2008	↑	Blacksburg, VA (USA) (i)
2008	400m	43.75	-	Aug 21, 2008	↑	The XXIX Olympic Games, National Stadium, Beijing
2008	600m-short-track	1:21.60	-	Jan 26, 2008	-	Newport News, VA (USA) (i)
2008	600m	1:21.60	-	Jan 26, 2008	-	Newport News, VA (USA) (i)
2008	4x400m	2:55.39	-	Aug 23, 2008	↓	The XXIX Olympic Games, National Stadium, Beijing
2007	60m	6.84	-	Jan 6, 2007	↓	Princess Anne, MD (USA) (i)
2007	100m	10.56	-0.8	Mar 31, 2007	↑	Lynchburg, VA (USA)
2007	200m	19.98	+1.4	May 20, 2007	↑	Carson, CA (USA)
2007	200m-short-track	20.71	-	Jan 19, 2007	↑	Fayetteville, AR (USA) (i)
2007	300m	32.23	-	Feb 2, 2007	↓	South Bend, IN (USA) (i)
2007	400m	43.96	-	Aug 31, 2007	↑	IAAF World Championships
2007	400m-short-track	45.51	-	Feb 9, 2007	↑	Fayetteville, AR (USA) (i)
2007	4x400m	2:55.56	-	Sep 2, 2007	↓	IAAF World Championships
2007	4x400Metre	3:04.97	-	Feb 9, 2007	↓	Fayetteville, AR (USA) (i)
2006	60m	6.68	-	Feb 18, 2006	↓	Lynchburg, VA (USA) (i)
2006	200m	20.10	+0.4	Jul 11, 2006	↑	Stade Olympique de la Pontaise, Lausanne (SUI)
2006	200m-short-track	20.72	-	Jan 28, 2006	↑	University Park, PA (USA) (i)
2006	300m	31.31	-	Aug 8, 2006	↓	Eugene, OR (USA)
2006	300m-short-track	31.94	-	Feb 10, 2006	↑	Fayetteville, AR (USA) (i)
2006	400m	44.14	-	Sep 9, 2006	↑	Stuttgart IAAF World Athletics Final, Gottlieb-Daimler Stadion, Stuttgart
2006	400m-short-track	46.17	-	Feb 26, 2006	↑	Boston, MA (USA) (i)
2006	500Metres	1:03.38	-	Feb 3, 2006	↑	New York, NY (USA) (i)
2006	500m-short-track	1:03.38	-	Feb 3, 2006	↑	New York, NY (USA) (i)
2006	SprintMedl	1:46.68	-	Jul 25, 2006	-	Stockholm (SWE)
2006	4x400m	3:00.11	-	Sep 17, 2006	↓	Athina IAAF World Cup, Olympic Stadium, Athina
2006	4x400Metre	3:03.24	-	Mar 12, 2006	↓	Moskva IAAF World Indoor Championships, Olimpiyskiy Stadion, Moskva (i)
2005	60m	6.76	-	Dec 4, 2005	↓	Newport (GBR) (i)
2005	200m	20.38	+0.3	Apr 16, 2005	↑	Knoxville, TN (USA)
2005	200m-short-track	20.40	-	Feb 12, 2005	↑	Fayetteville, AR (USA) (i)
2005	400m	44.66	-	May 7, 2005	↑	Kingston (JAM)
2005	400m-short-track	44.93	-	Feb 11, 2005	↑	Fayetteville, AR (USA) (i)
2005	4x400m	3:00.48	-	Aug 13, 2005	↓	IAAF World Championships, Olympiastadion, Helsinki
2004	55m	6.33	-	Jan 31, 2004	-	Blacksburg, VA (USA) (i)
2004	100m	10.47	+1.2	Jun 5, 2004	↑	Newport News, VA (USA)
2004	200m	20.69	-	May 1, 2004	↑	Virginia Beach, VA (USA)
2004	200m-short-track	21.62	-	Mar 14, 2004	↑	Landover, MD (USA) (i)
2004	300m-short-track	34.60	-	Jan 10, 2004	↑	Newport (GBR) (i)
2004	300m	34.60	-	Jan 10, 2004	↓	Newport (GBR) (i)
2004	4x100m	38.66	-	Jul 18, 2004	-	Grosseto IAAF World Junior Championships
2004	400m	45.25	-	Jul 15, 2004	↑	Grosseto IAAF World Junior Championships
2004	400m-short-track	47.88	-	Mar 14, 2004	↑	Landover, MD (USA) (i)
2004	4x400m	3:01.09	-	Jul 18, 2004	↓	Grosseto IAAF World Junior Championships
2003	100m	10.73	-	May 24, 2003	↑	Newport (GBR)
2003	200m	21.33	-0.9	Aug 3, 2003	↑	Miami, FL (USA)
2003	400m	47.90	-	May 31, 2003	↑	Richmond, VA (USA)
2002	100m	10.75	+1.0	Aug 5, 2002	↑	Knoxville, TN (USA)
2002	200m	21.46	+2.1	Aug 10, 2002	↑	Knoxville, TN (USA)

Discipline	Result	Wind	Date	Competitions
200m	20.41	+0.9	Jun 26	U.S. Olympic Trials, Hayward Field, Eugene, OR
200m	20.53	+0.4	Jun 25	U.S. Olympic Trials, Hayward Field, Eugene, OR
400m	46.27	-	Jun 19	U.S. Olympic Trials, Hayward Field, Eugene, OR
400m	45.81	-	Jun 18	U.S. Olympic Trials, Hayward Field, Eugene, OR
400m	46.22	-	Jun 5	NACAC New Life Invitational, Ansin Sports Complex, Miramar, FL
400m	45.45	-	May 30	Pure Summer Invitational, National Training Center, Clermont, FL
100m	10.53	+1.9	May 23	Evolution Track Meet 3, Olympia HS, Orlando, FL
400m	46.27	-	May 23	Evolution Track Meet 3, Olympia HS, Orlando, FL
200m	20.55	+0.7	May 2	Pure Athletics Sprint Elite Meet, National Training Center, Clermont, FL
200m	20.92	+0.6	Apr 16	Tom Jones Memorial Invitational, Percy Beard Track, Gainesville, FL - Olympic Development

Discipline	Result	Wind	Date	Competitions
60m	8.06	+1.0	Jul 20	AP Ranch High Performance Invite, AP Ranch, Fort Worth, TX
100m	12.44	+1.7	Jul 20	AP Ranch High Performance Invite, AP Ranch, Fort Worth, TX
300m	53.25	-	Jul 20	AP Ranch High Performance Invite, AP Ranch, Fort Worth, TX
150m	18.58	+1.8	Jul 20	AP Ranch High Performance Invite, AP Ranch, Fort Worth, TX
400m	45.98	-	Jul 4	Showdown in Otown, Montverde Academy, Montverde, FL

Discipline	Result	Wind	Date	Competitions
400m	48.90	-	Sep 7	Great North City Games, Stockton-on-Tees - Road Running Event
400m	45.82	-	Sep 1	Galà dei Castelli, Bellinzona
200m	20.51	+0.6	Jun 8	Star Athletics Sprint Series, Montverde, FL

Discipline	Result	Wind	Date	Competitions
200m	20.54	+0.4	Jun 2	Georgetown Cayman Invitational, George Town
200m	20.70	+0.0	May 19	Kingston Jamaica International Invitational, National Stadium, Kingston
200m	20.57	-0.2	Apr 21	Grenada Invitational, St. George's
200m	20.48	+0.3	Apr 13	Gainesville Tom Jones Memorial, Gainesville, FL

Discipline	Result	Wind	Date	Competitions
400m	45.52	-	Aug 6	IAAF World Championships in Athletics, Olympic Stadium, London
400m	45.00	-	Aug 5	IAAF World Championships in Athletics, Olympic Stadium, London
400m	45.52	-	Aug 5	IAAF World Championships in Athletics, Olympic Stadium, London
200m	20.74	-0.8	Jun 24	USA Championships, Sacramento, CA
400m	44.79	-	May 27	Eugene Prefontaine Classic
200m	20.28	+1.2	May 20	Kingston Jamaica International Invitational IWC, National Stadium, Kingston
400m	44.99	-	May 17	Baie Mahault Meeting International Guadeloupe, Baie Mahault
200m	20.27	-0.4	May 13	Shanghai IAAF Diamond League, Shanghai Stadium, Shanghai - Diamond Discipline
400m	44.78	-	May 5	Doha IAAF Diamond League, Suhaim bin Hamad Stadium, Doha - Regional Races
400m	45.41	-	Apr 29	Des Moines Drake Relays, Des Moines, IA - Invitational Events
4x400m	3:02.13	-	Apr 23	IAAF World Relays, T. Robinson Stadium, Nassau
200m	20.42	-1.0	Apr 8	St. George's Grenada Invitational, St. George's

Discipline	Result	Wind	Date	Competitions
400m	44.64	-	Sep 1	Weltklasse Zürich, Letzigrund, Zürich - Diamond Discipline
400m	44.50	-	Aug 25	Athletissima Lausanne, Stade Olympique de la Pontaise, Lausanne - Diamond Discipline
4x400m	2:57.30	-	Aug 20	The XXXI Olympic Games
200m	20.19	-0.5	Aug 18	The XXXI Olympic Games
200m	19.94	-0.4	Aug 17	The XXXI Olympic Games
400m	44.21	-	Aug 16	The XXXI Olympic Games
200m	19.94	-0.4	Aug 16	The XXXI Olympic Games
400m	43.85	-	Aug 16	The XXXI Olympic Games
200m	20.15	+0.4	Aug 16	The XXXI Olympic Games
400m	45.28	-	Aug 16	The XXXI Olympic Games
200m	20.19	-0.5	Aug 16	The XXXI Olympic Games
400m	43.85	-	Aug 14	The XXXI Olympic Games
400m	44.21	-	Aug 13	The XXXI Olympic Games
400m	45.28	-	Aug 12	The XXXI Olympic Games
200m	19.79	+1.6	Jul 9	Eugene U.S. Olympic Trials, Hayward Field, Eugene, OR
200m	19.74	+1.4	Jul 8	Eugene U.S. Olympic Trials, Hayward Field, Eugene, OR

Honours

🥇

Eugene Prefontaine Classic

400 Metres

2017

🥇

IAAF World Relays

4x400 Metres Relay

2017

🥇

Eugene U.S. Olympic Trials

400 Metres

2016

🥇

Athletissima Lausanne

400 Metres

2016

🥇

Doha IAAF Diamond League

400 Metres

2016

🥇

Meeting International Mohammed VI d'Athletisme de Rabat

400 Metres

2016

🥇

Weltklasse Zürich

400 Metres

2016

The XXXI Olympic Games

200 Metres

2016

🥇

The XXXI Olympic Games

4x400 Metres Relay

2016

🥉

The XXXI Olympic Games

400 Metres

2016

🥇

Weltklasse Zürich

400 Metres

2016

🥈

IAAF World Championships

400 Metres

2015

🥇

IAAF World Relays

4x400 Metres Relay

2015

🥇

Weltklasse Zürich

400 Metres

2015

🥇

Weltklasse Zürich

400 Metres

2015

🥇

IAAF World Championships

4x400 Metres Relay

2015

🥇

Monaco Herculis

400 Metres

2014

🥇

IAAF Continental Cup

400 Metres

2014

🥇

Weltklasse Zürich

400 Metres

2014

🥇

IAAF World Relays

4x400 Metres Relay

2014

🥉

IAAF Continental Cup

4x400 Metres Relay

2014

🥇

Doha IAAF Diamond League

400 Metres

2014

🥇

Roma Golden Gala - Pietro Mennea

400 Metres

2014

🥇

New York adidas Grand Prix

400 Metres

2014

🥇

Weltklasse Zürich

400 Metres

2014

🥇

Stockholm DN Galan

400 Metres

2013

🥇

Eugene Prefontaine Classic

400 Metres

2013

🥇

IAAF World Championships

400 Metres

2013

🥇

Weltklasse Zürich

400 Metres

2013

🥇

IAAF World Championships

4x400 Metres Relay

2013

🥇

Des Moines USA Championships

400 Metres

2013

🥇

Weltklasse Zürich

400 Metres

2013

🥇

Roma Golden Gala

400 Metres

2013

🥇

Doha IAAF Diamond League Meeting

400 Metres

2012

🥇

Eugene Prefontaine Classic

400 Metres

2012

🥇

Eugene USA Championships

400 Metres

2012

🥇

IAAF World Championships

4x400 Metres Relay

2011

🥈

IAAF World Championships

400 Metres

2011

🥇

USA Championships

400 Metres

2009

🥇

IAAF World Championships

400 Metres

2009

🥇

IAAF World Championships

4x400 Metres Relay

2009

🥇

Monaco Herculis

400 Metres

2009

🥇

Weltklasse Zürich

400 Metres

2009

🥇

Thessaloniki IAAF/VTB Bank World Athletics Final

400 Metres

2009

🥇

USA Olympic Team Trials

400 Metres

2008

🥇

The XXIX Olympic Games

400 Metres

2008

🥇

Stuttgart IAAF World Athletics Final

400 Metres

2008

🥇

Berlin DKB-ISTAF

400 Metres

2008

🥇

The XXIX Olympic Games

4x400 Metres Relay

2008

🥈

IAAF World Championships

400 Metres

2007

🥇

Stuttgart IAAF World Athletics Final

400 Metres

2007

🥇

IAAF World Championships

4x400 Metres Relay

2007

🥇

Roma Golden Gala

400 Metres

2007

🥇

Paris-St-Denis Meeting Gaz de France

400 Metres

2007

🥇

Monaco Herculis

400 Metres

2007

🥇

Moskva IAAF World Indoor Championships

4x400 Metres Relay Short Track

2006

🥉

Stuttgart IAAF World Athletics Final

400 Metres

2006

🥇

Athina IAAF World Cup

400 Metres

2006

🥇

Monaco Herculis

400 Metres

2006

🥇

Athina IAAF World Cup

4x400 Metres Relay

2006

🥇

IAAF World Championships

4x400 Metres Relay

2005

🥇

Grosseto IAAF World Junior Championships

400 Metres

2004

🥇

Grosseto IAAF World Junior Championships

4x400 Metres Relay

2004

🥇

Grosseto IAAF World Junior Championships

4x100 Metres Relay

2004

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

What is LaShawn Merritt's 400 m personal best?

LaShawn Merritt's 400 m personal best is 43.65, set on Aug 26, 2015 in National Stadium, Beijing (CHN), #12 on the all-time list.

Which events does LaShawn Merritt compete in?

LaShawn Merritt competes in the 400 m and 200 m.

How did LaShawn Merritt perform in 2021?

2021 season best: 45.45, set on May 30, 2021 in National Training Center, Clermont, FL (USA). Last competition: U.S. Olympic Trials, Hayward Field, Eugene, OR on Jun 26, 2021, 20.41.

How many medals has LaShawn Merritt won?

LaShawn Merritt has won 4 Olympic Games medals and 11 World Championships medals.

LaShawn Merritt

Personal bests

Medals

Performance Charts

Season bests

2021

2020

2019

2018

2017

2016

Honours

Frequently asked questions