Maurice Greene (athlete)

:For the 18th century English composer, see Maurice Greene (composer).

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Maurice Greene (born July 23, 1974, in Kansas City, Kansas) is an American athlete. In his youth, he participated in both football and athletics, but eventually proved to be best in the latter.

Related Topics:
July 23 - 1974 - Kansas City, Kansas - American - Athlete - Football

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In 1995, Greene took part in his first major international tournament at the World Championships in Gothenburg, but was eliminated in the 100 m quarter-finals. His next season was disappointing, as he failed to make the American team for the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta.

Related Topics:
1995 - World Championships - Gothenburg - 1996 Summer Olympics - Atlanta

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However, the following season would be his breakthrough. At the World Championships in Athens, Greene won the 100 m title. This marked the beginning of a dominance of especially the 100 m by Greene, successfully defending his title in 1999 and 2001, setting the world record at 9.79 (beating the July 1996 record of Donovan Bailey at 9.84) in 1999 and capturing the Olympic Gold Medal in Sydney 2000. At the 1999 World Championships, he also won the 200 m title, the first to win both events at a World Championships.

Related Topics:
Athens - 1999 - 2001 - Donovan Bailey - Sydney - 2000

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In 2002, Greene lost his World Record to fellow American Tim Montgomery, who beat his time by 0.01, while Greene himself was injured and watched the race from the stands. Montgomery has since admitted to using performance enhancing supplements.

Related Topics:
2002 - Tim Montgomery

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At the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greene added to his medal tally with the bronze after finishing third in his attempt to defend his 100 m title, and a silver as the anchor leg runner on the United States 4x100 m relay team, narrowly denied another Olympic Gold by the British team, who won by 0.01 seconds.

Related Topics:
2004 Summer Olympics - Athens - British

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As of August 2005, Greene has run 52 sub-10 seconds 100 m races, more than any other sprinter in history; Ato Boldon (from Trinidad and Tobago) is distant second with 28. http://www.algonet.se/~pela2/athletics/m_100ok.htm

Related Topics:
As of August 2005 - Ato Boldon - Trinidad and Tobago

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