View source for Johnny Gray

{{short description|American middle-distance runner}}
{{other people}}
{{Infobox sportsperson
| name = Johnny Gray
| image = File:1988 Olympic 800m Final (cropped).jpg
| imagesize =
| caption = Gray finishing 5th in the 800m at the 1988 Olympics
| full_name = John Lee Gray Jr.
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1960|06|19}}
| birth_place = [[Los Angeles]], [[California]], U.S.
| height = 1.91 m
| weight = 75 kg
| sport = [[Track and field#Running|Track]]
| event = [[800 meters]]
| collegeteam = [[Santa Monica College]] <br /> [[Arizona State University]]
| club = 
| turnedpro = 
| retired = 
| coaching = 
| worlds = 
| olympics = 
| highestranking = 
| pb = '''[[600 metres]]''': 1:12.81 '''[[List of world records in athletics#Best performances in non-WA World Record events|WB]]'''<br />'''[[800 metres]]''': 1:42.60<ref name="All-Athletics">{{cite web|url=http://www.all-athletics.com/node/85620|author=All-Athletics|title=Profile of Johnny Gray|access-date=2015-12-07|archive-date=2017-09-13|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170913140144/http://www.all-athletics.com/node/85620|url-status=dead}}</ref><br />'''[[1000 metres]]''': 2:17.27
| medaltemplates =
{{MedalSport | Men's [[Athletics (sport)|athletics]]}}
{{MedalCountry | the {{USA}} }}
{{MedalCompetition|[[Olympic Games]]}}
{{MedalBronze| [[Athletics at the 1992 Summer Olympics|1992 Barcelona]] |[[Athletics at the 1992 Summer Olympics - Men's 800 metres|800 metres]]}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[Pan American Games]]}}
{{MedalGold| [[1987 Pan American Games|1987 Indianapolis]] | [[Athletics at the 1987 Pan American Games|800 metres]]}}
{{MedalGold| [[1999 Pan American Games|1999 Winnipeg]] | [[Athletics at the 1999 Pan American Games|800 metres]]}}
| updated = 
}}

'''John Lee Gray Jr.''' (born June 19, 1960) is a retired American world-class 800 meter runner from the mid-1980s to the late 1990s and the holder of the 600m world best. A four-time Olympian (1984-1996), in 1985 he set the [[United States records in track and field|US record]] of 1:42.60 at a meet in [[Koblenz]].  That time puts Gray as the nineteenth fastest performer of all time.  He came seventh in the [[1984 Summer Olympics]], fifth in [[Athletics at the 1988 Summer Olympics - Men's 800 metres|1988]], and won the bronze medal at the [[1992 Summer Olympics|Barcelona Olympics]] of 1992. In 1993 Gray was one of the favourites to win a gold medal at the [[1993 World Championships in Athletics|World Championships]] in Stuttgart as he had won the A-race at the prestigious meeting in Zurich. However, he failed to qualify for the final in Stuttgart. He also set the world 600 meter record in 1986 at 1:12.81. In 1992 and 1993 Gray came close to breaking the world indoor record over 800 m several times. He held the US indoor record at 1:45.00 ([[Sindelfingen]] 1992) till February 2019.

==Running career==
Gray went to [[Crenshaw High School]], [[Santa Monica College]], [[Arizona State University]] and received his graduate degree from [[California State University, Los Angeles]].<ref>http://team-magic.com/events/kaisercoastal/johnny_deena_bios.pdf{{dead link|date=April 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> He ran his "professional" career for the [[Santa Monica Track Club]], coached by Merle McGee.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Preaching Wisdom off the Blocks |url=https://dailybruin.com/2011/04/14/preaching_wisdom_off_the_blocks/ |access-date=2024-02-26 |website=Daily Bruin}}</ref> When he qualified for the 1996 Olympics by winning the [[1996 United States Olympic Trials (track and field)|1996 Olympic Trials]] on his 36th birthday, he became the oldest male American track athlete to qualify for the Olympics. Other older athletes who qualified were throwers, race walkers, marathoners and pole vaulter [[Jeff Hartwig]]. [[Joetta Clark]] holds the same honor for women.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.trackandfieldnews.com/index.php/archivemenu/26-news/1175-ot-history-young-old |title=Youngest & Oldest U.S. Olympians (at date of Olympic qualification) |website=trackandfieldnews.com |access-date=2015-10-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160119180051/http://www.trackandfieldnews.com/index.php/archivemenu/26-news/1175-ot-history-young-old |archive-date=2016-01-19 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Having led the Olympic 800 m race at the [[1992 Summer Olympics]] with a blazing first lap at better than world record pace, Gray was passed twice during the final lap to claim the bronze medal. A reporter later asked him what he would have done differently if he could run the race a second time, and it is rumored that he responded, "I would have taken it out harder." Runners refer to such an attitude as "taking it to the Gray zone" in his honor. This tactic also resulted in some devastating failures as in the 1987 and 1993 World Championships when he jogged to the finish of quarterfinal races, depleted and defeated.  He walked to the finish of the 1980 [[United States Olympic Trials (track and field)|Olympic Trials]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Hymans |first1=Richard |title=The history of the United States Olympic Trials - Track & Field |url=http://www.legacy.usatf.org/statistics/champions/OlympicTrials/HistoryOfTheOlympicTrials.pdf |publisher=USA Track & Field |date=2008 |access-date=2019-12-21 |archive-date=2016-03-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160327114422/http://www.legacy.usatf.org/statistics/champions/OlympicTrials/HistoryOfTheOlympicTrials.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref>

He was inducted into the United States [[National Track and Field Hall of Fame]] December 2008.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.legacy.usatf.org/HallOfFame/TF/showBio.asp?HOFIDs=233|title=USATF - Hall of Fame|website=www.usatf.org}}</ref> Also member of Santa Monica College Hall of Fame, Millrose Games in NYC Hall of Fame, Mt. SAC Relays Hall of Fame,<ref>{{Cite web|title=News Archives|url=https://www.hw.com/athletics/News-Archives/ctl/ArticleView/mid/4199/articleId/3063|access-date=2021-05-29|website=www.hw.com}}</ref> and obtained the key to the city for Santa Monica, Inglewood, Walnut, Agoura Hills and New York.

===Masters career===
Gray attempted to extend his career into [[masters athletics]].  He had stated he intended to set new world records at all distances from [[200 metres]] to the [[mile run|mile]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://masterstrack.com/2008/11/2837/ |title=800′s Johnny Gray elected to National T&F Hall of Fame |date=2008-11-05 |website=masterstrack.com |access-date=2012-06-17 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101229013202/http://masterstrack.com/2008/11/2837/ |archive-date=2010-12-29 }}</ref> At age 40, he ran the 800 in 1:48.81 at the 2001 [[USA Indoor Track and Field Championships]], which is the [[World Masters Athletics]] record indoors.  The time was superior to the [[masters athletics world records|outdoor world record]], most recently held by [[Jim Sorensen]], until that record was surpassed by [[Anthony Whiteman]], May 20, 2012.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://masterstrack.com/2012/05/22450/ |title=Incredible M40 WR: Tony Whiteman breaks 1:50 barrier in 800 |website=masterstrack.com |access-date=2012-06-17 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120529161329/http://masterstrack.com/2012/05/22450/ |date=2012-05-24 |archive-date=2012-05-29 }}</ref>  Based on [[IAAF]] rule 260.18a, that should have been the world record, but it was never formally recognized.

==Coaching==
After competing in six Olympic Trials (1980-2000) he turned to coaching.  His foremost protege' was SMTC teammate [[Khadevis Robinson]], who Gray coached to 5 [[USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships|National Championships]].  Robinson might best be remembered as the odd man out in the famous "[[Christian Smith (runner)|Oregon sweep]]" at the 2008 Olympic Trials.  That might be the second closest Olympic Trials race, to Gray's own 1984 trials, when Gray finished second, but was given the same ([[American records in track and field|American record]]) time as [[Earl Jones (athlete)|Earl Jones]], and [[James Robinson (distance runner)|James Robinson]] was the odd man out with the same time as 3rd place [[John Marshall (athlete)|John Marshall]].

Gray also coached at [[Harvard-Westlake School]] for six years.  He then worked as an assistant coach at the [[University of California, Los Angeles]] with [[Jeanette Bolden]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=2013-02-08|title=Player Bio: Johnny Gray - UCLA Official Athletic Site|url=http://www.uclabruins.com/sports/w-xc/mtt/gray_johnny00.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130208221012/http://www.uclabruins.com/sports/w-xc/mtt/gray_johnny00.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=2013-02-08|access-date=2021-05-29|website=archive.ph}}</ref>  In 2013, when Boldon moved to head the [[University of Central Florida]] program, Gray followed suit.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ucfknights.com/sports/w-track/spec-rel/071113aac.html|title=Johnny Gray Signs On as UCF Track & Field Assistant Coach - UCF|website=UCF Athletics|access-date=2014-06-02|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140606214108/http://www.ucfknights.com/sports/w-track/spec-rel/071113aac.html|archive-date=2014-06-06|url-status=dead}}</ref> Gray is now coaching top American [[Duane Solomon]].

==Competition record==
{| {{AchievementTable|Event=yes}}
|-
!colspan="6"|Representing the {{USA}}
|-
|1984
|[[Athletics at the 1984 Summer Olympics|Olympic Games]]
|[[Los Angeles, United States]]
|7th
|800 m
|[[Athletics at the 1984 Summer Olympics – Men's 800 metres|1:47.89]]
|-
|1986
|[[Athletics at the 1986 Goodwill Games|Goodwill Games]]
|[[Moscow, Soviet Union]]
|bgcolor=gold|1st
|800 m
|[[Athletics at the 1986 Goodwill Games – Results#800 meters|1:46.52]]
|-
|rowspan=2|1987
|[[Athletics at the 1987 Pan American Games|Pan American Games]]
|[[Indianapolis, United States]]
|bgcolor=gold|1st
|800 m
|[[Athletics at the 1987 Pan American Games – Men's 800 metres|1:46.79]]
|-
|[[1987 World Championships in Athletics|World Championships]]
|[[Rome, Italy]]
|30th (qf)
|800 m
|[[1987 World Championships in Athletics – Men's 800 metres|1:49.50]]
|-
|1988
|[[Athletics at the 1988 Summer Olympics|Olympic Games]]
|[[Seoul, South Korea]]
|5th
|800 m
|[[Athletics at the 1988 Summer Olympics – Men's 800 metres|1:44.80]]
|-
|1990
|[[Athletics at the 1990 Goodwill Games|Goodwill Games]]
|[[Seattle, United States]]
|7th
|800 m
|[[Athletics at the 1990 Goodwill Games – Results#800 meters|1:48.08]]
|-
|1991
|[[1991 World Championships in Athletics|World Championships]]
|[[Tokyo, Japan]]
|6th
|800 m
|[[1991 World Championships in Athletics – Men's 800 metres|1:45.67]]
|-
|1992
|[[Athletics at the 1992 Summer Olympics|Olympic Games]]
|[[Barcelona, Spain]]
|bgcolor=cc9966|3rd
|800 m
|[[Athletics at the 1992 Summer Olympics – Men's 800 metres|1:43.97]]
|-
|1993
|[[1993 World Championships in Athletics|World Championships]]
|[[Stuttgart, Germany]]
|23rd (sf)
|800 m
|[[1993 World Championships in Athletics – Men's 800 metres|1:50.89]]
|-
|1994
|[[Athletics at the 1994 Goodwill Games|Goodwill Games]]
|[[St. Petersburg, Russia]]
|10th
|800 m
|[[Athletics at the 1994 Goodwill Games – Results#800 meters|1:51.21]]
|-
|1996
|[[Athletics at the 1996 Summer Olympics|Olympic Games]]
|[[Atlanta, United States]]
|7th
|800 m
|[[Athletics at the 1996 Summer Olympics – Men's 800 metres|1:44.21]]
|-
|1998
|[[Athletics at the 1998 Goodwill Games|Goodwill Games]]
|[[Uniondale, New York|Uniondale, United States]]
|5th
|800 m
|[[Athletics at the 1998 Goodwill Games – Results#800 meters|1:47.20]]
|-
|1999
|[[Athletics at the 1999 Pan American Games|Pan American Games]]
|[[Winnipeg, Canada]]
|bgcolor=gold|1st
|800 m
|[[Athletics at the 1999 Pan American Games – Men's 800 metres|1:45.38]]
|}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{World Athletics}}
* {{USATF}}
* [http://www.legacy.usatf.org/athletes/bios/TrackAndFieldArchive/2001/Gray_Johnny.asp Johnny Gray] at [[USA Track and Field|legacy.USATF.org]]
* {{Olympics.com profile}}
* {{Olympedia}}

{{Footer Pan American Champions 800m Men}}
{{Footer WBYP 800m Men}}
{{Footer US NC 800m Men}}
{{Footer US NC Indoor 800m Men}}
{{Footer USA Track & Field 1984 Summer Olympics}}
{{Footer USA Track & Field 1988 Summer Olympics}}
{{Footer USA Track & Field 1992 Summer Olympics}}
{{Footer USA Track & Field 1996 Summer Olympics}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Gray, Johnny}}
[[Category:1960 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:American male middle-distance runners]]
[[Category:Arizona State Sun Devils men's track and field athletes]]
[[Category:Olympic bronze medalists for the United States in track and field]]
[[Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 1984 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 1988 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 1992 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 1996 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 1987 Pan American Games]]
[[Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 1999 Pan American Games]]
[[Category:World record holders in masters athletics]]
[[Category:UCLA Bruins track and field coaches]]
[[Category:Track and field athletes from Los Angeles]]
[[Category:Santa Monica College alumni]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 1992 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Pan American Games gold medalists for the United States in athletics (track and field)]]
[[Category:Sports coaches from California]]
[[Category:Sports coaches from Florida]]
[[Category:Goodwill Games medalists in athletics]]
[[Category:Competitors at the 1986 Goodwill Games]]
[[Category:Competitors at the 1990 Goodwill Games]]
[[Category:Competitors at the 1994 Goodwill Games]]
[[Category:Competitors at the 1998 Goodwill Games]]
[[Category:Crenshaw High School alumni]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 1987 Pan American Games]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 1999 Pan American Games]]
[[Category:American masters athletes]]
[[Category:20th-century American sportsmen]]