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Kirani JamesGrenadian track and field athlete
Date of Birth: 01.09.1992
Country:  Grenada |
Content:
Kirani James: Grenada's Olympic Gold Medalist
Early Life and BackgroundKirani James was born in the small fishing village of Gouyave, Grenada. Later relocating to the United States, James attended the University of Alabama. There, he trained under former Olympic sprinter Harvey Glance and became a two-time collegiate 400-meter champion.
International Success
In 2008, at the age of 15, James won a silver medal and set a world junior record in the 400 meters at the IAAF World Junior Championships. In 2011, at the World Championships in Daegu, South Korea, James became world champion in the 400 meters. He set a personal best of 44.60 seconds, edging out defending Olympic and world champion LaShawn Merritt by three hundredths of a second. This victory marked Grenada's first-ever medal at an outdoor World Athletics Championships.
Olympic Glory
On August 6, 2012, Kirani James won the gold medal in the 400 meters at the Olympic Games in London. He set a national record and became Grenada's first-ever Olympic medalist. James's victory was a historic moment for the small Caribbean nation.
