Vernon Norwood
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.jpg) Norwood in 2023 | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Full name | Vernon Larnard Norwood |
| Born | April 10, 1992 New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S. |
| Height | 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) |
| Weight | 73 kg (161 lb) |
| Sport | |
| Country |  United States |
| Sport | Track and field |
Event | 400 metres |
| College team | LSU Tigers track and field |
| Club | New Balance |
| Turned pro | 2015 |
| Achievements and titles | |
| Personal best(s) | 400 meters: 44.10[1] 200 meters: 20.30[1] 4 × 400 meters: 2:54.43[1] Mixed 4 × 400 meters: 3:07.41 WR [1] 300 meters: 32.70[1] |
Medal record | |
| Updated on August 28, 2025 | |
Vernon Larnard Norwood (born April 10, 1992) is an American track and field athlete who specializes in the 400 meters.[2] He has four Olympic medals in relay events. Norwood holds the world record in the mixed 4 × 400 meters relay with teammates Shamier Little, Bryce Deadmon, and Kaylyn Brown. With six medals, he is one of the most successful athletes at the World Athletics Championships.
College
Raised in New Orleans, Louisiana, he is the son of Curtis Norwood and Charliette Ray.[3] Norwood started running track in his junior year at Morgan City High School.[4]
For South Plains College, Norwood was a multiple time NJCAA national champion.[5]
For the LSU Tigers, he was a four time NCAA national champion.[6][7]
Professional
In 2015, Norwood finished 3rd at the US Outdoor Championships, to secure a spot in the United States team at the World Championships in the 400 meters. He made it to the semi-final and did not advance to the final in the 400 m, and won a gold medal as part of the 4 × 400 m relay squad.[8]
During the 2016 indoor season, Norwood made his second USA team by winning the 400m at the US Indoor Championships.[2] At the World Indoor Championships, he was disqualified for stepping on the inside of his lane during the first round of the 400 meters, and won gold in the 4 × 400 m relay.[9]
Norwood won a silver medal as part of the 4 × 400 relay team at the 2018 World Indoor Championships.[10]
In 2019, Norwood finished 4th at the US Outdoor Championships in a new personal best of 44.40. He competed at the 2019 World Championships, where he went out in the semi-finals of the 400 metres and won gold in the 4 × 400 m relay.[11][2]
In 2021, Norwood ran a new 200 m personal best of 20.30s in Baton Rouge.[2] He finished 5th at the US Olympic trials and qualified for the 4x400 relay teams at the Tokyo Olympics.[12] Norwood won a bronze medal as part of the Mixed 4 × 400 m relay team and a gold medal as part of the Men's 4 × 400 m relay team.[13][14]
Norwood finished 4th in the 400 m at the 2022 US Outdoor Championships in a new personal best of 44.35s.[15] He competed at the 2022 World Championships Where he won bronze as part of the Mixed 4 × 400 m relay team and gold as part of the Men's 4 × 400 relay team.[16][17]
In 2023, Norwood finished 2nd at the US Outdoor Championships, qualifying for the 2023 World Athletics Championships, where he finished 4th in the 400 m, having run a new personal best of 44.26s in the semi-final,[2] he won a gold medal as part of the Men's 4 × 400 m relay team.[18]
At the 2024 US Olympic Trials, Norwood finished 4th in the 400 m with a time of 44.47s.[19] He ran a personal best of 44.10s over 400m at the London Athletics Meet.[2] Norwood competed at the 2024 Paris Olympics, he won a silver medal as part of the Mixed 4 × 400 m relay team, having broken the world record in the heats and a gold medal as part of the Men's 4 × 400 relay team.[20][21]
USA National Track and field Championships
| Year | Competition | Venue | Position | Event | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships | Eugene, Oregon | 2nd | 400 metres | 44.39[22] |
| 2016 | USA Indoor Track and Field Championships | Portland, Oregon | 1st | 400 metres | 45.80[23] |
| 2015 | USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships | Eugene, Oregon | 3rd | 400 metres | 44.80[24] |
