We start with a former Seminole as well! Walter Dix is where we begin (I lived next to Walter Dix one summer while I was at FSU). However, that little tidbit definitely has nothing to do with this story. Dix dominated at FSU, helping to lead them to a 3-peat of NCAA championships from 2006-2008. He is one of the best athletes in the university's history and his accomplishments prove that, but let's look at his Olympic record.
Walter Dix qualified for the 2008 Beijing games in both the 100 and 200m. He also qualified in the 4x100 relay, but Tyson Gay botched a baton pass and Team USA was eliminated. Dix carried the Men's Sprinters in those games and did great. Despite having to run against Usain Bolt who was setting all kinds of records, Dix ran his heart out. He registered a personal best, 9.91 in the 100m Olympic Final and finished with a Bronze Medal behind Bolt. Bolt destroyed the competition in the 200m, but Dix again finished with a bronze medal. Once it was all said and done, Dix was the only American to win medals in 2 individual events. His two medals went a long way toward giving the United States the overall medal count victory. The US had 110 medals, while China had 100.
Dix looked like a favorite heading into the 2012 London Games, but unfortunately he did not qualify. Instead, Dix was unable to compete well in the finals of the Olympic Trials because of a pulled muscle. I applaud Walter Dix for his success so far, and am interested to see if he can bounce back and compete in 2016.
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