I was the world’s fastest man, won gold medal then joined reality TV circuit

Once upon a time, Maurice Greene was the biggest name in sprinting.

The legendary US track athlete took the proverbial baton from Michael Johnson in the mid to late ’90s and became a global superstar.

After starting his career as an American football player, Greene was recognized for his explosive speed by the University of Kansas (USA), who offered him a track scholarship.

He failed to make the American team for the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta but used the disappointment to fuel his hunger for success.

After linking up with esteemed sprinting coach John Smith, the 60 meters, 100 meters, and 200 meters specialist endured a breakout year.

He won the 100 meter titles at the World Championships in Athens, Greece in 1997, which marked the beginning of his time as the pre-eminent force in global sprinting.

Greene became one of the all-time greats when he established a world 100m record of 9.79 in 1999 – a record that stood for six years.

His three gold medals at the World Outdoor Championships (100m, 200m, 4x100m) and the 60m gold medal at the World Indoor Championships that year before heading Down Under for the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney.

He came home with gold in both the 100m and 4x100m.

Four years later, he won a bronze medal in Athens after finishing third in his attempt to defend his 100m title to Justin Gatlin. Greene also captured a silver as part of the United States’ 4x100m relay team that narrowly lost to Great Britain.

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Injuries eventually took their toll on Greene and he retired from running.

His legacy remains, though, having held the 60m indoor record for nearly 20 years before it was beaten by fellow American Christian Coleman in March 2024.

However, Greene is still the joint-fastest man over 50 meters, and his 52 career sub-10-second runs in the 100m are tied with Usain Bolt and only surpassed by Asafa Powell and Justin Gatlin.

In his post retirement years, Greene has been a regular on TV, appearing on shows such as Identity and Blind Date.

The 49-year-old was also contestant on Season 7 of Dancing with the Stars, and was paired with two-time champion Cheryl Burke.

He hyperextended his leg during the competition and was eventually eliminated in Week 8, finishing in 5th place.

“I had a lot of fun,” said after leaving the show. “I made a lot of new friends out here. I learned how to dance out here in front of millions of people every night. I had a great time.”

In 2014, he returned to the athletics world, signing an agreement to coach Nigeria’s relay teams.

He has also volunteered as a track coach at University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) and become a physical education teacher at American Leadership Academy in Arizona.