Leroy Burrell

Medal record
Men’s Athletics
Competitor for  United States
Olympic Games
Gold	1992 Barcelona	4x100 m relay
World Championships
Gold	1991 Tokyo	4x100 m relay
Gold	1993 Stuttgart	4x100 m relay
Silver	1991 Tokyo	100 m

Leroy Russel Burrell (born February 21, 1967) is a former American athlete who twice set the world record for the 100 meters sprint, setting a time of 9.90 seconds in June 1991. This was then broken by Carl Lewis within a month. Burrell set the record for a second time when he ran 9.85 s in 1994, a record that stood until the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, when Donovan Bailey ran 9.84 s.

Burrell grew up in Lansdowne, Pennsylvania and attended Penn Wood High School where he single handedly won the state championship by winning the 100m, 200m, Long Jump, and Triple Jump. Suffering from poor eyesight accentuated by a childhood eye injury, he was poor at other sports but excelled on the track from an early age. He studied at the University of Houston, where he was a successful participant in its track program.

Burrell was plagued by injuries and bad luck throughout his career, particularly around major championships. He won gold in the 100 m ahead of Carl Lewis at 1990 Goodwill Games in Seattle. He won the silver in the 100 m behind Lewis at the 1991 World Championships, and at the 1992 Summer Olympics was false-started in the 100 m final and, when the race finally restarted, his reaction off the line was slow and finished fifth. He did though manage to win a relay gold as part of the US team at Barcelona.

Since his retirement in 1998, Burrell has replaced his old college mentor, Tom Tellez, as coach of the University of Houston's track team.

Personal life

He married Michelle Finn, also a sprinter, in 1994, and they have three sons Cameron, Joshua and, newborn Jaden. His younger sister Dawn also competed in track and field on the highest level. According to an essay from PETA, Leroy Burrell has been a vegetarian.^[1]

Statistics

As of September 9, 2008

Personal bests

• All information from IAAF Profile^[2]

References

External links

• IAAF profile for Leroy Burrell
• University of Houston page on Burrell.

v • d • e University of Houston Academics Colleges: Architecture • Business • Education • Engineering • Hotel and Restaurant Management • Law Center • Liberal Arts and Social Sciences • Natural Sciences and Mathematics • Optometry • Pharmacy • Social Work • Technology Programs: Honors College • Moores School of Music • School of Art • School of Theatre & Dance • Valenti School of Communication • Creative Writing Program People: Renu Khator • Presidents Athletics Sports: Baseball • Football • Men's basketball • Women's basketball • Men's golf • Softball • Houston–Rice rivalry • Fox Sports Houston Facilities: Athletics/Alumni Center • Hofheinz Pavilion • Robertson Stadium • Cougar Field • Cougar Softball Stadium • Carl Lewis International Complex People: Leroy Burrell • Joe Curl • Rayner Noble • Tom Penders • Mack Rhoades • Kevin Sumlin • Phi Slama Jama Campus Blaffer Gallery • Cullen Boulevard • Cullen Performance Hall • Ezekiel W. Cullen Building • Hilton University of Houston • Melcher Center • Libraries • Moores Opera House • Roy G. Cullen Building • University Center • University Oaks Student Life The Daily Cougar • The Houstonian • Student Video Network • Houston Public Radio • HoustonPBS • Student Government Association • Notable Cougars Traditions Cougar Fight Song • Cougar Paw • Frontiersmen • Frontier Fiesta • Shasta • Spirit of Houston