Melaine Walker

Melaine Walker (born 1 March 1983) is a Jamaican 400 metres hurdler. She was born in Kingston. Walker is the former Olympic 400 m hurdles champion. She held the Olympic record of 52.64, set at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, and her time of 52.42 seconds at the 2009 World Championships in Berlin was the second fastest time in history at the time.

She won Gold at the 2008 Beijing Olympics in a new Olympic record time of 52.64 seconds. Walker won the Jamaica national championships in 54.70 seconds, narrowly beating newcomer Kaliese Spencer and qualifying for her first World Championships in Athletics.

On 20 August 2009, she set the second fastest time in history of 52.42 seconds to win the women's 400 m hurdles final at the 2009 World Championships in Berlin. She leapt on the back of the mascot Berlino the Bear to do a victory lap but Berlino crashed into a cart of hurdles and dropped her.

Achievements

Personal bests 60 metres hurdles – 8.05 s (2006, indoor) 100 metres hurdles – 12.75 s (2006) 400 metres hurdles – 52.42 s (2009) 60 metres – 7.40 s (2005, indoor) 200 metres – 23.67 s (1998) 400 metres – 51.61 s (2008)