Name	Lashawn Merritt
Height	6' 2"
Naionality	American
Date of Birth	June 27, 1986
Place of Birth	Portsmouth, Va.
Famous for

LaShawn Merritt (born June 27, 1986) is an American sprinter who specializes in the 400 meters. LaShawn is a native of Portsmouth, Virginia where he graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School. LaShawn spent one year as a college athlete at East Carolina University before signing an endorsement contract with Nike, making him no longer eligible to compete in an NCAA event. He is currently enrolled at Old Dominion University in Norfolk,Virginia.Merritt claimed the silver medal at the 2007 World Championships in Athletics in Osaka. Merritt won the 400 m at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. A close race between Merritt and Jeremy Wariner was expected, though it ultimately ended in a rout. The margin between Merritt's first-place finish and Wariner's second-place finish was the largest in an Olympic 400 m final.His time of 43.75 makes him the fifth fastest 400 m runner in history.