Maurice Greene (born July 23, 1974) is an American athlete.

Born in Kansas City, Kansas, Greene participated in his youth in both American football and athletics, but eventually proved to be best in the latter.

In 1995, Greene took part in his first major international tournament at the World Championships in Gothenburg, but was eliminated in the 100 m quarter-finals. His next season was disappointing, as he failed to make the American team for the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta.

However, the following season would mean his breakthrough. At the World Championships in Athens, Greene won the 100 m title. This marked the beginning of a dominance of especially the 100 m by Greene, successfully defending his title in 1999 and 2001, winning the Olympic championships in SydneyThis is about the city of Sydney in Australia. For other meanings, see Sydney (disambiguation), or Sidney. Sydney Opera House Sydney is the capital city of the Australian state of New South Wales and Australia's largest and oldest city, founded in 1788. 2000This page is about the year 2000. See 2000 AD for the UK comic book, Number 2000 for other uses. 2000 is a leap year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar), and also the International Year for a Culture of Peace''. Events Y2K passes without the seri and setting the world record at 9.79 (beating the July 1996 record of Donovan BaileyDonovan Bailey (born December 16, 1967) is a Canadian athlete. Born in Manchester, Jamaica, Bailey immigrated from Jamaica to Canada at age 13, and played basketball before his graduation. He began competing as a 100m sprinter part-time in 1991, but he di at 9.84). At the 1999 World Championships, he also won the 200 m title, the first to win both events at a World Championships.

In 20022002 is a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). 2002 was the first palindromic year since 1991 and the last until 2112. 2002 was also designated: International Year of Ecotourism and Mountains National Science Year in the United Kingdom, Greene lost his World Record to fellow American Tim MontgomeryTim Montgomery (born January 25, 1975) is an American athlete, and holder of the World Record in the 100 m as of September 14, 2002. Born in Gaffney, South Carolina, Montgomery was initially a basketball and American football player, before trying out for, who beat his time by 0.01, while Greene himself was injured and watched the race from the stands.

At the 2004 Summer OlympicsThe Games of the XXVIII Olympiad commonly known as the 2004 Summer Olympics were the 28th Summer Olympic Games. The Games were held in Athens over 17 days, from August 13 to August 29, 2004. Planners expected 10,500 athletes (in fact 11,099 at the end) an in Athens, Greene added to his medal tally with the bronze after finishing third in his attempt to defend his 100 m title, and a silver as the anchor leg runner on the United States 4x100 m relay team, narrowly denied another Olympic Gold by the BritishThe United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is a state in Western Europe, usually known simply as the United Kingdom the UK Britain or less accurately as Great Britain . The UK was formed by a series of Acts of Union which united the formerly team, who won by 0.01 seconds.

External link

• Official Website

Greene has been widely acclaimed for his activism for gay rights, and has become something of an icon to the unknown number of closeted gay athletes throughout the world. After coming out of the closet himself in 1999, Greene disclosed that his long time partner was HIV positive.