Share

Sanya Richards-Ross biography

1 photo

Quick Facts

Best Known For

American track star Sanya Richards-Ross won Olympic gold in 2004 and 2008, as part of the U.S. 400-meter relay team, and went on to win gold in the women's 400 meters in 2012.

Quiz

Think you know about Biography?

Answer questions and see how you rank against other players.

Play Now

Synopsis

Born in 1985 in Jamaica, Sanya Richards-Ross moved to the United States in her early teens to pursue her athletic dreams. She excelled at track in high school and at the University of Texas, and won several NCAA championships in 2003. In 2004, Richards-Ross won an Olympic gold medal as part of the U.S. 400-meter relay team. She earned two more medals at the 2008 Olympic Games. In 2012,

Richards-Ross won the 400-meter race at the World Indoor Championships. She went on to win gold in the women's 400 meters at the 2012 Summer Olympics, held in London.

Early Life

Born in Kingston, Jamaica on February 26, 1985, Sanya Richards-Ross moved to the United States with her family at the age of 12. They lived in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, a place her parents would better suit their aspiring track star's career. Richards-Ross demonstrated her talents early on, scoring a silver medal in the 400-meter event and a bronze medal in the 200-meter event at the 2002 World Junior Championships. That same year, she was named the Gatorade National High School Girls Track & Field Athlete of the Year.

While a student at the University of Texas, Richards-Ross became the 2003 NCAA 400-meter champion. That same year, she won the NCAA Indoor Championship in the 200-meter event. Competing at the 2004 Summer Olympics, Richards-Ross helped bring home gold in the 400-meter relay.

Track Star

Richards-Ross took the track world by storm in 2006 with two victories at the World Cup, taking the top spot in both the 200-meter and 400-meter events. At the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, she earned two medals. She helped take the gold in the 400-meter relay, and scored her first individual medal in the 200-meter event.

Richards-Ross began struggling with some health issues in 2007, and had to sit out the 2010 season because of an injury. She quickly recovered, however, and became the 400-meter World Indoor Champion in 2012. After receiving a bronze medal in 2008, Richards-Ross began to focus on achieving a personal goal: Earning a gold medal at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London.

In August 2012, Richards-Ross achieved her goal for the gold, winning the women's 400 meters at the 2012 Summer Olympic Games in London, and becoming a three-time Olympic gold medalist. The win marked her first independent gold medal. "I worked so hard for that, and I prepared for this moment over and over for the last four years," Richards-Ross said after the race, according to the Washington Post.

Personal Life

Richards-Ross is married to her college boyfriend, Aaron Ross, a professional football player. He played with the New York Giants from 2007 to 2011, and is now a member of the Jacksonville Jaguars. Outside of competition, Richards-Ross runs the Sanya Richards Fast Track Program to help children in her native nation, Jamaica.

© 2013 A+E Networks. All rights reserved.

ADVERTISEMENT
20883161 20883161
profile id: 20883161
profile name: Sanya Richards-Ross
profile occupation:
related profile id: 20883161
related profile name: Sanya Richards-Ross
related profile occupation:
related profile img: /imported/images/Biography/Images/Profiles/R/Sanya-Richards-Ross-20883161-1-402.jpeg
related profile URL: /people/sanya-richards-ross-20883161
profile
pop
Your Connections

Sign in with Facebook to see how you and your friends are connected to famous icons.

specific profile connection
See More Bio Connections
Your Friends' Connections
specific friend connection
Profile Connections
    Show More Connections
    Included In These Groups
      23 others

      Hottest Olympic Athletes

      Olympic athletes draw crowds for their amazing achievements, but some have all eyes on them because of their movie star looks and ripped bodies. These sexy athletes have graced the covers of magazines and earned the status of "Olympic hearththrobs." From 1970s Olympic hottie Bruce Jenner to sexy swimmer Ryan Lochte to javelin-throwing model Leryn Franco, here are some of the Hottest Olympic Athletes that make fans' hearts flutter.

      View group

      Hottest Olympic Athletes 26 people in this group

      46 others

      Olympic 2012 Athletes

      The 2012 London Summer Olympic Games set the stage for fierce competition among the world's top athletes in track and field, boxing, gymnastics, soccer, swimming and basketball, among other sports. Explore Biography.com's list of Olympic 2012 Athletes, from swimmers Missy Franklin, Michael Phelps and Ryan Lochte to javelin-throwing beauty Leryn Franco, to swift track stars Tyson Gay, Justin Gatlin, Yohan Blake, Usain Bolt, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce and Sanya Richards-Ross, and more.

      View group

      Olympic 2012 Athletes 49 people in this group
      presented by Olympic 2012 Athletes

      144 others

      Famous Black Athletes

      They've sprinted, served, batted, slam-dunked and TKO'd their way into sports history. Sprinter Jesse Owens's Olympic triumphs put Hitler to shame. Basketball star Michael Jordan taught kids that they could fly. Gymnast Gabby Douglas showed that champions can come in pint-size packages, and Tiger Woods brought the game of golf to another level. Explore biographies of famous black athletes who broke records and barriers and, ultimately, captured our imaginations.

      View group

      Famous Black Athletes 147 people in this group

    See all related groups

    Sanya Richards-Ross's Feed
    ADVERTISEMENT

    Celebrity Connections

    Show More Connections
    Fact Check: We strive for accuracy and fairness. If you see something that doesn't look right, contact us!