By Sharon Robb
South Florida Sun-Sentinel
(MCT)
A defining moment for Walter Dix came during a history class at Coral Springs High School.
His teacher played a videotape of Jesse Owens competing in front of Adolf Hitler at the 1936 Berlin Olympics, where Owens won four gold medals. That night, Dix went home and read more about his hero.
You see all the stuff he went through and he was still able to go out there and run. Even though he was in that environment, he had no fear,'' said the Olympics-bound sprinter, who is looking forward to competing on the biggest stage in track and field.
I didn’t know track could affect the whole world like he did. Watching Jesse Owens, that name still lives today. A lot of these guys today, their names don’t live. They come and they go. That’s why I hold him in a very special place.’’
Dix’s high school and college coaches say that Dix mirrors Owens’ strong and subdued style without the chest-thumping or finger-waving all too common among today’s top sprinters.
Jesse Owens never did those type of things,'' Dix said.
I do try to imitate his characteristics. I admire his views and the way he carried himself. I want to be similar to that even though I can never be Jesse Owens.’’
After a race, Dix claps his hands and walks back into his lane waving both hands in the shape of the letter L'' with his fingers. It's his way of saying hello and thanking everyone back home in Fort Lauderdale, his brother Alex said. The 22-year-old Coral Springs and Florida State graduate is the only American male runner with a shot at winning three Olympic medals in track. He will make his international and pro debut for Nike after signing a record-breaking multimillion-dollar contract through December 2012. When called the
new face of track and field,’’ he smiled and said, Don't put that kind of pressure on me just yet.'' Still, Dix is at his best under pressure. After an injury-plagued sophomore season in 2006, he established himself as one of the greatest sprinters in the history of NCAA track in 2007. He not only defended his 200-meter title and clinched back-to-back team titles for FSU, but became the first athlete in 38 years to win three national collegiate titles in the 100 and 200 meters and 4x100 relay. He ran the then-fastest times in the world in the 100 (9.93 seconds) and 200 (19.69, an NCAA record).
I always came into every situation to be the best I can possibly be and the best was winning,’’ Dix said. When I got to college I didn't expect to get second or third. I wanted to win. So I did everything I had to do. That's just the way I think when I run. I think my will to win sets me apart from everyone else.'' Despite missing six weeks of his senior outdoor season with a hamstring injury, the All-American finished his collegiate career with eight NCAA titles and led FSU to a third consecutive title.
They don’t have to name the track after me, but it would be nice to have a statue or something, ‘’ Dix joked. I'd be happy with a starting block.'' More importantly, Dix graduated in May with a degree in social science. He plans to start graduate school in January, even though he said,
I will always live in South Florida.’’
He said his value for education, work ethic and humility were instilled by his parents, lifelong educators.
His father, Washington, is assistant principal at New River Middle School and still coaches youth track. He was a former sprinter at Bethune-Cookman and longtime track coach at South Broward, where he had Walter run stadium steps to strengthen his legs. He would research times of Olympians at various ages, including Carl Lewis and Michael Johnson, to give his son something to shoot for.
My dad definitely kept the checklist, I just did the work,'' said Dix, who ran and lost his first organized race at 7 and cried afterward.
I don’t know why I hated to lose so much, but when I was younger I used to cry a lot when I lost.’’
Dix went on to star at Coral Springs, where he obliterated state records in the 100 and 200 and was considered the best sprinter in the nation. After his senior year, he qualified for the 2004 U.S. Olympic trials, where he finished sixth in the 200.
His mother, Plinnie, is a teacher at Monarch. His older brothers, Alex and William, also ran track. Walter wears five rubber bands on both of his wrists to represent each family member.
This is a mom's dream to watch her son in the Olympics, but my proudest moment was watching him get his degree,'' said his mother.
Everything else is just extra. What makes him so special? Blessings, his faith, his honesty, his structure, his motivation, you name it.’’
FSU track coach Bob Braman remembers the first time he saw Dix run in high school.
You knew he had that something that was going to make him special,'' Braman said.
We all knew how fast he was. He was winning the NCAA in the 100 his freshman year, which was unheard of.
I didn't know how long it would take, but I told people he could be as fast as anybody in the world. They looked at me like I had three heads, but you could see it ... you could just see it. Someone asked him once why he didn't showboat and he said, 'Jesse Owens never did that.' There was a hint right there of a very heady guy.'' Dix has been called
the unknown’’ of the men’s sprint field at the Olympics because he didn’t run any pro races after his amazing but wind-aided 9.80 to place second in the 100 final at the U.S. trials. He came back to edge Shawn Crawford for the 200 title. Having run multiple sub-10 times in the 100, Dix is no one-hit wonder.
I think I will be overlooked at the Olympics because of the times everyone else has run. That's a good thing. I like to sneak up on people.
I really want to be the best ever, I want to be No. 1,’’ Dix said. I want to hold the world record in the 100 and 200 someday. I think I can get a lot quicker.
I still feel like my best race is inside me. I don’t think the world has seen the best of me yet.’’