Career
Charles Austin has achieved a level of success of which most people can only dream. An Olympic gold medalist, Austin is the American and Olympic high jump record holder, two-time World Champion, and a nine-time national track and field high jump champion. Raised in Van Vleck, Texas, Austin was the youngest of 10 children. He was a senior in high school without any way to pay for college, when some friends convinced him to try high jumping for the track team. He cleared six feet on his first try to make the team and finished the year with a personal best of 6' 11".
Austin's success landed him an athletic scholarship at Southwest Texas University (now Texas State University). After a difficult first few years, he climbed the ranks in the NCAA, shattering school records and his senior year, won the NCAA Outdoor Championship in 1990 and was the number one college high jumper in the country.
In 1991, Austin graduated with a degree in business administration. Within the year he was the American Record Holder (2.40m - 7'10 1/2") and gold medalist at the 1991 World Championship and was a contender to win in the Olympics. However, when he arrived at the 1992 Olympic trials there was speculation on whether or not he should compete, due to a knee injury. He pushed forward, making it on to the U.S. team, but his confidence was shaken and a poor performance cost him a medal. He finished in eighth place.
The trouble continued, forcing Austin to have major surgery and threatening to end his career. He was left to watch from home as his fellow athletes competed in the 1993 World Championship. But while his knee healed, Austin's passion continued to grow. In 1994, he began his journey back to the top of the world high jump ranks. Within a few years, he had regained his strength and was once again performing at a high level.
When he returned to the Olympics in 1996, he did so with a new determination and mental focus. His gold winning jump of 7' 10" was a new Olympic record and still stands today.
3-Time Olympian (1992, 1996, 2000) 1998 World Cup Champion 1997 Indoor World Championship High Jump Gold Medalist 1996 Olympic High Jump Gold Medalist 1991 Outdoor World Championship High Jump Gold Medalist 1990 NCAA Outdoor High Jump Champion 6-Time U. S. Outdoor Track & Field High Jump Champion (Consecutive) 3-Time U. S. Indoor Track & Field High Jump Champion Current American High Jump Record Holder 7' 10 1/2" (Set in 1991) Current Olympic High Jump Record Holder 7' 10" (Set in 1996) Jumped 22 inches over head (4th highest all-time) Competitions Over 2.30m (7' 6 1/2") - 61
- 1st Place (41), Second Place (13), Third Place (4), Fourth Place (1), Fifth Place (2)
2001 Outdoor World Track & Field Championship Team Captain 2001 Indoor World Track & Field Championship Team Captain 2000 Olympic Track & Field Men's Team Captain 1999 Outdoor World Track & Field Championship Team Captain 1999 Indoor World Track & Field Championship Team Captain 1998 World Cup Team Captain 1997 Outdoor World Track & Field Championship Team Captain 1997 Indoor World Track & Field Championship Flag Barrier Selected by the United States Olympic Committee to present President Clinton with the Presidential Olympic plaque at the White House (1996)
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