Steve Lewis

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.