Dawn Harper-Nelson family name Harper
Dawn Harper-Nelson (born May 13, 1984) is an American track and field athlete who specializes in the 100-meter hurdles. She was the gold medalist in the event at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games and the silver medalist in the 2012 London Olympic Games and the 2017 World Championships. Harper is the first American 100-meter hurdler to ever win gold at an Olympics and medal in the following Olympics. She is trained by Bob Kersee, husband of Jackie Joyner-Kersee, six time Olympic medalist also from her hometown of East St. Louis, Illinois. She is a member of the 2022 class of the UCLA Athletics Hall of Fame.Dawn Harper Day
Dawn Harper Day was declared on October 6, 2008, in the State of Illinois in recognition of track and field athlete and Olympic gold medallist Dawn Harper-Nelson.
Illinois native Harper won the Olympic gold medal at the 100-meter hurdles in the Beijing Olympics on August 19, 2008, with a time of 12.54 seconds, which was a personal record for Harper. She is also the first American 100-meter hurdler in history to win gold at an Olympics and medal in the following Olympics.
The proclamation was passed by Illinois governor Rod R. Blagojevich, and was celebrated with a parade and a public gathering in Harper's hometown of East St. Louis. It was in East St. Louis where Harper's track and field career began as a student athlete, as well as where she met her idol Jackie Joyner-Kersee, three-time Olympic champion and six-time medallist, who also hails from East St. Louis. Joyner-Kersee's husband, Bob Kersee, serves as Harper's coach.Harper-Nelson went on to medal in 100m hurdles in the next summer Olympics in London on 2012 with 12.37 seconds, setting another personal record. Before the London Games, she came in first place in the US Track and Field Trials held in Eugene, Oregon, despite soggy conditions.
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