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Donovan Bailey Biography |
Donovan Bailey (born December 16, 1967 in Manchester, Jamaica) is a Canadian athlete.
Bailey emigrated from Jamaica to Canada at age 13, and played basketball before his graduation. He began competing as a sprinter part-time in 1991, but he didn't take up the sport seriously until 1994. At that time, he was also a successful stockbroker.
The following year saw his international breakthrough. At the World Championships in Gothenburg, Bailey won the 100 metre sprint and the 4 x 100 metre relay titles respectively.
He repeated that double at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, setting a world record of 9.84 seconds in the 100m (the previous record was set in July 1994 by American Leroy Burrell at 9.9 seconds). Many Canadians felt his victory restored the image of Canadian athletes, which had been tarnished by Ben Johnson's previous disqualified win. Bailey won a third world title in 1997 with the Canadian relay team, while finishing second in the 100m behind Maurice Greene.
After that season, Bailey struggled with injuries and never reached his previous level of performance. He retired from the sport in 2001 having been a five-time World and Olympic champion.
Donovan Bailey still holds the indoor world record in the 50 metres (5.56, in Reno, Nevada, in 1996), and the Olympic, Commonwealth and Canadian records for the 100 metres. |
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