[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 113 (Thursday, July 26, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1342]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 RECOGNIZING NORTHWEST FLORIDA'S JUSTIN GATLIN AS A MEMBER OF THE 2012 
                       UNITED STATES OLYMPIC TEAM

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JEFF MILLER

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 26, 2012

  Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize 
Northwest Florida's Justin Gatlin as a member of the 2012 United States 
Olympic Team. Every 4 years, our nation joins together to root on the 
athletes that represent us at the Summer Olympic Games and for those of 
us from Northwest Florida, we will be rooting even harder when Justin 
competes in the 100 meter sprint to bring the gold back home.
  From an early age, Justin displayed an incredible God-given talent 
for track and field. He grew up in Pensacola, Florida and ran both 
sprint and hurdles to help lead Woodham High School to a state 
championship, before accepting a scholarship to the University of 
Tennessee. At Tennessee, Justin won six consecutive NCAA titles in two 
years, before turning pro at age 19.
  In 2004, Justin qualified for the Olympic Games in Athens, Greece by 
winning the U.S. Olympic Trials in the 100 meters and finishing runner 
up in the 200 meters. In Athens, Justin became the youngest ever to win 
the gold medal in the 100 meters, while also bringing home a silver 
medal as part of the U.S. 4x100 meter relay team, and a bronze medal in 
the 200 meters. He followed up his successful Olympic performance a 
year later by becoming the first American sprinter to win both the 100 
and 200 meter races at the national championships since Kirk Baptiste 
in 1985. That same year he became only the second sprinter in history 
to win gold medals in the World Championships in the 100 and 200 
meters, and his victory in the 100 meters by .17 seconds was the 
largest winning margin in World Championship history.
  After four years away from the track, Justin returned in 2010 to seek 
another gold medal. He won his first event in 2010 and finished runner 
up in the 2011 USA Track and Field Championships. In 2012, Justin has 
already had a successful season, winning the U.S. Olympic Trials in the 
100 meters in a personal best 9.80 seconds, proving that he is ready to 
help the U.S. team go for gold in London this summer. Justin's victory 
in the Olympic Trials, 8 years after his first Olympic triumph, is an 
example of the success that can be achieved by working hard even after 
you reach the pinnacle of your career.
  Mr. Speaker, I am privileged to rise on behalf of Florida's First 
Congressional District to recognize Northwest Florida's own Justin 
Gatlin and wish him the best as he represents our country and competes 
for another Olympic gold medal.

                          ____________________