Athlete Maurice Greene: biography, achievements and interesting facts

Maurice Greene, whose biography is described in this article, is the former world record holder for the hundred-meter mark. And at the moment remains the first in the run at 60 m in the room. During his career, Maurice Green in the official competitions has repeatedly shown amazing results.

Childhood

Green Maurice was born on July 23, 1973 in Kansas City. His parents, Jackie and Ernest Green, by this time already had three children. Maurice became the youngest in the family. Since childhood he was attracted to sports, especially football. He dreamed of becoming a great athlete. I did not even think that this would come true. Only he will not become a famous footballer, but a sprint star.

Education

Maurice Green graduated from elementary school and then enrolled in the local Kansas City College. During training, he continued to train at the same time under the watchful leadership of Ala Khabson, who later became his mentor for many years.

Why was Maurice interested in sprints?

Brother Maurice was an athlete and ran for 100 and 200 meters. Green-junior was very attached to the eldest and always cheered for him in competitions, where his idol beat records one by one. Maurice was excited by the desire to also start running, like his brother, and to achieve even higher rates. As a result, he, in addition to football, enrolled in the track and field section in the first class.

First successes in sport

The first success in the sport Green Maurice ate at the age of eight. At that time he studied in the fourth grade of primary school. Participated in city competitions with fifth-graders. In memory of his first victory in the sport, Maurice received 3 blue ribbons for 1 seat. He continued to compete and high school, overcoming short distances.

Competition in other states

Football season in the first class, Maurice could not finish, as damaged hamstring. And in the second he completely gave up this sport because of disagreements and disputes with the coach. After that, I gave myself completely to athletics. A few years later Maurice was sent to compete in Wichita.

There he won one hundred and two hundred marks between secondary schools. In that year he played in the national team of Kansas City. These victories opened Maurice the opportunity to travel around the US states, participating in competitions between athletes.

Football and Sprint

At this time, Maurice Greene (Maurice Greene) and met with Al Habson. He helped the athlete's career, telling him all the nuances of running for short distances. And in the end of summer Green participated in the composition of the Junior team. On hundred meters, Maurice did not manage to win gold, but he got it for the baton. And soon the football section was replaced by the coach, and Maurice again returned to this sport.

He was taken to the city team, but at the same time he continued to run. With football, Greene was unlucky. At the height of the season, he again suffered a popliteal ligament injury. Because of this, I had to miss several weeks of training.

Maurice strenuously strengthened his legs and back. And soon in the race for short distances again won at the competitions. And in the last academic year broke the hundred-meter record, defeating it in 10.2 seconds. Faster still no one ran.

End of the football career

As soon as Maurice Green graduated from high school, he was offered a contract with the Hutchinov football team, which was in favor of his college. There were only two weeks left to collect. And with Maurice decided to draw up a conversation his father and coach Al Habson. They convinced Green that in the sprint he had more chances to become the first, because he runs much better than he plays. And Maurice decided to leave his football career forever and devote himself fully to the sprint. Green terminated the contract. This was a new round of sports career in the sprint.

Take-off of sports career

Maurice Greene, an athlete whose biography is described in this article, got his official sponsor, which became the company Nike. The athlete went to Missouri to receive education, at the same time participating in competitions. Often in enclosed spaces. Participated in the US and World Cup for the national team.

In Barcelona, the competitions were more extensive, outside of America. But I was able to take only the 4th place. After that, Maurice decided that by devoting himself entirely to sports, he could achieve great success and become the fastest runner in the world.

The "ladder" up Grana was not easy. For several competitions, he could not get at all. His capabilities and experience were in question. Many in general predicted for him failures. But Maurice was not used to giving up so easily and decided to prove to everyone who doubted him that they were wrong.

And soon I got to the national championship, where I won the 2 nd place on the hundred-meter mark. This was a "pass" to the US team and the opportunity to participate in the 1995 World Cup. He did not win gold in this championship, and could not even reach the final. This was a heavy blow to the defeat, which is experienced at times by every athlete. Not everyone can stand it. But Green persistently did not give up and decided for himself that 1996 will become a star.

As a result, in April of this year he ran a hundred-meter mark at competitions from the University of California. And again injured hamstrings. For the third time. To train because of this in the usual format, he could not. But how could I prepare for pre-Olympic competitions. I was able to run a short distance in 10.8 seconds. It became the best record in his career at the time.

A turning point, a heavy burden of solutions

Maurice Green, athletics for which became the main sport, dreamed, like all athletes, to get into the Olympic team. But he did not succeed. He was so upset that he thought about quitting the sprint or completely withdrawing from the sport. But still found the strength to fight for victory on. Maurice consulted his father, and they decided that it was necessary to change the coach. The decision was heavy for Green. Al Habson has been working with him since he was 8 years old. And for many years he became not just a coach, but a mentor.

Maurice chose Los Angeles and the teacher of John Smith. It was the third coach who had a strong influence on Green's career. John Smith taught Maurice all the subtleties of the sprint. And as a result, in the same year, Green took part in the US championship, which was held in Indianapolis. Maurice, finally, was able to take the first place, showing a record time of 9.90 seconds.

Team USA and a series of next victories

After this victory, Maurice got to the US team and participated in the World Cup in Athens. These competitions have changed the life of Green. Nobody expected Maurice to win. He was given a forecast of only 3% for the victory in the Championship. But he ran a hundred-meter mark for 9.86 seconds and took 1st place.

In 1998, there were no important competitions. But the next year was the best for Green. In June, he returned to Athens and broke his 100-meter record, running it for 7.79 seconds. The world record, which was previously set by Danovan Bedi, was beaten.

A little later, in 1999, Maurice Green again wins the world championships, while also becoming the first in the 200 meters race. He became the first who took the first place at the World Cup at both short distances at the same time. But the peak of his career was at the Olympic Games, when he became the new champion, running a hundred-meter mark for 9.87 seconds. Maurice showed an excellent result and at the last stage of the relay race. And this victory brought him the second gold.

At the Sydney Games, Maurice came as a recognized favorite. Has gained a new victory, beating Ato Boldona. In 2000, Green entered the Golden League and divided a gold bar weighing 12 kg with H. El-Guerrouge and T. Kotova. From 1998 to 2001 Maurice was on the first line of the list for the best results of running at 100 meters.

End of sports career

The last time Maurice Green won gold in 2001 at the World Championships. In early 2002, the athlete got into a serious accident, getting a broken leg. A little later, in the same year, Green suffered from a forest fire that raged in California. And in 2003, Greene missed almost the entire season because of a muscle injury in his hip. And finished this year only ninth in the list of record holders.

Maurice has recovered from numerous injuries that have haunted him for the past few years, only by 2004. Then he scored several more victories. But the previous injuries began to remind themselves more and more often. And Green was less likely to appear at competitions. In 2007, Maurice took part in his last competitions - the Millrouse Games.

And in 2008 Green announced that he was leaving the sport. Then a small scandal erupted when Maurice was seen buying simulating drugs. But in response he said that he did not buy them for himself. It is worth noting that during his entire sports career, Green has never been seen in the use of doping.

Life after sport

Green Maurice, athlete - record holder, engaged in the consultation of athletes, but does not train them. Periodically is a goodwill ambassador and leads a thematic blog on his website. At the end of his sports career, Maurice gained public fame by taking part in some reality shows. And I was able to take the fifth place in the contest of Latin American dances.

In 2011, he was an expert on the Eurosport channel. I interviewed athletes who participated in the World Cup. And commented on their speeches. In 2013, Maurice led a monthly program, whose guests were famous sports stars. It was before the World Championships, which took place in Moscow.

Personal life

Green is not married. But Rian Alexandriya is raising and raising her daughter. Previously met with the famous American model and actress K. Jordan. Green lives with his daughter next to Los Angeles, in the Granada Hills area.