Behind Sports - Interviews With Athletes And Sports Professionals

LaShawn Merritt is a USA Olympic Track and Field athlete who specializes in the 400M. Born in 1986, LaShawn was raised in Portsmouth, Virginia, and from the very beginning, he was fast. As a child, LaShawn excelled in his first loves, football and music – but as his father, Owen, recalled, speed was the quality that stood out.   Lashawn entered the national stage as a junior by winning gold at the 2004 World Junior Championships and established himself in 2007 by winning a silver medal in the 400m at the World Championships. In the 2008 Olympic games in Bejjing, Merritt took home the gold medal in the 400 meters and set a personal best time.  LaShawn’s success in sprinting has given him great opportunities on and off the track and was signed by Nike as one of their premier track athletes.   Most recently having a very successful 2014,  Merritt was the IAAF Diamond Cup winner and Continental Cup winner 400m.   Off the track, Lashawn enjoys volunteering time in his hometown