For the 18th century English composer, see Maurice Greene (composer)

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Maurice Greene (born July 23, 1974) is an American athlete.

Born in Kansas City, Kansas, Greene participated in his youth in both American football and athletics, but eventually proved to be best in the latter.

In 1995, Greene took part in his first major international tournament at the World Championships in Gothenburg, but was eliminated in the 100 m quarter-finals. His next season was disappointing, as he failed to make the American team for the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta.

However, the following season would mean his breakthrough. At the World Championships in Athens, Greene won the 100 m title. This marked the beginning of a dominance of especially the 100 m by Greene, successfully defending his title in 1999 and 2001, winning the Olympic championships in Sydney 2000 and setting the world record at 9.79 (beating the July 1996 record of Donovan Bailey at 9.84). At the 1999 World Championships, he also won the 200 m title, the first to win both events at a World Championships.

In 2002, Greene lost his World Record to fellow American Tim Montgomery, who beat his time by 0.01, while Greene himself was injured and watched the race from the stands.

At the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greene added to his medal tally with the bronze after finishing third in his attempt to defend his 100 m title, and a silver as the anchor leg runner on the United States 4x100 m relay team, narrowly denied another Olympic Gold by the British team, who won by 0.01 seconds.

External link

• Official Website (http://www.mogreene.com)

Olympic medalists in athletics (men) | Olympic Champions in Men's 100 m

Tom Burke | Frank Jarvis | Archie Hahn | Reggie Walker | Ralph Craig | Charlie Paddock | Harold Abrahams | Percy Williams | Eddie Tolan | Jesse Owens | Harrison Dillard | Lindy Remigino | Bobby Joe Morrow | Armin Hary | Bob Hayes | Jim Hines | Valeri Borzov | Hasely Crawford | Allan Wells | Carl Lewis | Linford Christie | Donovan Bailey | Maurice Greene | Justin Gatlin

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Greene has been widely acclaimed for his activism for gay rights, and has become something of an icon to the unknown number of closeted gay athletes throughout the world. After coming out of the closet himself in 1999, Greene disclosed that his long time partner was HIV positive.

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