Calvin Davis - 1997 

Calvin Davis, the son of Helen Davis and Dwayne Nash, was born April 2, 1972 in Eutaw, Alabama. At five years of age, he and his family moved to Dorchester, Massachusetts.  He attended Dorchester High School where he excelled in football and track. 

During his junior year in high school, he began to show talent, on the track posting an indoor mark of 47.64 seconds for the 400 meters, ranking him third nationally.  His senior year was a banner year in both track and football. He ran 47.61 indoors and 47.11 outdoors in the 400 meter dash, once again ranking him among the very best nationally. 

His play in football was good enough to put him in the State All-Star game where he touched the ball twice producing two touchdowns. Both plays were exhibitions of his remarkable speed. 

After high school, Calvin returned to his home in Eutaw, Alabama, choosing to attend Wallace State Community College – Hanceville to run for Coach Chris Reid. He ran well as a freshman for Wallace State and was a qualifier for the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Track and Field championships.  His sophomore year, however, was to be a move to the next level.  His third place finish in the 600 yard run at the NJCAA  Indoor Championships saw him break a twelve year old Junior College record with a time of 1:09.08.  Outdoor season saw Calvin continue his climb to the top as he defeated the defending national champion at 400 meters in an outstanding time of 45.83 seconds.  Calvin returned home as Wallace State’s first national champion. 

In 1993, Calvin Davis represented the University of Arkansas at the NCAA indoor Championships, finishing second in the 400 meter dash, and anchored the 4X400 to a fifth place finish.  By the 1993 outdoor season, Calvin established his position in the world of track and field by winning the NCAA championship at 400 meters.  In 1994, he repeated this feat at the indoor meet by winning another NCAA title at 400 meters, as well as running a leg on the World Indoor Record, setting distance medley relay team. 

From 1994 until 1996 Calvin Davis represented the United State as a member of several USA teams competing against Great Britain and Pan Africa.  He also competed in the World Cup and the World Indoor championships. 

The 1996 outdoor season saw the beginning of a new chapter in Calvin’s life on and off the track.  Combining his blazing 400 meter speed with his athletic ability, he became a noteworthy intermediate hurdler.  In his first-ever race in the 400 hurdles, he posted an impressive 49.5 following up at he famed Mount Sac meet with a 49.4 and 48.4 at the Bruce Jenner meet. 

The experts considered him a long shot to make the USA Olympic team, and all eyes were on someone else as the U.S. Olympic Trials began.  The focus began to change as Calvin finished third at 49.0 in the preliminaries and fourth at 48.6 in the semi-finals. Not only has the focus changed, but all eyes watched Davis finish third in 48.32 and make the U.S. team as a 400 meter hurdler. 

In the 1996 Olympic games in Atlanta, Davis ran 48.97 in the preliminary round and amazed everyone in the semi-finals running a very fast 47.91.  At this point, all realists felt that Calvin had done all he going to do, and although he was a finalist, he could do no better. 

In the Olympic finals, Calvin Davis convinced all skeptics and doubters that he was for real in the intermediate hurdles by making an incredible run off at the last turn and down the homestretch.  With sheer determination, the rookie hurdler finished third in a time of 47.97 seconds, earning an Olympic Bronze Medal for the United States of America.  Afterwards, Calvin said that moment ranked second only to the birth of his son, Calvin, that same summer. 

Calvin Davis has continued his relentless pursuit of athletic excellence since the 1996 Olympics by competing around the world in preparation for the Olympics in 2000.  His aim is obviously another medal.  This time his sights are on the Gold. 

Calvin lives and trains in Fayetteville, Arkansas.