Jon DRUMMOND

Jon Drummond was a top sprinter and a showman, known as the “Clown Prince” of track & field. He has also been a controversial figure in the sport. Drummond won three gold medals in the 4x100 relay at the World Championships (1993, 1999, 2001) in addition to his 1996 Olympic silver medal in that event. He was gold medalist in the 1991 World University Games 200 metres and was US Champion in the 200 in 1997. He also won US titles indoors over 60 metres in 1993 and 2000.

At the 2003 World Championships, Drummond was disqualified for a false start in the quarterfinals of the 100 metres. He contested that, repeatedly saying that he had not moved, and lay down on the track for almost an hour, delaying the meet.

Drummond later became a sprint coach, coaching the US winning women’s 4x100 relay, which crushed the world record, and the men’s silver medal winning team at the 2012 London Olympics. His best known pupil was multiple world champion Tyson Gay, but when Gay tested positive for performance enhancing drugs in 2014, Drummond was investigated and received an eight-year ban from the sport. He later became an ordained minister who preached at churches throughout the United States.