Dixon (far left) after his 2007 World 4×100 m relay gold |
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| Personal information | ||||||||||
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| Nationality | American | |||||||||
| Born | June 20, 1983 South Bend, Indiana |
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| Residence | Indianapolis, Indiana | |||||||||
| Height | 5 ft 10 in (178 cm) | |||||||||
| Weight | 158 lb (72 kg) | |||||||||
| Sport | ||||||||||
| Sport | Running | |||||||||
| College/university team | University of South Carolina | |||||||||
| Club | Nike | |||||||||
| Achievements and titles | ||||||||||
| Personal best(s) |
100m: 10.02 |
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Medal record
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Leroy Dixon (born June 20, 1983) is an American sprinter who specializes in the 100 metres.
He won the gold medal in 4 x 100 metres relay at the 2007 World Championships, together with Darvis Patton, Wallace Spearmon and Tyson Gay. Individually, he competed in 60 metres at the 2008 World Indoor Championships without reaching the final.[1]
His personal best time over 100 metres is 10.02 seconds, achieved in June 2008 in Eugene. His personal best time over 60 metres is 6.56 seconds, achieved in February 2008 in Boston. In the 200 metres, he has 20.44 seconds, achieved in June 2006 in Indianapolis.[1]
A passion for making a mark in the sport of track&field and leveraging his successes to affect change in his community is what separates him from the average athlete; an organic talent and unmatched personal endurance will propel him towards continuous success.
Coming from a long line of athletes, Dixon’s explosive athleticism and competitive nature were enhanced by his father’s coaching at an early age. It is no wonder that the young Dixon---- who remembers racing home against himself in his tuxedo and dress shoes after his HS prom night--- is now listed amongst the world’s greatest runners.
Dixon lettered in football, basketball, and track&field throughout high school in La Salle Academy, Indiana. His notoriety as a student-athlete was furthered at the University of South Carolina, where he majored in Criminal Justice. There, he earned an All-American honors and was an NCAA finalist.
Dixon jumpstarted his professional track&field career under a superb team. In 2007, he signed with Hudson-Smith International (HSI) Agency through talent agent, Emmanuel Hudson. He trained under the roof of the UCLA field with John Smith, a sports guru and coaching legend who holds the record for coaching the most Olympic gold medalists in track& field such as Maurice Green, Quincy Watts, and Ato Boldon.
In 2007, Dixon won the Gold Medal in 4x100 relay in Osaka, Japan. He was ranked 4th in the U.S. and 6th in the world in the 100-meter run.
In 2008, he was a U.S. Indoor runner-up and qualified for the Indoor World Championships. He also qualified for the Beijing Olympics, an impressive feat considering he was in a cast just 4 weeks before the Olympic trials due to a stress fracture in his fibula. He was ranked 8th in the world and 4th in the U.S. in the 100- meter run.
In 2009, he made the outdoor world championship team but could not participate due to injuries. He was ranked 6th in the U.S. and ? in the world in the 100- meter run.
In 2010, he was ranked 5th in the U.S. and 10th in the world in the 100- meter run.
An inspiration to many, Dixon was awarded a street name and the keys to his hometown of Southbend, Indiana. He has traveled to over 40 different countries and enjoys mentoring up-and-coming athletes around the world. In addition to his lifelong vision of winning more medals and setting records, he hopes to one day open a fitness store/facility dedicated to encouraging youth achieve excellence in any sport they admire. A published children’s book titled “Leroy goes to the Olympics” written by Sybil Blazej-Yee (www.nose2nose.net), concept by Dr. Michael Sheps and artwork by Toran Joseph, has been released on September 28, 2011 and is available on Amazon. The book has been sent for consideration to the Caldecott Award Committee for its outstanding artwork and also for consideration to the John Steptoe Award for New Talent, a division of the Coretta Scott King Award Committees.
Currently, he serves as the face and spokesperson for the Blink Campaign, a national awareness campaign for HIV & Aids. He is also a strong advocate for safety and prevention of diseases, especially cancer, as his Mother was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2008. For Dixon, each charitable commitment is merited by a personal cause.
In 2011 Dixon made a significant career transition. he signed with Icon Management under Kimberly Holland, who is best recognized for managing the most gold medalists in the 2008 Olympics. He also trains under a new coach, Bobby Kersee, whose solid expertise produced talents such as Florence “Flo Jo” Griffith Joyner, Gail Devers, and Jacky Joyner Kersee.
With a newfound focus and a dynamite support team, Dixon hopes to sprint to the finish line more invigorated than ever before. His love for the sport, clear goals for the future, and his mother's strength through a relentless fight against cancer serves as his main motivations for the upcoming 2012 Olympics.
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