LaShawn Merritt, born on June 27, 1986, in Portsmouth, Virginia, is a retired American sprinter renowned for his dominance in the 400 meters. He emerged as a standout athlete during his high school years at Woodrow Wilson High School, where he clinched state titles in the 100m, 200m, and 400m events. His exceptional talent led him to East Carolina University, but he turned professional after his freshman indoor season, signing with Nike.

Merritt's international breakthrough came at the 2004 World Junior Championships, where he secured gold in the 400m and set two world junior records in the 4x100m and 4x400m relays . He continued to ascend in the track and field world, earning a silver medal in the 400m at the 2007 World Championships. In 2008, Merritt captured Olympic gold in Beijing, defeating reigning champion Jeremy Wariner with a personal best of 43.75 seconds—the largest margin of victory in Olympic 400m history. He also contributed to the U.S. 4x400m relay team's gold medal performance, setting an Olympic record.

His career faced a setback in 2010 when he received a 21-month suspension for testing positive for banned substances, which he attributed to an over-the-counter supplement . After serving his ban, Merritt returned to competition, earning a silver medal in the 400m and gold in the 4x400m relay at the 2011 World Championships. He reclaimed the world title in the 400m at the 2013 World Championships in Moscow with a time of 43.74 seconds.

At the 2016 Rio Olympics, Merritt added a bronze medal in the 400m and a gold in the 4x400m relay to his accolades. His personal best of 43.65 seconds, achieved in 2015, ranks him among the fastest 400m runners in history . Merritt retired from competitive athletics after the 2017 World Championships, concluding a career that included multiple Olympic and World Championship medals.