Sprinter Dix Continues to Challenge
US sprinter Walter Dix is one of the most exciting prospects in short distance sprinting. Having turned professional in 2008, Dix, 24, is the 7th fastest runner over 200m, and is also looking to shave time off his 9.91 second personal best in the 100m event.
In the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Dix claimed the bronze medals in both the 100m and 200m finals, finishing in 9.91 and 19.86 seconds respectively.
In the US Olympic Trials ahead of the games, Dix recorded a wind-assisted time of 9.80 seconds in the 100m final, finishing behind Tyson g*y.
In his final year of high school, Dix’ promise as a sprinter had really begun to show. At his Coral Springs High School in 2004, Dix set a Florida state record in the 100m event, clocking in at 10.28 seconds. He also ran the 200m event in 20.62 seconds.
Both these times were fast enough for Dix to enter the Athens Olympics later in the year. Dix entered the Olympic Trials, but failed to get past the first stage.
Having gone to college at Florida State, where he trained diligently to perfect his sprinting technique, Dix graduated in 2008, the same year that he would compete in his second US Olympic Trials.
It was in the 100m final of this event that Dix clocked 9.80 seconds behind g*y, and in the 200m event, he finished in 19.86 seconds together with Shawn Crawford, a finish-line photo eventually declaring Dix the winner in the race.
Following his telling performance at the trials, Dix signed what his agent claimed to be the most lucrative sponsorship contract for a recent college graduate with Nike. The deal was reportedly worth $1 million per year.
Partial success in Beijing
Before going to Beijing to compete in the Olympic Games, Dix stated that his goal was to help his country with the 4x100 relay race, and to set personal bests in the 100 and 200m events.
As it turned out, Dix only reached his stated goals in part. In the 100m final, Dix finished with a personal best of 9.91 seconds, behind gold medalist Usain Bolt and Trinidad and Tobago’s Richard Thompson.
In the 200m final, thought, Dix finished in 19.98 seconds, earning him a 5th place in the race.
Later, though, it was judged that 2nd and 3rd place sprinters Churandy Martina and Wallace Spearmon had both stepped outside of their lanes, disqualifying them from the race. This meant that Dix was awarded the bronze medal.
In the 4x100 relay race, the US team was disqualified after Darvis Patton and g*y made a clumsy exchange of the baton, causing the team to be disqualified.
A rocky 2009 season
Dix’ 2009 season was marred by legal controversies that affected his performances on the track.
The case pitted Dix against his management company, who claimed it was due 20% of all sponsorship revenues Dix claimed from Nike. The settlement of the deal is undisclosed, but Dix is now his own agent.
With court battles out of the day, Dix has again begun to show great promise in the 2010 season. In May, Dix clocked 9.98 over 100m and 19.89 in the 200m event, and in at the Diamond League Meeting in Eugene, Oregon, he beat his rival g*y over 200m, recording a promising finishing time of 19.72 seconds.
On July 10, Dix won the 200m final at the Diamond League Meeting in Gateshead, UK, finishing in 20.26 seconds.
His times may be slightly inconsistent, but that has not impaired Dix’ ambition to beat the best in his sport. "I want to be the the best,'' Dix has said.
"That's what I strive for every day. I'm not trying to come second best to anyone. If my progression keeps going, I'm going to be right there.''
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