Aries Merritt

Aries Merritt, born July 24, 1985, in Chicago, Illinois, is an American track and field athlete who specialized in the 110 metres hurdles. He emerged as one of the finest hurdlers of his generation, culminating in a remarkable 2012 season.

Merritt holds the world record in the 110 metres hurdles with a time of 12.80 seconds, set at the Memorial Van Damme meeting in Brussels on September 7, 2012. That same year, he won the Olympic gold medal at the London Games and the World Indoor Championship title in the 60 metres hurdles.

His world record remains one of the most impressive marks in the history of sprint hurdling. Despite health challenges later in his career, Merritt's 2012 season is widely regarded as one of the greatest individual seasons by any hurdler in the history of athletics.