Felix Sanchez of Dominican Republic celebrates after winning the gold medal in the Men's 400m Hurdles final on Day 10 of the London 2012 Olympic Games on 6 August 2012 (© Getty Images)
The Dominican Republic's charismatic golden boy Felix Sanchez is set to run the 400m hurdles at the DN Galan on 17 August, fresh in the wake of his Olympic triumph in London.
Sanchez ran 47.63 in London, the exact same time he clocked when he won Olympic gold back in Athens in 2004.
"I look forward to DN Galan and the experienced fans in Stockholm," Sanchez said of the 10th stop on the 2012 Samsung Diamond League circuit.
However, he is probably better known for his emotional response on the podium in London when he cried so openly and honestly with joy after bringing home the gold. Sanchez was raised by his Spanish-speaking grandmother, Lilian Morcela. The two were very close. At the Beijing Olympics, Sanchez was given the news that his grandmother had passed away and he failed to qualify for the semifinals. Persistent injuries were also a cause of his sub-par performance in Beijing.
"I made a promise that day, that if I could get fit again, I would win another medal before I retired. The closest I got was last year (World Champs), when I finished fourth. It was always my dream to get another medal, and it was gold."
Four years later, Sanchez was overwhelmed with joy as he stood on the winner's podium in London and won the hearts of millions around the world. The colourful Sanchez is a popular name on the athletics circuit. His double-gold now puts him in the same category as Glenn Davis, Edwin Moses and Angelo Taylor.
His arrival in Stockholm and DN Galan is a most welcome one.
Another top event will be the women's Long Jump. The entire podium from London will come to Stockholm: winner Britnney Reese, runner-up Elena Sokolova bronze medallist Janay DeLoach.
Organisers for the IAAF
Sanchez ran 47.63 in London, the exact same time he clocked when he won Olympic gold back in Athens in 2004.
"I look forward to DN Galan and the experienced fans in Stockholm," Sanchez said of the 10th stop on the 2012 Samsung Diamond League circuit.
However, he is probably better known for his emotional response on the podium in London when he cried so openly and honestly with joy after bringing home the gold. Sanchez was raised by his Spanish-speaking grandmother, Lilian Morcela. The two were very close. At the Beijing Olympics, Sanchez was given the news that his grandmother had passed away and he failed to qualify for the semifinals. Persistent injuries were also a cause of his sub-par performance in Beijing.
"I made a promise that day, that if I could get fit again, I would win another medal before I retired. The closest I got was last year (World Champs), when I finished fourth. It was always my dream to get another medal, and it was gold."
Four years later, Sanchez was overwhelmed with joy as he stood on the winner's podium in London and won the hearts of millions around the world. The colourful Sanchez is a popular name on the athletics circuit. His double-gold now puts him in the same category as Glenn Davis, Edwin Moses and Angelo Taylor.
His arrival in Stockholm and DN Galan is a most welcome one.
Another top event will be the women's Long Jump. The entire podium from London will come to Stockholm: winner Britnney Reese, runner-up Elena Sokolova bronze medallist Janay DeLoach.
Organisers for the IAAF
