American · Los Angeles, USA · Born 27 July 1997400m hurdles Olympic and world champion.
Rai Benjamin was born on 27 July 1997 in the Bronx, New York, to Antiguan parents Winston Benjamin, a former West Indies Test fast bowler, and Jeanette Mason, and was raised in Mount Vernon, New York, initially wanting to follow his father into cricket before taking up American football and eventually track and field. Benjamin represented Antigua and Barbuda at the 2013 World Youth Championships before switching allegiance to the United States, and starred collegiately for UCLA and USC, setting collegiate and world-best relay times before turning professional in 2018. Benjamin developed into one of the finest 400m hurdlers in history, winning silver medals at both the delayed Tokyo 2020 and 2024 Paris Olympics behind training partner Karsten Warholm, and set the American record of 46.17 seconds in Tokyo. Benjamin has continued to compete at the top level of world hurdling, winning multiple World Championship medals and Olympic relay gold, remaining one of the most consistent performers in one of track and field's most competitive events.
Sprinter (400m H)
How They Played
Explosive speed endurance specialist with exceptional hurdle technique
Lasting Impact
One of the greatest 400m hurdlers in history, pushed the event to new levels
Career Honours
- 2024 Olympic gold 400mH
- 2020 Olympic silver 400mH
- 2025 World champ 400mH
American Athletes