Carl Lewis

He turned a vegan in 1990 and attributed it to be the reason for his outstanding performance for the 1991s World Championship.

He was made a Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization. Additionally he became the official supporter for the Ronald McDonald House Charities and is a member of their celebrity board, called the Friends of RMHC

Born to William and Evelyn Lewis in Birmingham, Carl Lewis was one of the three children the couple was blessed with. He was primarily raised in Willingboro Township, New Jersey.

Despite belonging to a middle-class background, his parents exposed him to a wide array of sports since a young age, since both of them were professional coach and ran a local athletic club.

Academically, he achieved his preliminary education from Willingboro High School after which he enrolled at the University of Houston.

His first shot at long jump was when he turned thirteen. Soon, he became one of the top junior long jumpers in New Jersey. As he proceeded to senior years, he was counted among the top long jumpers of the world and premier athletes of the country.

In 1979, he broke the high school long jump record with a leap of 8.13 m, thus setting new national record. At the University of Houston, he was trained by Tom Tellez. He continued his pursuit in track and field and secured the 5th position in the world ranking of long jump.

Capitalizing on his athletic abilities, he sought to have a future in the same. In 1980, he qualified for the American team for the 1980 Olympics in the long jump and as a member of the 4 � 100 m relay team. As a result of boycott by Western nations, Lewis did not participate in 1980 Moscow Olympics. Instead he participated at the Liberty Bell Classic, an alternate meet for the Olympic boycotting nations. He won bronze and gold in long jump and 4 � 100 m relay, respectively.

Year 1981 marked a period of accomplishment. He became the number two long jumper in history, with a leap of 8.62 m and the fastest 100 m sprinter in the world in 10 seconds flat. He won his first national and NCAA title for the University of Houston in the categories of 100m and long jump.

In 1983, he participated in the inaugural World Championships and bagged himself the top spot at the long jump, 100m race and 4 x 100m relay race. In the latter, he created a world record by winning the same in 37.86 seconds. Furthermore, he participated in TAC Championships as well.

In his active years, he was the undisputed athlete of track and field, his medals standing as a testimony of the same. While his Olympic record stands at 9 gold and 1 silver, his World Championship medals tally include: 8 gold, 1 silver and 1 bronze. At the Pan American and Goodwill Games, he won 2 and 3 gold medals respectively.

Publications around the world have honoured him with various titles including ‘Sportman of the Century’, ‘World Athlete of the Century’ and ‘Olympian of the Century’.