Kevin Young (athlete)

Kevin Curtis Young (born September 16, 1966) is a former American athlete. He was the winner of the 400 meter hurdles at the 1992 Summer Olympics, and still holds the world record in that event.

Born in Watts, California, Kevin Young, as an University of California, Los Angeles "walk-on", won the NCAA titles in 400 m hurdles in 1987 and 1988.

Young made his debut at the international scene at the 1986 Goodwill Games in Moscow,USSR and later at the 1987 Pan American Games in Indianapolis placing second. At the 1988 Summer Olympics, Young finished fourth. At the 1991 World Championships, Young was again fourth.

In 1992, Young won his first US National Championships title and was unbeaten prior the Barcelona Olympics, which he won with a new world record of 46.78, despite failing to clear the last hurdle cleanly (he grazed it and stumbled slightly as he came off the hurdle). The record still stands, and he is also the only person to have run 400 m hurdles in less than 47 seconds. This was achieved using 12 strides between hurdles (nearly 9 feet per stride) switching to 13 later in the race, a technique only Young has ever perfected.

Young's world-record run is noteworthy in one other respect: it could have been even faster. Being so far ahead of the field, he slowed down and raised his arm in celebration as he crossed the finish line. Despite this, he set a world record which still stands. Young became the first ever ESPY award winner in track presented by ESPN.

In 1993, Young won his second US National Championships title and had 25 consecutive wins until he was beaten by Samuel Matete from Zambia just two weeks before 1993 World Championships. In the World Championships final, however, Young again made a decisive move between hurdles 7 and 8. He held this lead until the finish, beating Matete by 0.42 seconds.

It is well noted that Young through out the 1992 season prior to Barcelona, placed small pieces of paper with the numbers 46.89 in each running spike. He had mentally convinced himself that running under 47 seconds was not impossible.

Young is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha, the first intercollegiate Greek-letter organization established for African Americans. [http://www.gammaxi1947.com/lineage1980.htm]