Joanna Hayes biography

Synopsis

Joanna Hayes was born December 23, 1976 in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. After her second injury, she took some time off to work at the Jackie Joyner-Kersee Youth Center. In 2002 she went back to train full-time in preparation for the 2004 Olympic Games, where she won the gold medal in 100-meter hurdles. She currently coaches Track and Field at Brentwood School in Los Angeles.

Profile

Olympic runner. Born December 23, 1976 in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. After proving herself as a track and field star at John W. North High School and UCLA, Hayes won the gold medal in 100-meter hurdles at the 2004 Olympics in Athens, becoming only the second American in history to win the title.

Hayes? early career was beset by injury. She suffered a hyper-extended knee in 1997 during the NCAA Outdoor Championships and a strained hamstring in 2001. After the second injury, Hayes took some time off to work at the Jackie Joyner-Kersee Youth Center East St. Louis, Illinois. She returned to Los Angeles in 2002 to train full-time in preparation for the 2004 Olympic Games. She currently coaches Track and Field at Brentwood School in Los Angeles.