Dawn Harper-Nelson given name Dawn
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.Personal life
Harper is the daughter of Henry and Linda Harper and has two sisters, Keya and Shivani, and two brothers, Bryton and Shiven. She attended UCLA and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in psychology in 2006. 
After winning gold in the Beijing Olympics, Governor Rod Blagojevich of Illinois declared October 6 as Dawn Harper Day honoring her for her victory and humble beginnings being from East St. Louis, Illinois. Her hometown of East St. Louis hosted a parade and public gathering in her honor on that same day.
In June 2012, Harper was named a spokeswoman for the American Diabetes Association and The FootMate® System by Gordon Brush. Harper's passion for Diabetes prevention stems from a long line of family members that have been diagnosed with the disease and an uncle whom she had just lost to the disease in 2011.
Following her silver medal in the London Olympics, Harper-Nelson was named the new Ambassador for United Way of Greater St. Louis Education Express. Through Education Express, she promotes the importance of education and mentoring in the St. Louis region. Harper-Nelson loves speaking to children about their dreams and the importance of education.
On March 23, 2013, Harper married hometown friend Alonzo Nelson.  The couple had known each other since meeting on the track in eighth grade.  Alonzo was the one boy hurdler she couldn't beat.  Before the wedding, Harper appeared on TLC's Say Yes to the Dress (season 10 episode 9: Race to the Alter) where she went to Kleinfelds in Brooklyn to find her dress.  She is now using the name Dawn Harper-Nelson in competition.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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