In 1990, Burrell Ranked as The World's Top Sprinter

As the World Record holder in the 100-meter dash, Leroy Burrell holds one of the most coveted records in track. But being the fastest man in the world doesn't always translate to being the most successful sprinter on the circuit. Burrell will be 29 at the time of the Atlanta Olympics, a veteran of the sprint wars. Still, he has never won an individual gold medal at a Worlds or Olympics.

Growing up in Lansdowne, Pennsylvania, just 20 miles from Carl Lewis' hometown of Willingboro, New Jersey, Burrell had dashed 10.43 and leaped 24-2.5 as a Pennsylvania prep. His robust build countered any image of disability -- legally blind in one eye (from a childhood accident; he suffers from severe myopia). An abysmal failure at other sports, he was cut from the junior high baseball squad three years in a row, and his football experiences were nearly as poor. In track, he produced. As a senior, he scored 40 points in the Pennsylvania state meet, leading his school to the title (the second-place team scored only 36).

Burrell came to Houston with some tabbing him as "the next Carl Lewis," a title he has come closer to living up to than any of Tom Tellez's other recruits. The potential came out in his first year, with a leap of 26-9. Then came the most serious injury of his career. At the Southwest Conference championships, he landed badly in the long jump pit and tore his anterior cruciate ligament. He endured major reconstructive surgery on his left knee, along with a year of intensive rehabilitation.

Healthy once more, Burrell ended up making it to the 1988 Olympic Trials in both the 100 and long jump; he didn't make the finals in either event. He ascended to the top ranks of the sprinting world in 1989. While Lewis stole headlines with his boycott of the USA Championships in Houston that year, Burrell ran, and won big in 9.94. He ranked 5th in the world in the dash, and the same year did his best long jumping ever. At the NCAA meet in Provo, he flew out to 27-5.5, placing 2nd.

In 1990, Burrell ranked as the world's top sprinter, winning the overall Grand Prix title. He also turned heads when he beat Michael Johnson to win the Southwest Conference 200 title. He blistered the furlong in 19.61, helped by a trailing wind. Under any conditions, no one has ever run faster. He followed up as strongly the next year, again ranking No. 1 despite taking silver to Lewis at the World Championships. Burrell's time at Tokyo, a stunning 9.88, topped the World Record of 9.90 he had set in winning the USA title on Randall's Island. Seemingly in perfect position for the Olympic year, Burrell could not stay on top. At the Trials he ran 10.10, making the team but just missing the win; Dennis Mitchell finished first in 10.09. In the Barcelona final, Burrell was charged (many believe unfairly) with a false start. When the real race got off, he reacted to the gun more slowly than anyone in the field. He ran only 10.10, far behind Linford Christie's golden 9.96.

In 1993, after four straight years under the 10-second barrier, Burrell could only manage 10.02, troubled by hamstring and knee woes. He finished 5th at the USA Championships, failing to get an individual berth to the Worlds. Burrell did make the 4 x 100 relay, however, and for the first time got a chance to run anchor in a major meet. He brought the stick home in 37.48, after a WR-equaling 37.40 in the heats. He would receive his third straight relay gold in a Worlds/Olympics (with his third straight WR meet). Injury troubles returned for Burrell. In 1994, he reclaimed the World Record with a 9.85 second dash in Lausanne on July 6. The euphoria didn't last long as an August foot injury sent him home early. That fall, he married Michelle Finn, a world-ranked sprinter herself with 11.05/22.39 bests.

Last summer, Burrell's troubles continued. An inflamed plantar tendon took him out shortly after he placed 5th at the USA Championships. He ranked only No. 6 in the U.S., clocking a best time of 10.25. "This whole season has been disappointing," he told the Houston Chronicle, "but I'm looking forward to the Olympics."