Calvin Davis (April 2, 1972 – May 1, 2023) was an American athlete who competed mainly in the 400 meters, though his fame came from his success in the 400 meter hurdles.

Early life and education

Davis ran for the United States at the

1996 Summer Olympics The 1996 Summer Olympics (officially the Games of the XXVI Olympiad, also known as Atlanta 1996 and commonly referred to as the Centennial Olympic Games) were an international multi-sport event held from July 19 to August 4, 1996, in Atlanta, ...

Atlanta Atlanta ( ) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital and List of municipalities in Georgia (U.S. state), most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia. It is the county seat, seat of Fulton County, Georg ...

, where he won the bronze medal in the men's 400 meter hurdles event. Davis attended Dorchester High School in Boston. At Dorchester High School he made a name for himself in both track and football. Calvin has most of the Dorchester High track records. For example, he holds the 200 record at 21.6 the 300-yard at 31.2 and the 400 meter at 47.7. He also was an outstanding football player. In his senior year the Dorchester Football team played in the Super Bowl. He scored the winning touchdown that clinched the Super bowl for DHS. He was also chosen to play in the prestigious Shriners Game and caught two touchdown passes. He was heavily recruited out of high school and eventually made his way to the University of Arkansas. Davis competed collegiately for the

University of Arkansas The University of Arkansas (U of A, UArk, or UA) is a Public university, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university in Fayetteville, Arkansas, United States. It is the Flagship campus, flagship campus of the University of Arkan ...

, primarily as a flat 400 meter sprinter, not learning the hurdles until later. He won the

NCAA The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) is a nonprofit organization that regulates College athletics in the United States, student athletics among about 1,100 schools in the United States, and Simon Fraser University, 1 in Canada. ...

Indoor 400 meter title in 1993 and 1994. In 2013, he was inducted into the University of Arkansas Athletic Hall of Honor. Davis died on May 1, 2023, at the age of 51.

Rankings

Davis stayed among the best 400 meter hurdlers in the US for a number of years, as evidenced by his rankings from ''

Track and Field News ''Track & Field News'' is an American monthly sports magazine founded in 1948 by brothers Bert Nelson and Cordner Nelson, focused on the world of track and field Track and field (or athletics in British English) is a sport that includ ...

''.

External links

Calvin Davis profile
at USATF.org

References

1972 births 2023 deaths People from Eutaw, Alabama American male hurdlers Athletes (track and field) at the 1996 Summer Olympics Olympic bronze medalists for the United States in track and field Arkansas Razorbacks men's track and field athletes Medalists at the 1996 Summer Olympics World Athletics Indoor Championships winners Track and field athletes from Alabama American male sprinters NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships winners NCAA Division I Indoor Track and Field Championships winners 20th-century American sportsmen {{US-athletics-Olympic-medalist-stub