Kim Batten

400 meter hurdles champion

What is Kim Batten known for?

Born in McRae, Georgia on March 29, 1969, Kim Batten is an American former 400-meter hurdles champion and an accomplished alumna of the East High School in Rochester, New York. Kim's athletic life kicked off when she played basketball in high school.

Over her illustrious career, Kim Batten won an impressive six U.S. National Championships (1991, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998) establishing her as one of the most prominent figures in track and field. Her finest year arrived in 1995 when she broke the World Record for the 400m hurdles with an astounding time of 52.61 seconds at the World Athletics Championships. Her victory didn't stop there as she also went on to secure the top spot in the Pan American Games and the national indoor championships.

In the following years, she added an Olympic silver medal from the 1996 Atlanta Games and a bronze from the 1997 World Athletics Championships to her outstanding collection. Batten was also a proud member of the 2000 U.S. Olympic track team.

Despite an injury in 1999 that caused her to miss most of the season, Kim has left an indelible mark on the sport. She retired at the end of the 2001 season but her career was honoured in 2012 when she was inducted into the National Track and Field Hall of Fame. Nowadays, Kim Batten resides in Atlanta, GA.

Kim showed her dominance in track and field not only through her individual records but also her relay performances. She added a 4x400m relay medal from the 1997 Athens World Championships to her portfolio.

Kim Batten's athletic stats are an impressive testament to her capabilities, tenacity and spirit. From being the US Outdoor Champion in 1991, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997 to a World bronze medalist in Athens, 1998 World Cup bronze medalist and 1998 US Outdoor Champion, her career is a dazzling run of victories and achievements. In 1996, she was also honoured with the Women's Track & Field ESPY Award.