Justin Gatlin

Born in Brooklyn, Justin Gatlin moved to Florida in his youth and after high school coaches saw untapped potential in him, wound up on the track and field team as a sprinter. His talents took him to the University of Tennessee, where he won six straight NCAA titles before leaving at the end of his sophomore year to go pro in 2002. He earned a spot on the 2004 Olympic team and went to Athens to win a gold medal in the 100-meter, a silver in the 4x100-meter relay, and a bronze in the 200-meter. After the Olympics, Gatlin dominated the world of sprinting for another year, winning the 2005 World Championships in both the 100- and 200-meter. In 2006, he failed a drug test after an event. While he avoided a lifetime ban by cooperating with authorities, Gatlin was banned from track and field for eight years, though he later got it shortened to just four. During his time away from track and field, he made an attempt at an NFL career, but despite working out for the Houston Texans and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, he didn't gain any traction. In 2010, he made his return to track and field, though now in his late 20s, he didn't have the pure speed he once had. Still, Gatlin competed and even returned to the Olympic stage in the 2012 London games, winning the bronze medal in the 100-meter. 2013 saw Gatlin in a heated competition with renown sprinter Usain Bolt, even beating him in a race in Rome. From 2013 to 2015, he earned a gold medal at the IAAF World Relays and four silver medals at the World Championships.