Steve Lewis

Birth dateMay 16, 1969

BirthplaceLos Angeles, United States

Height1.88 m

Weight84 kg

Steve Lewis is a former American sprinter born on May 16, 1969, in Los Angeles, California. Standing 188 cm and weighing 84 kg, he specialized in the 400 metres and became one of the greatest junior athletes in history. Lewis attended American High School in Fremont before competing for UCLA.

At just 19 years old, Lewis stunned the athletics world at the 1988 Seoul Olympics by winning gold in the 400 metres with a time of 43.87 seconds, still the world junior record. He added a second gold medal in the 4x400 metre relay as the American team equaled the world record of 2:56.16. At the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, he won silver in the 400m and gold in the relay, helping set a new world record of 2:55.74.

Lewis dominated the 400 metres in 1990, winning both the NCAA Championships and US Track and Field Championships. Injuries and illness later affected his career, but his legacy endures. He was inducted into the UCLA Athletics Hall of Fame in 2004 and the National Track and Field Hall of Fame in 2019, recognized as one of America's greatest quarter-milers.

Key facts

400 m

43.87

#23 all-time

300 Metres

31.82

1999 season best

46.38

Feb 26, 1999 · Atlanta, GA (USA) (i)

1999 season best

Medals

Olympic Games: 3 gold, 1 silver

Age

57 years old

As of Sep 12, 2026: 400 m 43.87 (#23 all-time), 300 Metres 31.82, 1999 season best 46.38 (Feb 26, 1999, Atlanta, GA (USA) (i)) · Olympic Games: 3 gold, 1 silver · 57 years old

Personal bests

10.41

20.58

43.87

2:55.74

45.53

31.82

32.72

🏅

Medals

	🥇	🥈	🥉	Total
Olympic Games	3	1	-	4

Performance Charts

Season bests

Season	Discipline	Result	Wind	Date	Trend	Competitions
1999	400m	46.38	-	Feb 26, 1999	↓	Atlanta, GA (USA) (i)
1999	400m-short-track	46.38	-	Feb 26, 1999	↓	Atlanta, GA (USA) (i)
1998	100m	10.89	+0.9	Jun 9, 1998	↓	Seattle, WA (USA)
1998	200m	21.10	+0.5	Jul 26, 1998	↓	Ingolstadt (GER)
1998	400m	45.27	-	Aug 3, 1998	↓	Malmö (SWE)
1997	400m	45.99	-	Jul 13, 1997	↓	Stuttgart (GER)
1997	4x400m	3:01.77	-	Jul 9, 1997	↓	Linz (AUT)
1995	400m	45.06	-	Apr 15, 1995	↓	Walnut, CA (USA)
1994	400m	44.68	-	Jul 31, 1994	↓	Sestriere (ITA)
1994	400m-short-track	46.12	-	Feb 6, 1994	↓	Fairfax, VA (USA) (i)
1994	1500m	3:37.22	-	Jul 15, 1994	-	-
1993	400m	44.54	-	Aug 4, 1993	↓	Zürich (SUI)
1993	Mile	3:58.5	-	Jan 27, 1993	↑	-
1992	100m	10.41	+0.5	Apr 24, 1992	↓	Irvine, CA (USA)
1992	200m	20.58	+0.0	May 30, 1992	↓	San José (USA)
1992	300m	31.82	-	Jul 17, 1992	↑	Gateshead (GBR)
1992	300m-short-track	32.72	-	Feb 8, 1992	↑	Glasgow (GBR) (i)
1992	400m	44.08	-	Jun 26, 1992	↓	New Orleans, LA (USA)
1992	400m-short-track	45.53	-	Feb 2, 1992	↓	Stuttgart (GER) (i)
1992	4x400m	2:55.74	-	Aug 8, 1992	↓	The XXV Olympic Games
1992	Mile	3:59.60	-	Aug 31, 1992	↑	-
1992	3000m	7:49.98	-	Mar 14, 1992	-	-
1991	200m	20.84	-	May 11, 1991	↓	Los Angeles, CA (USA)
1991	400m	44.52	-	Aug 7, 1991	↓	Letzigrund, Zürich (SUI)
1990	400m	44.75	-	Jun 16, 1990	↓	Norwalk, CA (USA)
1990	400m-short-track	46.17	-	Feb 20, 1990	↓	San Sebastián (ESP) (i)
1989	300m	32.98	-	Feb 24, 1989	↑	Karlsruhe (GER) (i)
1989	300m-short-track	32.98	-	Feb 24, 1989	↑	Karlsruhe (GER) (i)
1989	400m	44.47	-	Jul 22, 1989	↓	New York, NY (USA)
1989	400m-short-track	45.86	-	Feb 26, 1989	↓	Sindelfingen (GER) (i)
1988	200m	20.96	-	Jun 21, 1988	↓	Göteborg (SWE)
1988	400m	43.87	-	Sep 28, 1988	↓	Olympic Stadium, Seoul (KOR)
1988	4x400m	2:56.16	-	Oct 1, 1988	↓	The XXIV Olympic Games
1987	400m	45.76	-	Jun 20, 1987	↓	Tucson, AZ (USA)

1999

2 performances

Discipline	Result	Wind	Date	Competitions
400m-short-track	46.38	-	Feb 26	USA Indoor Championships, Atlanta, GA (i)
400m-short-track	46.48	-	Feb 20	New York Invitational, New York, NY (i)

1998

11 performances

Discipline	Result	Wind	Date	Competitions
400m	45.27	-	Aug 3	Malmö Jubileumsgalan 1998, Malmö
200m	21.10	+0.5	Jul 26	Ingolstadt International, Ingolstadt
400m	45.38	-	Jul 25	Barcelona Meeting d'Atletisme Adidas, Barcelona
400m	46.01	-	Jul 18	Arnhem Papendal Games, Arnhem
400m	45.64	-	Jul 10	Salamanca Gran Premio Internacional, Salamanca
200m	21.23	-0.4	Jul 5	Byrkjelo Games, Byrkjelo
400m	45.83	-	Jun 19	US Championships, New Orleans, LA
100m	10.89	+0.9	Jun 9	Seattle, WA
200m	22.36	-1.6	Jun 9	Seattle, WA
200m	22.20	-3.3	May 16	Seattle Pacific, Seattle, WA
100m	10.91	+0.0	May 16	Seattle Pacific, Seattle, WA

1997

3 performances

Discipline	Result	Wind	Date	Competitions
400m	46.02	-	Jul 20	Ingolstadt International, Ingolstadt
400m	45.99	-	Jul 13	Stuttgart Leichtathletik der Weltklasse, Stuttgart
4x400m	3:01.77	-	Jul 9	Linz Zipfer-Gugl Grand Prix, Linz

1995

3 performances

Discipline	Result	Wind	Date	Competitions
400m	45.53	-	May 21	New York Games, New York, NY
400m	45.13	-	Apr 29	Des Moines, IA
400m	45.06	-	Apr 15	Walnut Mt. SAC Relays, Walnut, CA

1994

6 performances

Discipline	Result	Wind	Date	Competitions
400m	44.73	-	Aug 30	Berlin ISTAF, Olympiastadion, Berlin
400m	45.12	-	Aug 17	Weltklasse Zürich, Zürich
400m	44.68	-	Jul 31	Sestriere
1500m	3:37.22	-	Jul 15	-
400m	45.70	-	Jul 8	Edinburgh
400m-short-track	46.12	-	Feb 6	Fairfax, VA (i)

1993

11 performances

Discipline	Result	Wind	Date	Competitions
400m	45.21	-	Sep 10	London IAAF Grand Prix Final
400m	44.85	-	Sep 3	Bruxelles Memorial Van Damme, Bruxelles
400m	45.03	-	Aug 27	Berlin ISTAF, Olympiastadion, Berlin
Mile	3:59.88	-	Aug 25	-
400m	44.71	-	Aug 7	Monaco Herculis, Stade Louis II, Monaco
400m	44.54	-	Aug 4	Weltklasse Zürich, Zürich
400m	45.05	-	Jul 30	Gateshead
400m	44.82	-	Jul 23	London TSB Games, Crystal Palace, London
400m	45.11	-	Jul 21	Ingolstadt
400m	45.65	-	May 22	New York, NY
Mile	3:58.5	-	Jan 27	-

1992

14 performances

Discipline	Result	Wind	Date	Competitions
Mile	3:59.60	-	Aug 31	-
400m	44.90	-	Aug 25	Kobenhavn, København
400m	45.05	-	Aug 21	Berlin ISTAF, Olympiastadion, Berlin
400m	44.90	-	Aug 19	Weltklasse Zürich, Zürich
400m	44.62	-	Aug 11	Monaco, Stade Louis II, Monaco
4x400m	2:55.74	-	Aug 8	The XXV Olympic Games
400m	44.21	-	Aug 5	The XXV Olympic Games, Estadio Olímpico, Barcelona
400m	44.50	-	Aug 3	The XXV Olympic Games, Estadio Olímpico, Barcelona
400m	44.54	-	Aug 2	The XXV Olympic Games, Estadio Olímpico, Barcelona
400m	45.14	-	Aug 1	The XXV Olympic Games, Estadio Olímpico, Barcelona
400m	44.27	-	Jul 21	Sestriere
300m	31.82	-	Jul 17	Gateshead
400m	44.55	-	Jul 10	London TSB Games, London
400m	44.08	-	Jun 26	New Orleans US Olympic Trials, New Orleans, LA

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FAQ

Frequently asked questions

What is Steve Lewis's 400 m personal best?

Steve Lewis's 400 m personal best is 43.87, set on Sep 28, 1988 in Olympic Stadium, Seoul (KOR), #23 on the all-time list.

Which events does Steve Lewis compete in?

Steve Lewis competes in the 400 m and 300 Metres.

How did Steve Lewis perform in 1999?

1999 season best: 46.38, set on Feb 26, 1999 in Atlanta, GA (USA) (i).

How many medals has Steve Lewis won?

Steve Lewis has won 4 Olympic Games medals.

Steve Lewis

Personal bests

Medals

Performance Charts

Season bests

1999

1998

1997

1995

1994

1993

1992

Honours

Frequently asked questions