Dawn Harper-Nelson
Olympic Gold and Silver Medalist, Emmy Award-Winning Broadcaster
Dawn Harper-Nelson is an American hurdler who rose to prominence in track and field as an elite competitor in the 100-meter hurdles. Born on May 13, 1984, in East St. Louis, Illinois, Harper-Nelson became a standout athlete in high school, eventually earning a full scholarship to the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). At UCLA, she would go on to break the UCLA 60 meter hurdle record & become a 7x NCAA All-American setting the stage for her professional career.
Harper-Nelson's breakthrough came at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, where she won the gold medal in the 100-meter hurdles. She continued her success with a silver medal at the 2012 London Olympics, solidifying her status as one of the greatest hurdlers of all time and the only hurdler to win gold then silver in back to back Olympics.
Known for her speed, technique, and determination, Harper-Nelson has earned multiple World Championship medals, 4x USA Champion, 4x Diamond League Champion, was ranked top 5 in the world for 12 years, and has been a consistent presence on the international track circuit.
She retired in 2021 but took her life of hardwork and focus and used it to open many doors. In 2024 Dawn made her debut with NBCUniversal as an analyst for its track & field coverage of the Paris Olympics. Harper-Nelson and the NBC crew won a Emmy for their phenomenal coverage of the games. She works with USA Track and Field as their press moderator, emcee and broadcaster. In 2025, she found a new love in Athlos. Her personality was finally able to shine on the big stage. She emceed the Athlos long jump competition where they shut down a portion of Time Square and setup a runway under the lights of Time Square. Dawn Harper-Nelson says experiencing that was a dream come true.
Other accolades is in 2022 Dawn was inducted into the UCLA Athletics Hall of Fame. She is admired for her resilience, work ethic, and commitment to inspiring the next generation of athletes. In addition to her athletic achievements, Harper-Nelson has been active in motivational speaking and community engagement, often sharing her story to encourage others to pursue their dreams despite challenges. She also has her own day in the state of Illinois that is celebrated every year on October 6th.
Harper-Nelson's breakthrough came at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, where she won the gold medal in the 100-meter hurdles. She continued her success with a silver medal at the 2012 London Olympics, solidifying her status as one of the greatest hurdlers of all time and the only hurdler to win gold then silver in back to back Olympics.
Known for her speed, technique, and determination, Harper-Nelson has earned multiple World Championship medals, 4x USA Champion, 4x Diamond League Champion, was ranked top 5 in the world for 12 years, and has been a consistent presence on the international track circuit.
She retired in 2021 but took her life of hardwork and focus and used it to open many doors. In 2024 Dawn made her debut with NBCUniversal as an analyst for its track & field coverage of the Paris Olympics. Harper-Nelson and the NBC crew won a Emmy for their phenomenal coverage of the games. She works with USA Track and Field as their press moderator, emcee and broadcaster. In 2025, she found a new love in Athlos. Her personality was finally able to shine on the big stage. She emceed the Athlos long jump competition where they shut down a portion of Time Square and setup a runway under the lights of Time Square. Dawn Harper-Nelson says experiencing that was a dream come true.
Other accolades is in 2022 Dawn was inducted into the UCLA Athletics Hall of Fame. She is admired for her resilience, work ethic, and commitment to inspiring the next generation of athletes. In addition to her athletic achievements, Harper-Nelson has been active in motivational speaking and community engagement, often sharing her story to encourage others to pursue their dreams despite challenges. She also has her own day in the state of Illinois that is celebrated every year on October 6th.