Diane Dixon
Encyclopedia
Diane Lynn Dixon (born September 23, 1964, in Brooklyn
, New York
) is an American
athlete who competed mainly in the 400 metres.
She competed for the United States in the 1988 Summer Olympics
held in Seoul
, South Korea
in the 4 x 400 metres where she won the Silver medal with her team mates Denean Howard
, Valerie Brisco-Hooks
and Florence Griffith Joyner. Second place in that race is still the second fastest time ever run in that event and the current American record. She set her personal record of 49.84 while finishing third in an open semi-final in Seoul. Four years earlier she ran in the qualifying heat for the same relay that eventually took gold.
Dixon was also a part of two medal-winning teams in the 4x400 relay at the IAAF World Championships
, taking a bronze in 1987 in Rome
and a silver in 1991 in Tokyo
.
Dixon was known for her aggressive frontrunning style indoors, where she could take the lead at the break (after the first 50 meters) and hold off her competitors who would have to run around her. In 1981 she won her first of her USA Indoor Track and Field Championships
at the (then) Imperial distance of 440 yards. In 1983 she won again and began an unprecedented streak of ten consecutive wins in the 440 or 400 metres.
In 1985, Dixon won the 400 metres at the IAAF World Indoor Championships. She repeated the feat again in 1991, setting the American Record
at 50.64 seconds in the event. That record stood until March 13, 2010, when it was broken by Francena McCorory
from Hampton University
at the NCAA Championships.
Diane Dixon attended the Brooklyn Technical High School
and graduated in 1982.
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
) is an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
athlete who competed mainly in the 400 metres.
She competed for the United States in the 1988 Summer Olympics
1988 Summer Olympics
The 1988 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIV Olympiad, were an all international multi-sport events celebrated from September 17 to October 2, 1988 in Seoul, South Korea. They were the second summer Olympic Games to be held in Asia and the first since the 1964 Summer Olympics...
held in Seoul
Seoul
Seoul , officially the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea. A megacity with a population of over 10 million, it is the largest city proper in the OECD developed world...
, South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
in the 4 x 400 metres where she won the Silver medal with her team mates Denean Howard
Denean Howard
Denean Elizabeth Howard-Hill is an American athlete who competed mainly in the 400 metres.At the Olympics she competed as Miss Howard in 1984, as Mrs. Howard-Hill in 1988, and as Mrs...
, Valerie Brisco-Hooks
Valerie Brisco-Hooks
Valerie Ann Brisco-Hooks won three gold medals as an Olympic track and field athlete at the 1984 Olympics at Los Angeles, California, making her the first Olympian to win gold medals in both the 200- and 400-meter races at a single Olympics. She also won a gold medal for the 4x400 m...
and Florence Griffith Joyner. Second place in that race is still the second fastest time ever run in that event and the current American record. She set her personal record of 49.84 while finishing third in an open semi-final in Seoul. Four years earlier she ran in the qualifying heat for the same relay that eventually took gold.
Dixon was also a part of two medal-winning teams in the 4x400 relay at the IAAF World Championships
IAAF World Championships
IAAF World Championships may refer to any of the World Championship events organized by the IAAF:* IAAF World Championships in Athletics* IAAF World Indoor Championships in Athletics* IAAF World Cross Country Championships...
, taking a bronze in 1987 in Rome
1987 World Championships in Athletics
The 2nd World Championships in Athletics under the auspices of the International Association of Athletics Federations were held in the Stadio Olimpico in Rome, Italy between August 28 and September 6, 1987.-Track:1983 | 1987 | 1991 | 1993 | 1995...
and a silver in 1991 in Tokyo
1991 World Championships in Athletics
The 3rd World Championships in Athletics, under the auspices of the International Association of Athletics Federations, were held in the Olympic Stadium in Tokyo, Japan between August 23 and September 1 and athletes from 167 countries participated in the event.The event is best-remembered for the...
.
Dixon was known for her aggressive frontrunning style indoors, where she could take the lead at the break (after the first 50 meters) and hold off her competitors who would have to run around her. In 1981 she won her first of her USA Indoor Track and Field Championships
USA Indoor Track and Field Championships
The USA Indoor Track and Field Championships is an annual indoor track and field competition organized by USA Track & Field, which serves as the American national championships for the sport...
at the (then) Imperial distance of 440 yards. In 1983 she won again and began an unprecedented streak of ten consecutive wins in the 440 or 400 metres.
In 1985, Dixon won the 400 metres at the IAAF World Indoor Championships. She repeated the feat again in 1991, setting the American Record
United States records in track and field
The following are the national records in track & field in the United States maintained by USA Track & Field .Key:-Men:-Women:-Men:-Women:+ = en route to a longer distanceA = affected by altitude# = not officially ratified by IAAF...
at 50.64 seconds in the event. That record stood until March 13, 2010, when it was broken by Francena McCorory
Francena McCorory
Francena McCorory is an American track and field athlete, known primarily for running the 400 metres. She is the NCAA and American indoor record holder in that event and is a United States representative to the 2011 World Championships in Athletics.McCorory attended Bethel High School in Hampton,...
from Hampton University
Hampton University
Hampton University is a historically black university located in Hampton, Virginia, United States. It was founded by black and white leaders of the American Missionary Association after the American Civil War to provide education to freedmen.-History:...
at the NCAA Championships.
Diane Dixon attended the Brooklyn Technical High School
Brooklyn Technical High School
Brooklyn Technical High School, commonly called Brooklyn Tech or just Tech, and also administratively as High School 430, is a New York City public high school that specializes in engineering, math and science and is the largest specialized high school for science, technology, engineering, and...
and graduated in 1982.