Bryshon Nellum

Personal information
Full name	Bryshon Lorenzo Nellum
Nationality	American
Born	(1989-05-01) May 1, 1989 (age 34)
Height	6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
Weight	175 lb (79 kg)
Sport
Sport	Running
Event(s)	200 meters, 400 meters
College team	USC Trojans
Achievements and titles
Personal best(s)	200 m: 20.43 (Sacramento 2007) 400 m: 44.73 (Eugene 2013)
Medal record Men's athletics Representing the  United States Olympic Games 2012 London 4×400 m relay World Championships 2015 Beijing 4×400 m relay World Junior Championships 2006 Beijing 4×400 m relay Pan American Junior Championships 2007 São Paulo 400 m 2007 São Paulo 4×400 m relay World Youth Championships 2005 Marrakesh Medley relay 2005 Marrakesh 400 m

Bryshon Lorenzo Nellum (born May 1, 1989) is an American sprinter. He graduated from University of Southern California in 2012 with a degree in Public Administration and Social Service Professions and is currently^[when?] a graduate student.

Career

A native of Los Angeles, California, Nellum attended Long Beach Polytechnic High School, where he also competed in American football as a wide receiver, and was teammates with Terrence Austin, Jurrell Casey, Vaughn Telemaque, and Donovan Warren. He was ranked the No. 70 wide receiver prospect in his class by Rivals.com.^[1]

While still in high school, Nellum was named Gatorade Track & Field Athlete of the Year in 2007. In his sophomore year, Nellum finished second to David Gettis in the 400 meters at the 2005 CIF California State Meet. As a junior, he doubled as state champion in the 200 and 400 meters. At the 2007 CIF State Meet, Nellum repeated as 200 and 400 meters champion.^[2] In a memorable 200 metres dash, Nellum (state meet record 20.43) ran head-to-head with 100 meters champion Jahvid Best (20.65), narrowly beating him down the stretch.^[3] Nellum's and Best's time ranked No. 1 and No. 2 among high school sprinters in 2007, and earned Nellum a consecutive All-USA selection by USA Today.^[4] Nellum's time broke a twenty-year-old state record established by Quincy Watts in 1987.^[5]

Nellum had to redshirt the 2009 season at USC, after being shot in the leg by two gang members.^[6] Nellum was told by doctors that he would probably never again reach world-class speeds as a runner.^[7]

On June 24, 2012, in Eugene, Oregon, Bryshon Nellum ran a personal record 44.80—his first sub-45-second time—in the 400 meters at the U.S. Olympic track trials, placing third in the competition and earning a spot on the 2012 Olympic team. At the 2012 Olympics Nellum reached the semi-finals of the individual 400 meters and won a silver medal as part of the 4×400 meters relay team.^[8] He carried the US flag at the closing ceremony after being chosen by the US athletes.^[8]