View source for Dwight Phillips

{{short description|American long jumper}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2020}}
{{Infobox sportsperson
| name             = 
| image            = Dwight Phillips Berlin 2009.JPG
| image_size       = 
| alt              = 
| caption          = 
| headercolor      = 
| native_name      = 
| native_name_lang = 
| birth_name       = 
| fullname         = 
| nickname         = 
| nationality      = American
| ethnicity        = 
| citizenship      = 
| birth_date       = {{Birth date and age|1977|10|01|mf=y}}<ref name="teamusa.org"/>
| birth_place      = [[Decatur, Georgia]]<ref name="teamusa.org"/>
| death_date       = <!-- {{death date and age|death year|death month|death day|birth year|birth month|birth day}} -->
| death_place      = 
| resting_place    = 
| monuments        = 
| residence        = 
| education        = 
| alma_mater       = 
| occupation       = 
| years_active     = 
| employer         = 
| agent            = 
| height           = {{convert|5|ft|11|in|cm|abbr=on}}<ref name="teamusa.org">{{cite web |url=https://www.teamusa.org/usa-track-and-field/athletes/dwight-phillips |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150103093143/http://www.teamusa.org/usa-track-and-field/athletes/Dwight-Phillips |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 3, 2015 |title=Dwight Phillips |website=teamusa.org |publisher=[[United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee|USOC]] |access-date=December 12, 2022}}</ref>
| weight           = {{convert|180|lb|kg|0|abbr=on}}<ref name="teamusa.org"/>
| spouse           = 
| life_partner     = 
| other_interests  = 
| website          = <!-- {{URL|www.example.com}} -->
| country        = {{USA}}
| sport          = [[Track and field]]
| disability       = 
| disability_class = 
| rank             = 
| event            = 
| collegeteam      = 
| universityteam   = 
| league           = 
| league_type      = 
| club             = 
| team             = 
| turnedpro        = 
| partner          = 
| former_partner   = 
| coach            = 
| retired          = 
| coaching         = 
| worlds           = 
| regionals        = 
| nationals        = 
| olympics         = 
| paralympics      = 
| highestranking   = 
| pb               = 
| medaltemplates   = 
{{MedalSport|Men's [[Athletics (sport)|athletics]]}}
{{MedalCountry|the {{USA}}}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[Athletics at the Summer Olympics|Olympic Games]]}}
{{MedalGold|[[2004 Summer Olympics|2004 Athens]]|[[Athletics at the 2004 Summer Olympics – Men's long jump|Long jump]]}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[IAAF World Championships in Athletics|World Championships]]}}
{{MedalGold|[[2003 World Championships in Athletics|2003 Paris]]|[[2003 World Championships in Athletics – Men's long jump|Long jump]]}}
{{MedalGold|[[2005 World Championships in Athletics|2005 Helsinki]]|[[2005 World Championships in Athletics – Men's long jump|Long jump]]}}
{{MedalGold|[[2009 World Championships in Athletics|2009 Berlin]]|[[2009 World Championships in Athletics – Men's long jump|Long jump]]}}
{{MedalGold|[[2011 World Championships in Athletics|2011 Daegu]]|[[2011 World Championships in Athletics – Men's long jump|Long jump]]}}
{{MedalBronze|[[2007 World Championships in Athletics|2007 Osaka]]|[[2007 World Championships in Athletics – Men's long jump|Long jump]]}}
{{MedalCompetition|World Indoor Championships}}
{{MedalGold  |[[2003 IAAF World Indoor Championships|2003 Birmingham]]|[[2003 IAAF World Indoor Championships – Men's long jump|Long jump]]}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[IAAF Continental Cup|Continental Cup]]}}
{{MedalGold|[[2010 IAAF Continental Cup|2010 Split]]|Long jump}}
| show-medals      = 
| updated          = 
}}

'''Dwight Phillips''' (born October 1, 1977) is an American former [[track and field|athlete]] and a four-time [[IAAF World Championships in Athletics|world champion]] in the [[long jump]]. He was the [[2004 Summer Olympics|2004 Olympic champion]] in the event. His personal best of 8.74&nbsp;meters, set in 2009, makes him the joint fifth best jumper of all time.<ref>[http://www.iaaf.org/statistics/toplists/inout=o/age=n/season=0/sex=M/all=y/legal=A/disc=LJ/detail.html Long Jump All Time]. IAAF. Retrieved on June 16, 2012.</ref>

Phillips has also competed in the [[60-meter dash|60]] and [[100-meter dash]]es. His personal record for the 100&nbsp;m is 10.06 seconds and his time of 6.47 seconds over 60&nbsp;m ranks among the top twenty fastest ever.<ref>[http://www.iaaf.org/statistics/toplists/inout=i/age=n/season=0/sex=M/all=y/legal=A/disc=60/detail.html 60 Metres All Time]. IAAF. Retrieved on June 16, 2012.</ref>

He is a now a track and field ambassador at [[SPIRE Institute and Academy]].<ref name="swimswam.com">{{Cite web|date=2020-09-15|title=SPIRE – This is a Place Where Even Olympians Marvel|url=https://swimswam.com/spire-this-is-a-place-where-even-olympians-marvel/|access-date=2020-09-15|website=SwimSwam|language=en-US}}</ref> He will be joining the others such as [[Elizabeth Beisel]] and [[Caeleb Dressel]] representing the school. The goal of the partnership with SPIRE and the ambassadors is to emphasize the development of peak performance in athletics, academics, character and life.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-08-18|title=Swimmers: Achieve Your Peak Potential At SPIRE Institute and Academy|url=https://swimswam.com/swimmers-achieve-your-peak-potential-at-spire-institute-and-academy/|access-date=2020-10-01|website=SwimSwam|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-09-27|title=U.S. Olympic swimmer Ryan Lochte discusses why the Spire Institute & Academy is the perfect place to train athletes for success|url=https://www.swimmersdaily.com/2020/09/27/u-s-olympic-swimmer-ryan-lochte-discusses-why-the-spire-institute-academy-is-the-perfect-place-to-train-athletes-for-success/|access-date=2020-10-01|website=Swimmer's Daily|language=en-US}}</ref>

==Career==
Phillips was a promising [[Sprint (running)|sprinter]] in his early days, but concentrated on the [[triple jump]] while at [[University of Kentucky]], before switching to the long jump after moving to [[Arizona State University]] in 2000. He competed at [[2000 Sydney Olympics]] and finished eighth in the long jump with a jump of 8.06&nbsp;m. He was the best American performer in the event. At his first [[World Championships in Athletics|World Championships]] he again finished eighth, after sustaining a hamstring tear.

He came to prominence in 2003, when he won both the [[International Association of Athletics Federations|IAAF]] indoor and outdoor [[IAAF World Championships in Athletics|World Championships]]. The indoor championship event was a close contest, with Phillips only beating [[Spain]]'s [[Yago Lamela]] by a centimeter. He won the outdoor title with a winning margin of four centimeters over [[James Beckford (athlete)|James Beckford]] of [[Jamaica]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Dwight Phillips takes World Long Jump title back to the States |url=http://www.iaaf.org/history/WIC/season=2003/eventCode=2959/news/kind=100/newsid=20733.html |publisher=[[IAAF]] |date=March 15, 2003 |access-date=June 25, 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Capel, Phillips take gold at World Championships |url=https://www.usatoday.com/sports/olympics/summer/track/2003-08-29-world-track_x.htm |publisher=[[USATODAY]] |author=Lionel Cironneau |date=August 29, 2003 |access-date=June 25, 2009}}</ref>

In the run up to the [[Athletics at the 2004 Summer Olympics|2004 Athens Olympics]], Phillips was ranked number one in the world, and he won the [[gold medal]] by a margin of 12&nbsp;cm over his compatriot [[John Moffitt (athlete)|John Moffitt]]. His winning jump of 8.59&nbsp;meters was the fourth biggest in Olympic history, after [[Bob Beamon]] (1968) and [[Carl Lewis]] (1988, 1992).<ref>[http://www.gbrathletics.com/ic/ogm.htm Olympic Games Medallists – Athletics (Men)] – GBR Athletics</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Phillips, Moffitt leap to gold and silver |url=https://www.usatoday.com/sports/olympics/athens/track/2004-08-26-phillips_x.htm |publisher=[[USATODAY]] |author=Tom Weir |date=August 26, 2004 |access-date=June 25, 2009}}</ref>

His success continued at the next two World Championships, taking the gold medal at the [[2005 World Championships in Athletics|2005 Helsinki]] event, and winning [[Bronze medal|bronze]] in [[2007 World Championships in Athletics|Osaka]] two years later.<ref>{{cite news |title=Fabulous Phillips triumphs again |url=http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/sports/html/20050813T220000-0500_86095_OBS_FABULOUS_PHILLIPS_TRIUMPHS_AGAIN.asp |publisher=JamaicaObserver |date=August 14, 2005 |access-date=June 25, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090829103903/http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/sports/html/20050813T220000-0500_86095_OBS_FABULOUS_PHILLIPS_TRIUMPHS_AGAIN.asp |archive-date=August 29, 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Phillips Claims Bronze in Long Jump at IAAF World Championships |url=http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/c-track/spec-rel/083007aaa.html |date=August 30, 2007 |access-date=June 25, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090829104517/http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/c-track/spec-rel/083007aaa.html |archive-date=August 29, 2009 }}</ref>

Phillips finished fourth in the long jump at the U.S. Olympic Trials, meaning he would not compete at the Beijing Olympics and would not defend his Olympic title.

On June 7, 2009, Phillips won the long jump at the [[Prefontaine Classic]] with a personal-best third jump of 8.74 m, defeating 2008 Olympic gold medalist [[Irving Saladino]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Phillips sails 8.74m in Eugene for best Long Jump in world since 1991 – IAAF World Athletics Tour |url=http://www.iaaf.org/GP09/news/kind=100/newsid=50980.html |publisher=[[IAAF]] |author=Kirby Lee |date=June 8, 2009 |access-date=June 24, 2009}}</ref> A jump that put Phillips in the [[Long jump#Top ten performers|all-time performers top 10]], despite a 1.2 metres/second headwind. He won the US Championships later that month, giving him another chance to reach the podium at the World Championships.<ref>Morse, Parker (June 28, 2009). [http://www.iaaf.org/WCH09/news/kind=100/newsid=51361.html World season leads for Demus and Merritt as team takes shape in Eugene – USA Champs, Day 3]. [[IAAF]]. Retrieved on 2009-06-30.</ref>

At the [[2009 World Athletics Championships]], in [[Berlin]], Phillips won the gold in the long jump with a jump of 8.54 m.<ref>{{cite news |title=Phillips wins men's long jump at worlds |url=https://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5i14JJoywNn0Y9il2YYo9hsdhzvPwD9A83PCO1 |publisher=The Associated Press |author=RAF CASERT |date=August 22, 2009 |access-date=August 23, 2009}}{{dead link|date=June 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> He repeated the feat in [[2011 World Championships in Athletics|Daegu in 2011]] with a leap of 8.45 m. During the championships in Daegu, Phillips was assigned the bib number 1111. After winning, Phillips proudly pointed to the number appropriate for finishing first in four championships.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://daegu2011.iaaf.org/documents/pdf/4147/AT-LJ-M-f--A--.RS1.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=March 2, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111202215321/http://daegu2011.iaaf.org/documents/pdf/4147/AT-LJ-M-f--A--.RS1.pdf |archive-date=December 2, 2011 }}</ref>

A car accident just before the start of the 2012 outdoor season left him with back and neck injuries.<ref>[http://www.iaaf.org/Mini/OLY12/News/NewsDetail.aspx?id=64758 Car accident setback isn't dampening Phillips’ enthusiasm for upcoming US Olympic trials - IAAF Online Diaries]. IAAF (May 2, 2012). Retrieved on 2012-06-16.</ref> Further to this, an Achilles tendon injury recurred and instead of preparing for the [[2012 London Olympics]], Phillips opted to undergo surgery to prolong his career.<ref>[http://www.iaaf.org/Mini/OLY12/News/NewsDetail.aspx?id=65350 2004 Olympic Long Jump champion Phillips to miss London Games]. IAAF. Retrieved on June 16, 2012.</ref>

At the 2013 World Athletics [[Championship]]s, in [[Moscow]], Phillips placed 11th in the long jump with a jump of 7.88 m and announced this was his last competition and retirement.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.iaaf.org/competitions/iaaf-world-championships/14th-iaaf-world-championships-4873/results/men/long-jump/final/series| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130923034620/http://www.iaaf.org/competitions/iaaf-world-championships/14th-iaaf-world-championships-4873/results/men/long-jump/final/series| archive-date = 2013-09-23| title = Long Jump Series Result - 14th IAAF World Championships {{!}} iaag.org}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Moscow 2013 - Dwight PHILLIPS USA - Long Jump - Final - 11th |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qJmcJExpYsw |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211222/qJmcJExpYsw |archive-date=2021-12-22 |url-status=live|website=www.youtube.com | date=August 16, 2013 |language=en}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

In 2018, Phillips was inducted into the [[National Track and Field Hall of Fame]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.legacy.usatf.org/News/Olympic-medalists-Dwight-Phillips,-Kathy-Hammond-a.aspx |title=USA Track & Field - Olympic medalists Dwight Phillips, Kathy Hammond and longtime contributor Bob Hersh named to National Track & Field Hall of Fame|access-date=December 4, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181006000238/http://www.usatf.org/News/Olympic-medalists-Dwight-Phillips,-Kathy-Hammond-a.aspx |archive-date=October 6, 2018 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

In September 2020, [[SPIRE Institute and Academy]] signed Phillips to become an international track and field ambassador.<ref name="swimswam.com"/>

==Personal life==
Phillips is currently CEO and partner at [http://epiq.tv Epiq.tv]. Phillips is also the founder of The winners circles.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.thewinnerscircle.us/ |title=The Winners Circle}}</ref>

Phillips son, [[Dwight Phillips Jr.|Dwight]], is a [[running back]] for the [[Georgia Bulldogs football|Georgia Bulldogs]].

==Personal bests==

{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Event
!Best
!Venue
!Date
|-
|[[Long jump]]
|8.74&nbsp;m
|[[Eugene, Oregon]], United States
|June 7, 2009
|-
|[[Long jump]] (indoor)
|8.29&nbsp;m
|[[Birmingham]], United Kingdom
|March 15, 2003
|-
|[[Triple jump]]
|16.41&nbsp;m
|[[Boise, Idaho]], United States
|June 5, 1999
|-
|[[50 metres|50&nbsp;meters]]
|5.70&nbsp;s
|[[Liévin]], France
|February 26, 2005
|-
|[[60 metres|60&nbsp;meters]]
|6.47&nbsp;s
|[[Madrid]], Spain
|February 24, 2005
|-
|[[100 metres|100&nbsp;meters]]
|10.06&nbsp;s
|[[Athens, Georgia]], United States
|May 9, 2009
|-
|[[200 metres|200&nbsp;meters]]
|20.68&nbsp;s
|[[Tempe, Arizona]], United States
|March 30, 2002
|}
*<small>All information from IAAF Profile</small>

==Achievements==
{| {{AchievementTable}}
|-
!colspan="5"|Representing the {{Flagu|United States}}
|-
|2000
|[[Athletics at the 2000 Summer Olympics|Olympic Games]]
|Sydney
|8th
| [[Athletics at the 2000 Summer Olympics – Men's long jump|8.06 m]]
|-
|2001
|[[2001 World Championships in Athletics|World Championships]]
|[[Edmonton, Canada]]
|8th
|[[2001 World Championships in Athletics – Men's long jump|7.92 m]]
|-
|rowspan=3|2003
|[[2003 IAAF World Indoor Championships|World Indoor Championships]]
|[[Birmingham]], England
|bgcolor="gold" | 1st
| [[2003 IAAF World Indoor Championships – Men's long jump|8.29 m]]
|-
|[[2003 World Championships in Athletics|World Championships]]
|Paris, France
|bgcolor="gold" | 1st
| [[2003 World Championships in Athletics – Men's long jump|8.32 m]]
|-
|[[2003 IAAF World Athletics Final|World Athletics Final]]
|[[Monte Carlo]], Monaco
|bgcolor="gold" | 1st
|
|-
|rowspan=2|2004
|[[Athletics at the 2004 Summer Olympics – Men's long jump|Olympic Games]]
|[[Athens]], Greece
|bgcolor="gold" | 1st
|8.59 m
|-
|[[2004 IAAF World Athletics Final|World Athletics Final]]
|[[Monte Carlo]], Monaco
|bgcolor="silver" | 2nd
|8.26 m
|-
|rowspan=2|2005
|[[2005 World Championships in Athletics|World Championships]]
|[[Helsinki]], Finland
|bgcolor="gold"| 1st
|[[2005 World Championships in Athletics – Men's long jump|8.60 m]]
|-
|[[2005 IAAF World Athletics Final|World Athletics Final]]
|[[Monte Carlo]], Monaco
|bgcolor="gold"| 1st
|
|-
|2006
|[[2006 IAAF World Athletics Final|World Athletics Final]]
|[[Stuttgart]], Germany
| 6th
|
|-
|2007
|[[2007 World Championships in Athletics – Men's long jump|World Championships]]
|[[Osaka]], Japan
|bgcolor="cc9966"| 3rd
|8.30 m
|-
|2009
|[[2009 World Championships in Athletics|World Championships]]
|Berlin, Germany
|bgcolor="gold"| 1st
|[[2009 World Championships in Athletics – Men's long jump|8.54 m]]
|-
|2011
|[[2011 World Championships in Athletics|World Championships]]
|[[Daegu]], South Korea
|bgcolor="gold"| 1st
|[[2011 World Championships in Athletics – Men's long jump|8.45 m]]
|-
|2013
|[[2013 World Championships in Athletics|World Championships]]
|Moscow, Russia
|bgcolor= | 11th
|[[2013 World Championships in Athletics – Men's long jump|7.88 m]]
|-
|}

==Awards==
* [[Night of Legends Award]] 2024: USATF Legacy Award<ref>{{Cite web |title=USA Track & Field {{!}} USATF Announces seven 2024 end of year award winners to be honored at USATF Night of Legends |url=https://www.usatf.org/news/2024/usatf-announces-seven-2024-end-of-year-award-winne |access-date=2024-11-16 |website=usatf.org}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}

==External links==
* {{World Athletics}}
* {{USATF|Dwight-Phillips}}
* {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070815204832/http://www.dwightphillips.net/ |date=August 15, 2007 |title=Official website}}
* {{webarchive |url=https://archive.today/20040821043637/http://www.usolympicteam.com/26_1326.htm  |title=Dwight Phillips at the United States Olympic Team |date=mdy}}
* {{Olympedia}}
* {{Olympics.com profile|dwight-phillips}}

{{s-start}}
{{s-sports}}
{{succession box|before={{flagicon|ESP}} [[Yago Lamela]]|title=[[Long jump#Men.27s Seasons Best .28Outdoor.29|Men's long jump best year performance]]|years=2004–2005|after={{flagicon|PAN}} [[Irving Saladino]]}}
{{succession box|before={{flagicon|PAN}} [[Irving Saladino]]|title=Men's long jump best year performance|years=2009|after= Incumbent}}
{{s-end}}
{{Footer Olympic Champions Long Jump Men}}
{{Footer World Champions Long Jump Men}}
{{Footer World Indoor Champions Long Jump Men}}
{{Footer IAAF World Cup Champions Long Jump Men}}
{{USA Indoor Track and Field Championships winners in men's long jump}}
{{Footer US NC long jump Men}}
{{Footer IAAF Diamond League Long Jump Champions Men}}
{{Footer USA Track & Field 2000 Summer Olympics}}
{{Footer USA Track & Field 2004 Summer Olympics}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Phillips, Dwight}}
[[Category:1977 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:American men long jumpers]]
[[Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 1999 Pan American Games]]
[[Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 2000 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 2004 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Olympic gold medalists for the United States in track and field]]
[[Category:African-American track and field athletes]]
[[Category:Arizona State Sun Devils men's track and field athletes]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Decatur, Georgia]]
[[Category:Track and field athletes from Georgia (U.S. state)]]
[[Category:World Athletics Championships medalists]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 2004 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Diamond League winners]]
[[Category:USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships winners]]
[[Category:World Athletics Indoor Championships winners]]
[[Category:IAAF Continental Cup winners]]
[[Category:World Athletics Championships winners]]
[[Category:Pan American Games track and field athletes for the United States]]
[[Category:21st-century African-American sportsmen]]
[[Category:20th-century African-American sportsmen]]
[[Category:21st-century American sportsmen]]
[[Category:20th-century American sportsmen]]