Ricardo Chambers
Encyclopedia
Ricardo Chambers is a Jamaica
n track and field
athlete who specialises in the 400 metres
.
Hailing from Trelawny Parish in Jamaica, he moved to the United States
to study on a sports scholarship at Florida State University
. Competing for the Florida State Seminoles
, he won the silver medal
over 400 m at the 2006 NCAA Championships, breaking the FSU record with a run of 44.71 seconds.
He enjoyed success at the NACAC Under-23 Championships later that year, setting a championship record of 45.09 seconds to win the 400 m and anchoring the Jamaican 4×400 metres relay team of Huntley Thomas, Leford Green
and Bryan Steele to a second gold medal and record. He represented Jamaica at the 2006 Central American and Caribbean Games
. He was fifth in the 400 m, easily beaten by Yeimer Lopez
, but finished the competition on a high by winning the relay gold with Sanjay Ayre
, Green and Steele, running a Games record of 3:01.78.
Chambers turned professional for the 2007 season and competed at the 2007 World Championships in Athletics
. He made it to the semi-finals of the individual 400 m, but greater success came in the relay, as he took fourth place in the final for Jamaica. His next major competition was the 2008 Summer Olympics
. He again was a semi-finalist in the men's 400 metres, but the Jamaican relay team performed poorly in the event final, failing to match their time from the heats and finishing in last place. He was the Jamaican champion the following year, but his third global appearance – at the 2009 World Championships in Athletics
– held similar results; he finished third in his semi-final and was eliminated in the heats in the relay.
In the 2010 season he competed at the World Indoor Championships
for the first time. He was a 400 m semifinalist but an injury to Ayre in the relay meant the Jamaican relay team did not finish. He improved his personal best to 44.54 seconds with a run at the Herculis
meeting in Monaco
, finishing second behind compatriot Jermaine Gonzales
. He was selected to represent the Americas team over 400 m at the 2010 IAAF Continental Cup
and he won his first medal at a global competition. He ran near his personal best, recording 44.59 seconds, to take the silver medal
behind his teammate Jeremy Wariner
. He closed the competition by running the anchor leg of the relay for the Americas team which won in a championship record of 2:59.00, breaking the USA's 29-year-old mark.
Jamaica
Jamaica is an island nation of the Greater Antilles, in length, up to in width and 10,990 square kilometres in area. It is situated in the Caribbean Sea, about south of Cuba, and west of Hispaniola, the island harbouring the nation-states Haiti and the Dominican Republic...
n track and field
Track and field
Track and field is a sport comprising various competitive athletic contests based around the activities of running, jumping and throwing. The name of the sport derives from the venue for the competitions: a stadium which features an oval running track surrounding a grassy area...
athlete who specialises in the 400 metres
400 metres
The 400 metres, or 400 metre dash, is a common sprinting event in track and field competitions. It has been featured in the athletics programme at the Summer Olympics since 1896 . On a standard outdoor running track, it is exactly one lap around the track. Runners start in staggered positions and...
.
Hailing from Trelawny Parish in Jamaica, he moved to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
to study on a sports scholarship at Florida State University
Florida State University
The Florida State University is a space-grant and sea-grant public university located in Tallahassee, Florida, United States. It is a comprehensive doctoral research university with medical programs and significant research activity as determined by the Carnegie Foundation...
. Competing for the Florida State Seminoles
Florida State Seminoles
The Florida State Seminoles are the men's and women's sports teams of Florida State University in Tallahassee, Florida. Florida State participates in the NCAA's Division I . FSU joined the Atlantic Coast Conference in 1991, and competes in the Atlantic Division in any sports split into a...
, he won the silver medal
Silver medal
A silver medal is a medal awarded to the second place finisher of contests such as the Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games, and contests with similar formats....
over 400 m at the 2006 NCAA Championships, breaking the FSU record with a run of 44.71 seconds.
He enjoyed success at the NACAC Under-23 Championships later that year, setting a championship record of 45.09 seconds to win the 400 m and anchoring the Jamaican 4×400 metres relay team of Huntley Thomas, Leford Green
Leford Green
Leford Green is a Jamaican athlete who specialises in the 400 metre hurdles & 400m.-External links:...
and Bryan Steele to a second gold medal and record. He represented Jamaica at the 2006 Central American and Caribbean Games
Athletics at the 2006 Central American and Caribbean Games
The athletics competition at the 2006 Central American and Caribbean Games took place at the Estadio Pedro de Heredia in Cartagena, Colombia and lasted from July 25 to July 29. There were 23 events for men and 21 for women...
. He was fifth in the 400 m, easily beaten by Yeimer Lopez
Yeimer López
Yeimer López García is a middle distance runner from Cuba, who represented his native country at two consecutive Summer Olympics, starting in 2004. He is best known for winning the gold medal in the men's 800 metres at the 2007 Pan American Games in Brazil. López is the twin brother of female...
, but finished the competition on a high by winning the relay gold with Sanjay Ayre
Sanjay Ayre
Sanjay Claude Ayre is a world-class Jamaican sprinter specializing in the 400 meters.Puma North America Signed Ayre to an undisclosed record 3 year contract in June 2003. Together with Brandon Simpson, Lansford Spence and Davian Clarke he won a bronze medal in the 4 x 400 metres relay at the 2005...
, Green and Steele, running a Games record of 3:01.78.
Chambers turned professional for the 2007 season and competed at the 2007 World Championships in Athletics
2007 World Championships in Athletics
The 11th World Championships in Athletics, under the auspices of the International Association of Athletics Federations , were held at Nagai Stadium in Osaka, Japan from 24 August to 2 September 2007...
. He made it to the semi-finals of the individual 400 m, but greater success came in the relay, as he took fourth place in the final for Jamaica. His next major competition was the 2008 Summer Olympics
2008 Summer Olympics
The 2008 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIX Olympiad, was a major international multi-sport event that took place in Beijing, China, from August 8 to August 24, 2008. A total of 11,028 athletes from 204 National Olympic Committees competed in 28 sports and 302 events...
. He again was a semi-finalist in the men's 400 metres, but the Jamaican relay team performed poorly in the event final, failing to match their time from the heats and finishing in last place. He was the Jamaican champion the following year, but his third global appearance – at the 2009 World Championships in Athletics
2009 World Championships in Athletics
The 12th IAAF World Championships in Athletics were held in Berlin, Germany from 15–23 August 2009. The majority of events took place in the Olympiastadion, while the marathon and racewalking events started and finished at the Brandenburg Gate....
– held similar results; he finished third in his semi-final and was eliminated in the heats in the relay.
In the 2010 season he competed at the World Indoor Championships
2010 IAAF World Indoor Championships
The 2010 IAAF World Indoor Championships in Athletics was held between 12 and 14 March at the ASPIRE Dome in Doha, Qatar. The championships was the first of six IAAF World Athletics Series events to take place in 2010.-Bidding and organisation:...
for the first time. He was a 400 m semifinalist but an injury to Ayre in the relay meant the Jamaican relay team did not finish. He improved his personal best to 44.54 seconds with a run at the Herculis
Herculis
The Herculis is an annual track and field meet at Stade Louis II in Fontvieille, Monaco. Previously one of the five IAAF Super Grand Prix events, it is now part of the IAAF Diamond League.-World records:...
meeting in Monaco
Monaco
Monaco , officially the Principality of Monaco , is a sovereign city state on the French Riviera. It is bordered on three sides by its neighbour, France, and its centre is about from Italy. Its area is with a population of 35,986 as of 2011 and is the most densely populated country in the...
, finishing second behind compatriot Jermaine Gonzales
Jermaine Gonzales
Jermaine Gonzales is a Jamaican 400 metres runner. He is currently being coached by Glen Mills and Bertland Cameron.He had a successful start to international athletics in the young age categories, taking the 400 m bronze at the 2001 World Youth Championships in Athletics and stepping up a...
. He was selected to represent the Americas team over 400 m at the 2010 IAAF Continental Cup
2010 IAAF Continental Cup
The 1st IAAF Continental Cup was an international track and field sporting event held under the auspices of the International Association of Athletics Federations. Originally scheduled as the 11th IAAF World Cup in Athletics, it was renamed in 2008 when the IAAF revamped the competition format...
and he won his first medal at a global competition. He ran near his personal best, recording 44.59 seconds, to take the silver medal
Silver medal
A silver medal is a medal awarded to the second place finisher of contests such as the Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games, and contests with similar formats....
behind his teammate Jeremy Wariner
Jeremy Wariner
Jeremy Mathew Wariner is an American track athlete specializing in the 400 meters. He has won four Olympic medals and six World Championships medals...
. He closed the competition by running the anchor leg of the relay for the Americas team which won in a championship record of 2:59.00, breaking the USA's 29-year-old mark.
External links
- Profile at Sports-Reference