Mike Powell

Mike was born November 10, 1963 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Powell moved to California in 1974. He attended Edgewood High School in West Covina, California, went on to attend the University of California, Irvine and later transferred to and graduated from the University of California at Los Angeles, is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha, the first intercollegiate Greek-letter fraternity established for African Americans.

One of the greatest long jumpers of all time, Powell set the existing world record of 8.95 meters/29 feet, 4.50 inches at the 1991 IAAF World Outdoor Championships in Tokyo, winning an epic dual against fellow Hall of Famer Carl Lewis. Powell's dramatic victory, a world record performance that nobody has come close to since, handed Lewis his first defeat in the event in 10 years. During his heralded long jump career, Powell was a two-time world champion (1991-1993), two-time Olympic silver medalist (1988/1992) and six-time U. S. champion (1990-92-93-94-95-96). He was the world's dominant long jumper in 1993 and 1994, winning 34 competitions in a row. Powell, was also ranked #1 in the world by Track & Field News on four occasions (1990-1991-1993-1994). In 1991 he earned the AAU's James E. Sullivan Memorial Award as the nation's top amateur athlete, the BBC Sports Personality of the Year Overseas Personality Award and the Jesse Owens International Trophy awarded to the world's most outstanding athlete of the year.

Mike was inducted in the United States Track and Field Hall of Fame in 2005.

Powell also won the Footlocker Slamfest twice, a celebrity dunk contest for professional athletes outside of the NBA, the contest featured athletes such as Deion Sanders, Kenny Lofton, Barry Sanders and David Justice. He also won the Superstars competition in 1992 and still holds the record for the 100 yards and the obstacle course.

Mike had been a NCAA Division I coach eight years including three at his alma mater of UCLA, where he won national Jumps coach of the year in 2006. He has also coached at least one jumper in the Olympic Games and World Championships since 2003.

Mike also served as speed consultant for the Los Angeles Dodgers for two years.

Powell currently serves as an ambassador for the international governing body of track and field, the IAAF. His job as an IAAF Ambassador is to travel the world representing the goodwill of track and field at championship meets as well as at the Olympic Games, attend press conferences, participate in autograph sessions, meet sponsors and occasionally put on clinics for children from all over the world.

Mike also coaches several Olympic and World Championship level track and field athletes, as well as also running his own Elite Training Academy for high school student/athletes who desire individual attention for improvement in their speed and jumping which will enhance their ability to receive college scholarships.

Mike has been married to his wife Casie for 11 years and has three daughters, Micha, Carlee and Macie.