View source for Melaine Walker

{{short description|Jamaican hurdler}}
{{Use Jamaican English|date=March 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2015}}
{{Infobox sportsperson
| honorific-suffix = [[Order of Distinction|OD]]
| image = Melaine Walker Berlin 2009 cropped.jpg
| image_size = 200px
| caption = Walker at the [[2009 World Championships in Athletics|2009 World Championships]]
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1983|3|1}}
| birth_place = 
| height = 1.63 m
| weight = 53 kg
| country = {{JAM}}
| sport = Athletics
| event = [[400 metres hurdles|400 m Hurdles]]
| medaltemplates =
{{MedalCompetition|[[Olympic Games]]}}
{{MedalGold | [[2008 Summer Olympics|2008 Beijing]]|[[Athletics at the 2008 Summer Olympics – Women's 400 metres hurdles|400 m hurdles]]}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[World Championships in Athletics|World Championships]]}}
{{MedalGold | [[2009 World Championships in Athletics|2009 Berlin]]|[[2009 World Championships in Athletics – Women's 400 metres hurdles|400 m hurdles]]}}
{{MedalSilver| [[2011 World Championships in Athletics|2011 Daegu]]|[[2011 World Championships in Athletics – Women's 400 metres hurdles|400 m hurdles]]}}
{{MedalCompetition | [[IAAF World Junior Championships in Athletics|World Junior Championships]] }}
{{MedalSilver | [[2000 World Junior Championships in Athletics|2000 Santiago]] | 4 × 400 m relay}}
{{MedalSilver | [[2002 World Junior Championships in Athletics|2002 Kingston]] | 400 m hurdles}}
{{MedalBronze | [[1998 World Junior Championships in Athletics|1998 Annecy]] | 4 × 400 m relay}}
{{MedalBronze | [[2000 World Junior Championships in Athletics|2000 Santiago]] | 400 m hurdles}}
{{MedalCompetition | [[IAAF World Youth Championships in Athletics|World Youth Championships]] }}
{{MedalSilver | [[1999 World Youth Championships in Athletics|1999 Bydgoszcz]] | 200 m}}
{{MedalCompetition | [[Central American and Caribbean Games]] }}
{{MedalSilver | [[2006 Central American and Caribbean Games|2006 Cartagena]] | 4 × 400 m relay}}
{{MedalBronze | [[2006 Central American and Caribbean Games|2006 Cartagena]] | 400 m hurdles}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[Central American and Caribbean Junior Championships in Athletics|CAC Junior Championships]] (U20)}}
{{MedalGold |[[2000 Central American and Caribbean Junior Championships in Athletics|2000 San Juan]] | 400 m hurdles}}
{{MedalGold |[[2000 Central American and Caribbean Junior Championships in Athletics|2000 San Juan]] | 4 × 400 m relay}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[Central American and Caribbean Junior Championships in Athletics|CAC Junior Championships]] (U17)}}
{{MedalGold |[[1998 Central American and Caribbean Junior Championships in Athletics|1998 George Town]] | 200 m}}
{{MedalGold |[[1998 Central American and Caribbean Junior Championships in Athletics|1998 George Town]] | 4 × 100 m relay}}
{{MedalGold |[[1998 Central American and Caribbean Junior Championships in Athletics|1998 George Town]] | 4 × 400 m relay}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[CARIFTA Games]] <br> Junior (U20)}}
{{MedalGold |[[2001 CARIFTA Games|2001 Bridgetown]] | 400 m hurdles}}
{{MedalGold |[[2001 CARIFTA Games|2001 Bridgetown]] | 4 × 100 m relay}}
{{MedalGold |[[2002 CARIFTA Games|2002 Nassau]] | 400 m hurdles}}
{{MedalSilver |[[2001 CARIFTA Games|2001 Bridgetown]] | 100 m hurdles}}
{{MedalBronze |[[2002 CARIFTA Games|2002 Nassau]] | 200 m}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[CARIFTA Games]] <br> Youth (U17)}}
{{MedalGold |[[1998 CARIFTA Games|1998 Port of Spain]] | 200 m}}
{{MedalGold |[[1999 CARIFTA Games|1999 Fort-de-France]] | 200 m}}
{{MedalGold |[[1999 CARIFTA Games|1999 Fort-de-France]] | 100 m hurdles}}
{{MedalSilver |[[1998 CARIFTA Games|1998 Port of Spain]] | 100 m}}
{{MedalBronze |[[1998 CARIFTA Games|1998 Port of Spain]] | 100 m hurdles}}
}}

'''Melaine Walker''' (born 1 March 1983) is a [[Jamaica]]n [[400 metres hurdles|400 metres hurdler]]. She was born in [[Kingston, Jamaica|Kingston]]. Walker is the former [[Olympic Games|Olympic]] 400 m hurdles champion.<ref name=Melaine>Lewis, Richard (2009-08-20) "[http://berlin.iaaf.org/news/kind=114/newsid=53721.html For Walker, World record assault next item on the agenda?] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090821165259/http://berlin.iaaf.org/news/kind%3D114/newsid%3D53721.html |date=21 August 2009 }}". ''[[IAAF]]''. Retrieved 2009-08-21.</ref> She held the Olympic record of 52.64, set at the [[Athletics at the 2008 Summer Olympics|2008 Beijing Olympics]], and her time of 52.42 seconds at the [[2009 World Championships in Athletics|2009 World Championships]] in [[Berlin]] was the second fastest time in history at the time.<ref name="Melaine"/>

==Biography==
Walker is a past student of the [[St. Jago High School]]. Competing for the [[Texas Longhorns women's track and field]] team, Walker won the [[2005 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships]] in the [[4 × 400 meter relay at the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships|4 × 400 m relay]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Melaine Walker (2013) - Hall of Honor |url=https://texassports.com/honors/hall-of-honor/melaine-walker/80 |access-date=2024-05-17 |website=University of Texas Athletics |language=en}}</ref>

She won Gold at the [[Athletics at the 2008 Summer Olympics|2008 Beijing Olympics]] in a new Olympic record time of 52.64 seconds. Walker won the Jamaica national championships in 54.70&nbsp;seconds, narrowly beating newcomer [[Kaliese Spencer]] and qualifying for her first [[World Championships in Athletics]].<ref>Foster, Anthony (2009-06-28). [http://www.iaaf.org/WCH09/news/kind=100/newsid=51359.html Bolt 9.86 and Fraser 10.88; Walker and Phillips excel over hurdles – JAM Champs , Day 2] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090629125401/http://www.iaaf.org/WCH09/news/kind%3D100/newsid%3D51359.html |date=29 June 2009 }}. [[IAAF]]. Retrieved on 2009-06-28.</ref>

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 Athletics|2009 World Championships]] in Berlin.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/athletics/8213194.stm|title=Walker storms to 400m hurdle gold |date=2009-08-20|work=BBC Sport|access-date=2009-08-20}}</ref> She leapt on the back of the mascot [[Berlino|Berlino the Bear]] to do a victory lap but Berlino crashed into a cart of hurdles and dropped her.<ref>Emily Benammar, [https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/athletics/6065699/World-Athletics-Berlino-the-Bear-drops-Olympic-champion-Melanie-Walker.html "World Athletics: Berlino the Bear drops Olympic champion Melanie Walker"], ''[[The Daily Telegraph]]'', 21 Aug 2009</ref>

==Achievements==
{| {{AchievementTable|Event=yes|class=wikitable style="text-align:center; font-size: 90%;}}
|-
!colspan="6"|Representing {{JAM}}
|-
|rowspan=2|1998
|rowspan=2|[[1998 World Junior Championships in Athletics|World Junior Championships]]
|rowspan=2|[[Annecy]], France
|align="center" | 5th
|200 m
|[[1998 World Junior Championships in Athletics – Women's 200 metres|23.72]] <small>(wind: -1.1&nbsp;m/s)</small>
|-
|bgcolor="cc9966" align="center" | 3rd
|4 × 100 m relay
|[[1998 World Junior Championships in Athletics – Women's 4 × 100 metres relay|44.61]]
|-
|rowspan=2|1999
|rowspan=2|[[1999 World Youth Championships in Athletics|World Youth Championships]]
|rowspan=2|[[Bydgoszcz]], Poland
|bgcolor="silver" align="center" | 2nd
|200 m
|23.72 <small>(wind: -0.1&nbsp;m/s)</small>
|-
|align="center" | 6th
|100 m hurdles (76.2&nbsp;cm)
|13.80 <small>(wind: -0.4&nbsp;m/s)</small>
|-
|rowspan=2|2000
|rowspan=2|[[2000 World Junior Championships in Athletics|World Junior Championships]]
|rowspan=2|[[Santiago de Chile|Santiago]], [[Chile]]
|bgcolor="CC9966" align="center" | 3rd
|400 m hurdles
|[[2000 World Junior Championships in Athletics – Women's 400 metres hurdles|56.96]]
|-
|bgcolor="silver" align="center" | 2nd
|4 × 400 m relay
|[[2000 World Junior Championships in Athletics – Women's 4 × 400 metres relay|3:33.99]]
|-
|rowspan=2|2002
|rowspan=2|[[2002 World Junior Championships in Athletics|World Junior Championships]]
|rowspan=2|[[Kingston, Jamaica|Kingston]], [[Jamaica]]
|5th
|100 m hurdles
|[[2002 World Junior Championships in Athletics – Women's 100 metres hurdles|13.66]] '''w''' <small>(wind: +3.4&nbsp;m/s)</small>
|-
|bgcolor=silver|2nd
|400 m hurdles
|[[2002 World Junior Championships in Athletics – Women's 400 metres hurdles|56.03]]
|-
|2004
|[[2004 NACAC Under-23 Championships in Athletics|NACAC U-23 Championships]]
|[[Sherbrooke]], [[Canada]]
|5th
|100 m hurdles
|[[2004 NACAC Under-23 Championships in Athletics – Results#100 meters hurdles|13.86]] <small>(wind: +0.0&nbsp;m/s)</small>
|-
|rowspan=2|2006
|rowspan=2|[[Athletics at the 2006 Central American and Caribbean Games|Central American and Caribbean Games]]
|rowspan=2|[[Cartagena de Indias|Cartagena]], [[Colombia]]
|bgcolor="CC9966" align="center" | 3rd
|400 m hurdles
|[[Athletics at the 2006 Central American and Caribbean Games – Women's 400 metres hurdles|55.97]]
|-
|bgcolor="silver" align="center" | 2nd
|4 × 400 m relay
||[[Athletics at the 2006 Central American and Caribbean Games – Women's 4 × 400 metres relay|3:32.86]]
|-
|2007
|[[2007 IAAF World Athletics Final|World Athletics Final]]
|[[Stuttgart]], Germany
|bgcolor="CC9966" align="center" | 3rd
|400 m hurdles
|54.31
|-
|rowspan=2|2008
|[[2008 Olympics|Olympic Games]]
|Beijing, China
|bgcolor="gold" align="center" |1st
|400 m hurdles
|[[Athletics at the 2008 Summer Olympics – Women's 400 metres hurdles|52.64]]
|-
|[[2008 IAAF World Athletics Final|World Athletics Final]]
|Stuttgart, Germany
|bgcolor="gold" align="center" | 1st
|400 m hurdles
|54.06
|-
|rowspan=2|2009
|[[2009 World Championships in Athletics|World Championships]]
|Berlin, Germany
|bgcolor="gold" align="center" | 1st
|400 m hurdles
|[[2009 World Championships in Athletics – Women's 400 metres hurdles|52.42]]
|-
|[[2009 IAAF World Athletics Final|IAAF World Athletics Final]]
|Thessaloniki, Greece
|bgcolor="gold" align="center" | 1st
|400 m hurdles
|53.36
|}

===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)

==References==
<references />

==External links==
* {{World Athletics}}
* {{Olympics.com profile|melaine-walker}}
* {{SR/Olympics profile|wa/melaine-walker-1}}

{{Jamaican Sportswoman of the Year}}
{{Footer Olympic Champions 400 m hurdles Women}}
{{Footer World Champions 400 m hurdles Women}}
{{Footer IAAF World Youth Champions 4 x 100 Metres Relay Women}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Walker, Melaine}}
[[Category:1983 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Athletes from Kingston, Jamaica]]
[[Category:Jamaican female hurdlers]]
[[Category:Jamaican female sprinters]]
[[Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 2006 Commonwealth Games]]
[[Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 2008 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 2012 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Olympic athletes for Jamaica]]
[[Category:Olympic gold medalists for Jamaica]]
[[Category:World Athletics Championships medalists]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 2008 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Olympic gold medalists in athletics (track and field)]]
[[Category:Central American and Caribbean Games silver medalists for Jamaica]]
[[Category:Central American and Caribbean Games bronze medalists for Jamaica]]
[[Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 2006 Central American and Caribbean Games]]
[[Category:World Athletics Championships winners]]
[[Category:IAAF World Athletics Final winners]]
[[Category:Central American and Caribbean Games medalists in athletics]]
[[Category:Commonwealth Games athletes for Jamaica]]
[[Category:Jamaican Athletics Championships winners]]
[[Category:NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships winners]]
[[Category:Texas Longhorns women's track and field athletes]]