Rai Benjamin is an American sprinter who just won the Olympic gold in the 400m hurdles men’s event at the Paris 2024 Olympics, find out more about him below along with his parents, father and mother
Benjamin beat the defending champion and world record holder Karsten Warholm in the process of winning the gold.
Who is USA athlete Rai Benjamin, bio, age, height, parents, father, mother, wife, coach, medals, college and net worth
Benjamin holds the record of being the second fastest man in history in the 400 m hurdles at 46.17 s.
Rai Benjamin bio
Rai Benjamin is an American hurdler and sprinter who was born on July 27, 1997, in Mount Vernon, New York, United States. He is the son of former West Indies international and Antiguan cricketer Winston Benjamin. Winston represented West Indies across 21 Test matches and featured in the 1987 and 1992 World Cups. Interestingly, Rai tried to follow in his father’s footsteps and become a fast bowler. However, Antiguan coaches found his natural abilities in running and he eventually moved on to track and field.
Rai Benjamin’s mother is Jeanette Mason and his father is Winston Keithroy Matthew Benjamin. He is single and unmarried. Rai’s net worth stands at $5 million.
Rai trains under Joanna Hayes, a former 100m hurdles Olympic champion and the 2003 Pan American 400m hurdles champion.
Rai is currently 27 years old and specializes in the 400 m and 400 m hurdles. He is the second fastest man in history in the 400 m hurdles with a personal best time of 46.17 s. Rai won a silver medal at his first Olympic Games in 2021 and won the 400 m hurdles race at the 2024 Summer Olympics.
Height and weight
Rai Benjamin stands at a height of 1.91 m (6’3”) and roughly weighs around 77 kg (170 lbs).
Education
Rai Benjamin obtained his education from Mount Vernon High School, in Virginia. He later attended UCLA (University of California), before joining USC (University of Southern California). During his time in both colleges, he ran for the UCLA Bruins and then the USC Trojans.
Career
Rai Benjamin initially started out racing as an Antigua and Barbuda national as a teenager because his father’s Antiguan heritage. He took part in the 2013 World Youth Championships and the 2015 World Relays. He then won the 2015 New York Indoor State meet in the 300 meters and emerged as a three-time New York State Public High School Athletic Association champion in the 400m hurdles event. Benjamin also won a silver medal at the 2015 CARIFTA Games in the 400 meters event.
On October of 2018, Benjamin finally got his transfer to switch allegiance approved, and now represent the United States. He represented the US abroad and competed in various USATF Championship events. Benjamin was a part of the USC Trojans that set the world best time in the indoor 4×400 m relay. During June of the same year, he helped set the NCAA record in the 4×400 m relay outdoors.
At the 2018 Meeting Areva in Paris, he ran 19.99 in the 200 meters to take .65 of a second off his previous personal best. He became the 72nd person to break 20 seconds, in what is perhaps his third best event on the track. Rai Benjamin eventually won his first medal at the Olympic Games in 2021 with a silver medal in the 400 m hurdles race.
Rai also won silver medals at the World Championships in 2019 and 2022 as well as in the men’s 400 m hurdles. He also won gold medals in the 4×400 m relay in 2019 and 2021. Most recently, Rai Benjamin won the Olympic gold medal in the men’s 400m hurdles at the Paris 2024 Games.