Sanya Richards-Ross

Sanya Richards-Ross, born Sanya Richards on 26 February 1985, is a retired American track and field athlete who competed internationally for the United States in the 400-meter sprint. Her accolades in the event include the 2012 Olympic title, the 2009 world championship, an Olympic bronze medal in 2008 and a world silver medal in 2005. She is a six-time U.S. national champion, and she ranked number one in the world in the 400 meters from 2005 to 2009 and again in 2012. She set the then American 400-meter record of 48.70 seconds in 2006, was named IAAF Female World Athlete of the Year for 2006 and 2009, and holds the record for the most sub-50 second 400 meter runs, 49 in her career. She also won Olympic relay gold in the 4 x 400 meters in 2004, 2008 and 2012. After an injury at the 2016 U.S. Olympic trials she retired, became a track and field analyst for NBC and published a memoir in 2017.