View source for DeeDee Trotter

{{short description|American athlete}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2019}}
{{Infobox sportsperson
| image = DeeDee Trotter 2012 Olympics.jpg
| image_size = 250px
| caption = Trotter at the 2012 Olympics
| full_name = De'Hashia Tonnek Trotter
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1982|12|8}}
| birth_place = [[Twentynine Palms, California]], U.S.
| height = {{cvt|1.78|m|order=flip}}
| weight = {{cvt|64|kg|order=flip}}
| country = [[United States]]
| sport = [[Sport of athletics|Athletics]]
| event = [[4 × 400 metres relay|4 × 400 m Relay]]
| medaltemplates = 
{{MedalSport | Women's [[sport of athletics|athletics]]}}
{{MedalCountry | the {{USA}} }}
{{MedalCompetition|[[Athletics at the Summer Olympics|Olympic Games]]}}
{{MedalGold | [[2004 Summer Olympics|2004 Athens]] |[[Athletics at the 2004 Summer Olympics – Women's 4 × 400 metres relay|4 × 400 m relay]]}}
{{MedalGold | [[2012 Summer Olympics|2012 London]] |[[Athletics at the 2012 Summer Olympics – Women's 4 × 400 metres relay|4 × 400 m relay]]}}
{{MedalBronze | 2012 London |[[Athletics at the 2012 Summer Olympics – Women's 400 metres|400 m]]}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[IAAF World Championships in Athletics|World Championships]]}}
{{MedalGold |[[2003 World Championships in Athletics|2003 Paris]]|[[2003 World Championships in Athletics – Women's 4 × 400 metres relay|4 × 400 m relay]]}}
{{MedalGold |[[2007 World Championships in Athletics|2007 Osaka]]|[[2007 World Championships in Athletics – Women's 4 × 400 metres relay|4 × 400 m relay]]}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[IAAF World Indoor Championships in Athletics|World Indoor Championships]]}}
{{MedalGold | [[2010 IAAF World Indoor Championships|2010 Doha]] |[[2010 IAAF World Indoor Championships – Women's 4 × 400 metres relay|4 × 400 m relay]]}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[IAAF World Relays|World Relay Championships]]}}
{{Medal|Gold|[[2014 IAAF World Relays|2014 Nassau]]|[[2014 IAAF World Relays – Women's 4 × 400 metres relay|4 × 400 m relay]]}}
}}

'''De'Hashia Tonnek''' "'''DeeDee'''" '''Trotter''' (born December 8, 1982, in [[Twentynine Palms, California]]) is an [[Americans|American]] [[athlete]]. Trotter is a former NCAA national champion in the 400 m, and competed in the 2004, 2008, and 2012 Summer Olympics. There, she was a two-time Olympic gold medalist in the 4 × 400 m relay (2004 and 2012), in addition to a bronze medalist in the 2012 400 m event. She placed 5th in the same event in 2004. Trotter is currently a brand ambassador for international company [https://www.ef.com/ Education First], and a global motivational speaker.

==Early life==
Trotter was born in [[Twentynine Palms, California|Twenty Nine Palms]], [[California]], on December 8, 1982.<ref name=Troj>{{cite web |url=http://www.usctrojans.com/sports/c-track/mtt/dee_dee_trotter_863087.html |title=Deedee Trotter |access-date=May 2, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160328043346/http://www.usctrojans.com/sports/c-track/mtt/dee_dee_trotter_863087.html |archive-date=March 28, 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref> She grew up in [[Decatur, Georgia|Decatur]], [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]], graduating from Cedar Grove High School in 2001.<ref name=USATF>{{cite web |url=http://www.usatf.org/Athlete-Bios/De-Hashia--Dee-Dee--Trotter.aspx |publisher=USATF |title=Deedee Trotter bio |access-date=May 5, 2014}}</ref> She was a member of both the track and basketball teams, helping to lead the basketball team in her senior year to an undefeated season on home court. She specialized in both the 200 m and 400 m in track, and in her senior year, she also helped lead the 4 × 400 m relay team from her highschool to the Georgia State Championship.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nationalscholastic.org/wherearetheynow/article/1287 |publisher=National Scholastic |access-date=May 5, 2014 |title=DeeDee Trotter- This month's "Where Are They Now" feature |date=November 2, 2012 |author=Joy Kamani}}</ref>

==College track and field==
Trotter was mainly a basketball player in high school, and took up track-and-field as a second sport under the encouragement of those who saw her running on the court. She earned a track-and-field scholarship to the [[University of Tennessee]], and was forced to turn away from basketball and focus solely on running.<ref name=State /> In 2003, she placed second in the NCAA championships in the distance, and in 2004 she was the NCAA champion. She still holds the Tennessee record time of 50.0s. She graduated from the university with a major in Sociology.<ref name=Troj /><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G2-2588823583.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924170223/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G2-2588823583.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 24, 2015 |access-date=May 5, 2014 |title=Trotter, Deedee (1982–) |publisher=Dictionary of Women Worldwide: 25,000 Women Through the Ages |date=January 1, 2007}}</ref> She later trained under coach [[Caryl Smith-Gilbert]], who continued to train Trotter after her graduation.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ucfknights.com/sports/w-track/spec-rel/080412aaa.html |title=Coach's Diary |author=Caryl Smith Gilbert |date=July 31, 2012 |access-date=May 2, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140808190048/http://www.ucfknights.com/sports/w-track/spec-rel/080412aaa.html |archive-date=August 8, 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Trotter became the first woman to turn professional as a track-and-field athlete coming out of the University of Tennessee before graduation, turning pro in her junior year.<ref name=State />

==Professional track and field career==
===2003-04===
Trotter competed at the 2003 IAAF World Athletics Championship in France, running in the 400 m, where she qualified for the [[2003 World Championships in Athletics – Women's 400 metres#Semi-Final|semi-finals]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-79037623.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924181959/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-79037623.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 24, 2015 |title=Trotter in action during the 4 x 400m |access-date=May 2, 2014 |publisher=Getty Images |date=August 30, 2003 |author=Andy Lyons}}</ref> That year she also won gold in the 4 × 400 m women's relay, at both the World Championships and the [[Pan-American Games]].<ref name=State /><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-77426939.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924181931/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-77426939.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 24, 2015 |title=Pan American Games Results |access-date=May 5, 2014 |publisher=Associated Press |date=August 10, 2003}}</ref> Trotter qualified for the [[2004 Summer Olympics]] team in the 400 m, and was considered a medal contender going into the games.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-96563075.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924182834/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-96563075.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 24, 2015 |author=Steve Wilstein |access-date=May 2, 2014 |title=U.S. Track Team Still Olympic Powerhouse |date=July 18, 2004 |publisher=Associated Press}}</ref> Trotter placed 5th overall in the [[Athletics at the 2004 Summer Olympics – Women's 400 metres|400 metres]] with a personal best time of 50.00s.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-192986.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924190016/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-192986.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 24, 2015 |access-date=May 2, 2014 |title=Pole Vault Records, Evidently, Are Made to Be Broken |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=August 25, 2004 |author=Amy Shipley}}</ref> She was part of the US team which finished first in the [[4 × 400 meters relay]], which beat the second placed team from Russia by more than one second.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-98481483.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924182912/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-98481483.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 24, 2015 |access-date=May 2, 2014 |title=U.S. Women Easily Win 1,600-Meter Relay |publisher=AP Online |date=August 28, 2004}}</ref> Trotter ran first, with a lead leg time of 49.19 seconds.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-121388744.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924100442/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-121388744.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 24, 2015 |title=TRACK AND FIELD NOTEBOOK; U.S. exchange rate improves in 4 x 400; Men, women both execute for gold |newspaper=The Boston Herald |date=August 29, 2004 |author=Stephen Harris}}</ref>

===2005-11===
In 2005 and 2006, Trotter repeated as gold medalist at the USA Indoor Championships. In 2007, she won an additional 4 × 400 m gold at that year's World Championships.<ref name=State /> In 2007, she finished first in the 400 m at the US Track and Field Championships, with the fastest time in the world that year: 49.64 seconds, and afterwards stated that her victory "was like a dream".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-165527918.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924143546/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-165527918.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 24, 2015 |title=Trotter captures women's 400: Favorite Sanya Richards finished a surprising fourth and failed to make the U.S. team |website=The Philadelphia Inquirer |access-date=May 5, 2014 |author=Joe Juliano}}</ref> According to USA Track and Field, "At the 2008 Olympic Trials, in perhaps the most astounding story of the women's 400, Trotter finished third in 50.88. She was running with a broken bone chip in her left leg, the result of an errant car door closing on her two months ago."<ref name=USATF /> Trotter did compete in the women's 400 meters race at the [[2008 Summer Olympics]], and qualified out of heats for the semi-finals, but failed to qualify for the finals due to the injury. She also withdrew from her spot on the 4 × 400 m relay.<ref name=Rosen />

After the Olympics Trotter had successful reconstructive surgery and was able to return to competition in 2009. In her return races, she used face paint to help motivate her return to form. However the following three years she remained plagued with injuries.<ref name=State /> Still, in 2010 during the [[Reebok Boston Indoor Games]] Trotter tripped near the beginning of the race, but was able to recover her stride and eventually place first in the 400 m event despite the misstep. She stated after the race that nothing like that had ever happened to her, but her first instinct was 'as long as I'm not on the ground, just keep running'.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-218421290.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924152117/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-218421290.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 24, 2015 |access-date=May 2, 2014 |title=Crowd pleaser; Lagat overtakes Rupp, American mark in 5,000 |newspaper=The Boston Herald |date=February 7, 2010 |author=Joe Reardon}}</ref> Trotter is also a multi-time [[IAAF Diamond League]] silver and bronze medalist.<ref>{{cite news |title= DIAMOND LEAGUE Results |publisher= Daily News (South Africa) |date= June 13, 2011 |access-date= May 2, 2014 |url= http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-273301515.html|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150924153358/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-273301515.html|url-status= dead|archive-date= September 24, 2015}}</ref>

===2012 to present===
Leading into the 2012 Olympics, she again recorded the fastest time that year in the 400 m.<ref name=State>{{cite web |url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-297880504.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924153852/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-297880504.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 24, 2015 |access-date=May 2, 2014 |title=More Than a Medal - One Local Woman's Journey to Track Star Fame |date=July 28, 2012 |publisher=State News Service}}</ref> She said of the time that, "My personality, demeanor, confidence and spirit were low. That DeeDee is gone. I overcame my entire career crumbling and made the Olympic Team."<ref name=State /> She qualified at the national championships with a second place showing.<ref name=Rosen>{{cite web |url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/olympics/london/story/2012-07-05/Three-time-Olympian-Trotter-brings-style-to-the-400/56035446/1 |website=USA Today |access-date=May 5, 2014 |title=Three-time Olympian Trotter brings style to the 400 |date=July 5, 2012 |author=Karen Rosen}}</ref> At the [[2012 Olympics]] in London she won the bronze medal in the 400 meters in a time of 49.72, two one hundredths of a second behind the silver medalist.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-33322613.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924192604/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-33322613.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 24, 2015 |access-date=May 2, 2014 |title=Richards-Ross Makes Up for Last Time in the Women's 400 |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=August 6, 2012 |author=Rick Maese}}</ref> She was also the lead runner in the gold medal 4 × 400 m US relay team, providing her team with a 10&nbsp;m lead at the end of her leg. After winning the event, Trotter stated that, "I think the pressure was on to go out and do what we are capable of doing ... I think we finally hit the mark this time. We hit the center of the target. We got it done."<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1A1-9c2d684c782f3bf1e1459cc9f320a938.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924030314/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1A1-9c2d684c782f3bf1e1459cc9f320a938.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 24, 2015 |access-date=May 2, 2014 |title=US women win 4x400 to give Felix 3rd Olympic gold |publisher=Associated Press |date=August 11, 2012 |author=EDDIE PELLS}}</ref> Trotter ran her final lap at the 2016 USA Olympic Trials to gracefully retire from the sport. After a thirteen-year career, Trotter waved farewell to the crowd at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon, after crossing the finish line of the 400 m semifinals and not advancing to the finals.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://archive.knoxnews.com/sports/vols/other/former-ut-track-star-deedee-trotter-reaches-finish-line-on-her-career-3686945c-1b18-243a-e053-010000-385326911.html |access-date=July 2, 2016 |title=Former UT track star DeeDee Trotter reaches finish line on her career |newspaper=Knoxville News Sentinel |date=July 2, 2016 |author=Lindsay Rossmiller}}</ref>

==Other work==
In 2009 Trotter was the winner of the Bodybuilding.com Model Search, transitioning into a part-time career as a fitness model.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/deedee_trotter_interview.htm |title=Deedee Trotter Explains How She Stays On Track |access-date=May 5, 2014 |publisher=Body Building |date=April 29, 2009 |author=David Robson |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140727110744/http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/deedee_trotter_interview.htm |archive-date=July 27, 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref> In 2013 Trotter became a volunteer assistant coach in the sprints for the [[USC Trojans]] track and field team.<ref name=Troj /> That year she also began a fundraising drive called Gifted Soles, which gathers shoes for the homeless population of Orlando. The drive also raised funds for 500 meals for the homeless as well. Donations were made through the Orlando Union Rescue Mission.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.baynews9.com/content/news/baynews9/news/article.html/content/news/articles/cfn/2013/8/22/olympic_gold_medalis.html |access-date=May 5, 2014 |author=Sandra Osborne |date=August 22, 2013 |title=Olympic gold medalist collecting shoes for local homeless |publisher=Bay News 9}}</ref> In 2014, Trotter dissolved her non-profit organization Test Me I'm Clean and launched a new non-profit entitled Running For The People. Running For The People used running as a way to help people in need of encouragement.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/titoshandmadevodka |title=Meet Ordinary Humans Whose Names Shaped Their Destiny |website= The Huffington Post |author=Graham Nelson}}</ref> In 2020, Trotter traveled to Japan as a Sports Envoy for the U.S. State Department's [[SportsUnited|Sports Diplomacy Office]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Coskrey|first=Jason|date=2020-02-19|title=U.S. track great DeeDee Trotter motivates junior high school students|url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2020/02/19/olympics/u-s-track-great-deedee-trotter-motivates-junior-high-school-students/|access-date=2020-10-02|website=The Japan Times|language=en-US}}</ref>

==Anti-doping advocacy==
Trotter is the founder of ''Test Me I'm Clean'', a charity dedicated to combating the abuse of [[steroid]]s and other [[performance-enhancing drugs]]. She also acts as the organization's spokesperson, traveling across the United States giving speeches and presentations to students about the importance of staying clean.<ref name=State /> Those that support the organization can identify themselves with a white and red rubber armband, which Trotter herself wore during her 2012 bronze medal race. Trotter was inspired to found the charity in 2006, after overhearing a conversation on an airplane where the participants were convinced that all elite athletes were on steroids, which she took exception to.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/the-top-athletes-looking-for-an-edge-and-the-scientists-trying-to-stop-them-138647491/?all |magazine=Smithsonian Magazine |access-date=May 5, 2014 |title=The Top Athletes Looking for an Edge and the Scientists Trying to Stop Them |date=July 2012 |author=Christie Aschwanden |author-link=Christie Aschwanden}}</ref> She has said of the program that, "I'm more concerned with the health aspect than anything else ... [Drugs] have been glorified. It's not something that is always emphasized as a danger, so I wanted to make that very clear."<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2013/06/10/time-to-shift-focus-in-fight-against-peds-in-pro-sports/ |newspaper=Orlando Sentinel |date=June 10, 2013 |access-date=May 5, 2014 |title=Time to shift focus in fight against PEDs in pro sports |author=Shannon Owens}}</ref>

Trotter was one of the founding athletes of [[Project Believe]], in which twelve athletes volunteered for frequent random out-of-competition drug testing. As a part of the testing she volunteer to give 31 additional testing samples. She was quoted as saying of the program that, "[T]o prevent myself from going down in the flames ... We have to do something ... Otherwise, it will continue to go down this path, and it won't stop." In 2009, Trotter also became one of the first twelve athletes to join the "Athlete Ambassador" program, which is a U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) initiative. As an ambassador, Trotter travelled to speak with students about the importance of staying clean in sports. She also wrote articles for the USADA website.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-21004219.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924190350/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-21004219.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 24, 2015 |access-date=May 2, 2014 |title=This group won't be dirty dozen |publisher=Colorado Springs The Gazette |date=November 21, 2009 |author=BRIAN GOMEZ}}</ref> After this initial advocacy, Athens 4 × 400 m relay team member [[Crystal Cox]], pleaded guilty to a doping violation in 2010, and was stripped of her gold medal. In 2013 however, the other three members (including Trotter) were allowed to keep their own gold medals and the team remains the gold medal team in the historical Olympics standings.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.insidethegames.biz/sports/summer/athletics/1014467-exclusive-usa-allowed-to-keep-athens-2004-4x400m-relay-gold-medals-despite-drugs-admission |access-date=May 5, 2014 |publisher=Inside the Games |title=Exclusive: USA allowed to keep Athens 2004 4x400m relay gold medals despite drugs admission |date=May 31, 2013 |author=Duncan Mackay}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

==External links==
* {{World Athletics}}
* {{USATF}}
* {{Team USA|new_id=deedee-trotter|old_id=TR/DeeDee-Trotter|archive=20230322091419}} ([https://web.archive.org/web/20080622071654/http://www.usolympicteam.com/26_23427.htm archive June 22, 2008])
* {{Olympics.com profile}}
* {{Olympedia}}
* {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181013104926/http://www.testmeimclean.org/ |title=Test Me I'm Clean official website |date=mdy}}
* {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210123102902/http://www.deedeetrotter.com/ |title=Official website |date=mdy}}

{{Footer Olympic Champions 4x400 m Women}}
{{Footer World Champions 4 x 400 m Women}}
{{Footer World Indoor Champions 4x400m Relay Women}}
{{Footer Pan American Champions 4x400m Women}}
{{Footer US NC 400m Women}}
{{Footer US NC Indoor 400m Women}}
{{Footer USA Track & Field 2004 Summer Olympics}}
{{Footer USA Track & Field 2008 Summer Olympics}}
{{Footer USA Track & Field 2012 Summer Olympics}}
{{Authority control}}

{{Commons category|DeeDee Trotter}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Trotter, DeeDee}}
[[Category:1982 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:American female sprinters]]
[[Category:African-American track and field athletes]]
[[Category:Contestants on American game shows]]
[[Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 2004 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 2008 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 2012 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 2004 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 2012 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Olympic bronze medalists for the United States in track and field]]
[[Category:Olympic gold medalists for the United States in track and field]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Decatur, Georgia]]
[[Category:People from Twentynine Palms, California]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from San Bernardino County, California]]
[[Category:Tennessee Volunteers women's track and field athletes]]
[[Category:Track and field athletes from California]]
[[Category:Track and field athletes from Georgia (U.S. state)]]
[[Category:University of Southern California staff]]
[[Category:World Athletics Championships medalists]]
[[Category:World Athletics Championships winners]]
[[Category:World Athletics Indoor Championships winners]]
[[Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 2003 Pan American Games]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 2003 Pan American Games]]
[[Category:Pan American Games gold medalists for the United States in athletics (track and field)]]
[[Category:Olympic female sprinters]]
[[Category:21st-century African-American sportswomen]]
[[Category:20th-century African-American sportswomen]]
[[Category:20th-century American sportswomen]]
[[Category:NCAA Division I Indoor Track and Field Championships winners]]
[[Category:21st-century American sportswomen]]