LaShawn MERRITT

LaShawn Merritt of the United States poses with his gold medal on the podium after the men's 400m final at the National Stadium in the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games on August 21, 2008. LaShawn Merritt of the United States won the men's 400 metres Olympic title here on Thursday timing 43.75 seconds, the fifth fastest time ever. The 22-year-old beat home defending champion Jeremy Wariner of the United States (44.74sec) while compatriot David Neville stumbled over the line to nick the bronze (44.80sec) off the Bahamas' Christopher Brown. AFP PHOTO / FABRICE COFFRINI (Photo credit should read FABRICE COFFRINI/AFP via Getty Images)