Editing Tim Montgomery

{{Short description|American sprinter (born 1975)}}
{{About-distinguish-text|the American sprinter|the British political activist, [[Tim Montgomerie]]}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2019}}
{{Infobox sportsperson
|name             = Tim Montgomery
|image            = 
|caption          = 
|birth_date       = {{Birth date and age|1975|1|28}}
|birth_place      = [[Gaffney, South Carolina]], U.S.
|death_date       = 
|death_place      = 
|sport            = [[Track and field]]
|event            = [[100-meter dash]]
|collegeteam      = [[Blinn College|Blinn Buccaneers]]<br/>[[Norfolk State Spartans]]
|pb               = '''100 m&nbsp;''': 9.92 ([[Indianapolis]] 1997)<br/>'''200 m&nbsp;''': 20.52 ([[Osaka]] 1999)
|medaltemplates   = 
{{Medal|Sport|Men's [[athletics (sport)|athletics]]}}
{{Medal|Country|{{flagu|United States}} }}
{{Medal|Competition|[[Olympic Games]]}}
{{Medal|Gold|[[2000 Summer Olympics|2000 Sydney]]|[[Athletics at the 2000 Summer Olympics – Men's 4 × 100 metres relay|4 × 100 m relay]]}}
{{Medal|Silver|[[1996 Summer Olympics|1996 Atlanta]]|[[Athletics at the 1996 Summer Olympics – Men's 4 × 100 metres relay|4 × 100 m relay]]}}
{{Medal|Competition|[[IAAF World Championships in Athletics|World Championships]]}}
{{Medal|Gold|[[1999 World Championships in Athletics|1999 Sevilla]]|[[1999 World Championships in Athletics – Men's 4 × 100 metres relay|4 × 100 m relay]]}}
{{Medal|Bronze|[[1997 World Championships in Athletics|1997 Athens]]|[[1997 World Championships in Athletics – Men's 100 metres|100 m]]}}
{{Medal|Disqualified|[[2001 World Championships in Athletics|2001 Edmonton]]|[[2001 World Championships in Athletics – Men's 4 × 100 metres relay|4 × 100 m relay]]}}
{{Medal|Competition|[[IAAF World Indoor Championships in Athletics|World Indoor Championships]]}}
{{Medal|Silver|[[2001 IAAF World Indoor Championships|2001 Lisbon]]|[[2001 IAAF World Indoor Championships – Men's 60 metres|60&nbsp;m]]}}
|height           = 5 ft 10 in
|weight           = 160 lbs
}}

'''Timothy Montgomery''' (born January 28, 1975) is an American former track [[sprint (running)|sprinter]] who specialized in the [[100 metres|100-meter dash]]. In 2005, he was stripped of his records—including a now-void [[Men's 100 metres world record progression|men's 100-meter world record]] of 9.78 seconds set in 2002—after being found guilty of using [[anabolic steroids|performance-enhancing drugs]] as a central figure in the [[BALCO scandal]]. Since retiring from athletics, he has been tried and convicted for his part in a New York–based [[check fraud]] scheme and for dealing [[heroin]] in the [[Hampton Roads]] area of Virginia.

Montgomery's first major medal was an Olympic silver in the [[4 × 100 metres relay|4 × 100-meter relay]] at the [[1996 Atlanta Olympics]]. He was a 100-meter bronze medalist at the [[1997 World Championships in Athletics|1997 World Championships]], then shared in the relay gold medal with the United States team at the [[1999 World Championships in Athletics|1999 World Championships]]. He also took Olympic gold at the [[2000 Summer Olympics]] with the American relay team. He initially won a silver medal in the 100 meters at the [[2001 World Championships in Athletics|2001 World Championships]], but this was nullified due to doping. His official personal best for the 100 meters stands at 9.92 seconds, making him a [[10-second barrier|sub-10 second sprinter]].

==Career==
Born in [[Gaffney, South Carolina]], Montgomery was initially a basketball and football player prior to trying out for track. He attended [[Gaffney High School]] where he ran track, winning the 200 meter state title his senior year.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.goupstate.com/story/news/1996/12/26/montgomery39s-dreams-on-track/29591919007/ | title=Montgomery's dreams on track }}</ref>

Montgomery studied at [[Blinn College]] in [[Brenham, Texas]], and transferred to [[Norfolk State University]] in 1994. Located in the Hampton Roads area of the Virginia port city of [[Norfolk, Virginia|Norfolk]], Norfolk State was known for its strong track program. While in school, he competed in several junior track events, and did well in the sprint and relay events.

Montgomery did not qualify for the 100 meters at the 1996 Summer Olympics, but he did compete in [[Atlanta]] in the heats of the 4 × 100-meter relay team that eventually finished second behind Canada. He qualified for his first major international tournament in 1997, and won the bronze medal at those World Championships, finishing third behind [[Maurice Greene (sprinter)|Maurice Greene]]. Two years later, Montgomery came in sixth in the individual final, but did win a gold medal with the United States relay team.

Montgomery did not qualify for the individual 100 meters at the 2000 Summer Olympics in [[Sydney]], though he again ran as an alternate in the heats of the relay event. In the final, the United States won the gold medal.

Montgomery broke Greene's 100-meter world record by 0.01 seconds in September 2002. With a maximum-allowable tailwind of {{convert|2.0|m/s|mph|sp=us}}, Montgomery posted a time of 9.78 seconds. This record was later nullified because of doping.

==Business==
In 2014, Montgomery relocated to [[Gainesville, Florida]], to start a business focused on general athletic and sports training for youth and adults. The motto for the business is "Never Underestimate My Ability" as encoded into the business website name [http://www.numaspeedelite.com NUMA Speed]. The motto is a reference to both the initial success, extensive life challenges and ultimate redemption reflected in his athletic and business timeline.

==Steroid scandal==
Montgomery did not qualify for the [[2004 Summer Olympics]], finishing seventh in the final of the United States Olympic trials. Before the trials, however, he was charged with using illegal performance-enhancing drugs by the [[United States Anti-Doping Agency]] (USADA). While he has not returned a positive drug test, according to press reports he testified to the agency that he, along with a number of other prominent athletes, obtained steroids and [[human growth hormone]] from [[Bay Area Laboratory Co-operative|BALCO]], a laboratory near San Francisco. The USADA sought a four-year suspension on Montgomery, who appealed to the [[Court of Arbitration for Sport]] (CAS). On December 13, 2005, CAS found Montgomery guilty and imposed a two-year ban. On top of the ban, all of Montgomery's results and awards since March 31, 2001, including his former world record, were also stripped.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/athletics/4521452.stm|title=Montgomery hit with two-year ban|publisher=[[BBC Sport]]|date=December 13, 2005|access-date=October 11, 2019}}</ref> After the ban was made public, Montgomery announced his retirement. The investigation also implicated his former partner [[Marion Jones]], winner of the women's 100 meters at the 2000 Sydney Games.

On November 24, 2008, Montgomery admitted to taking [[Testosterone (medication)|testosterone]] and human growth hormone before the Sydney Games 4 × 100-meter relay, in which he helped claim the gold medal.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/athletics/7746959.stm|title=I won gold on drugs – Montgomery|publisher=BBC Sport|date=November 24, 2008|access-date=October 11, 2019}}</ref> After the admission an [[International Olympic Committee]] spokesperson said the committee would look into the matter as part of its open file on the BALCO investigation, but {{as of|2019|lc=y}} the United States team continues to be officially listed as the winner of the event<ref>{{cite web |title=4 × 100 m relay men |url=https://www.olympic.org/sydney-2000/athletics/4x100m-relay-men |access-date=26 December 2019 |publisher=olympic.org |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191226055348/https://www.olympic.org/sydney-2000/athletics/4x100m-relay-men |url-status=dead |archive-date=26 December 2019}}</ref> and no action has been taken against teammates [[Jon Drummond]], [[Bernard Williams (sprinter)|Bernard Williams]], [[Brian Lewis (sprinter)|Brian Lewis]], Maurice Greene, and [[Kenny Brokenburr]].

==Money laundering charge==
In April 2006, Montgomery was indicted and arrested on fraud charges for his alleged involvement in a [[money laundering]] scheme. He was accused of depositing three bogus checks totaling $775,000.<ref name="Wallechinsky">{{cite book|author=Wallechinsky, David|title=The Book of Olympic Lists|year=2012|publisher=Aurum Press Ltd|location=London|isbn=9781845137731|pages=[https://archive.org/details/bookofolympiclis0000wall/page/234 234]|url=https://archive.org/details/bookofolympiclis0000wall/page/234}}</ref> Montgomery allegedly received $20,000 for his participation. His former coach, [[Steve Riddick]], was also a defendant in the case.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.seattlepi.com/sports/article/Sprinter-arrested-in-fraud-scheme-1202269.php|title=Sprinter arrested in fraud scheme|agency=[[Associated Press]]|work=[[Seattle Post-Intelligencer]]|author=Caruso, David B.|date=April 28, 2006|access-date=October 11, 2019}}</ref>

Riddick served a prison term of five years and three months. Marion Jones served a six-month prison term for lying to investigators about the check-fraud scam.<ref name="Sentenced">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/7182969.stm|title=Six-month jail sentence for Jones|date=January 11, 2008|publisher=BBC News|access-date=2008-01-11}}</ref><ref name="Released">{{cite news |url=https://www.espn.com/espn/print?id=3570875&type=story |title=Marion Jones released from Texas federal prison |date=September 5, 2008 |agency=Associated Press |publisher=ESPN}}</ref>

Montgomery pleaded guilty to the charges on April 9, 2007. He was sentenced to 46 months in prison on May 16, 2008.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.foxnews.com/story/ex-olympian-tim-montgomery-pleads-guilty-in-multimillion-dollar-fraud-scheme|title=Ex-Olympian Tim Montgomery Pleads Guilty in Multimillion-Dollar Fraud Scheme|website=[[Fox News]]|agency=[[Fox News]]/Associated Press|date=April 10, 2007|access-date=October 11, 2019}}</ref>

==Heroin arrest==
On May 1, 2008, an indictment was unsealed that accused Montgomery of dealing more than 100&nbsp;grams of heroin in the Hampton Roads area over the previous year, according to ''[[the Virginian-Pilot]]'', the daily newspaper in Virginia Beach. Montgomery told the newspaper he knew nothing of the accusations and that his arrest was a "total surprise."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://edition.cnn.com/2008/SPORT/05/02/montgomery.arrest.ap/index.html|title=Report: Track star arrested for drug dealing|agency=[[CNN]]|date=May 2, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080503084227/http://edition.cnn.com/2008/SPORT/05/02/montgomery.arrest.ap/index.html|archive-date=May 3, 2008|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In October 2008, Montgomery was found guilty and sentenced to five years in prison.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7664163.stm|title=US athlete jailed on drugs charge|publisher=BBC News|date=October 10, 2008|access-date=October 11, 2019}}</ref>

== Personal life ==
Montgomery has four children with four different women.<ref>Helene Elliott: [https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2003-jun-30-sp-nwbox30-story.html '' Marion Jones Gives Birth to Boy''], latimes.com, June 30, 2003</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2009-09-22 |title=Fish: The fastest man in the prison yard |url=https://www.espn.com/olympics/trackandfield/columns/story?columnist=fish_mike&id=4487014 |access-date=2024-08-16 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}} </ref> His son Tim Jr (June 2003) is with [[Marion Jones]]; his daughter Tymiah (2001)<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.gainesville.com/story/news/2013/06/23/ex-olympian-getting-life-back-on-track-as-a-coach/31849261007/ | title=Ex-Olympian getting life back on track as a coach }}</ref> is a runner for [[University of Florida]] Gators. In October 2009 while imprisoned he married Jamalee Montgomery.<ref> {{Cite web |last=Axon |first=Rachel |title=Tim Montgomery, former fastest man, up and running |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/olympics/2013/09/10/tim-montgomery-100-meter-world-record-prison/2795863/ |access-date=2024-08-16 |website=USA TODAY |language=en-US}}</ref>

==See also==
*[[List of doping cases in athletics]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{World Athletics}}
* {{USATF|old_id=Montgomery_Tim}}
* [https://www.espn.com/olympics/trackandfield/columns/story?columnist=fish_mike&id=4487014 Extensive overview article] from ESPN

{{s-start}}
{{s-ach}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Maurice Greene (sprinter)|Maurice Greene]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Best Male Track Athlete ESPY Award|Men's Track & Field ESPY Award]] | years=2003}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Tom Pappas]]}}
{{s-end}}

{{Footer Olympic Champions 4x100 m Men|2000}}
{{Footer World Champions 4 x 100 m Men|1999}}
{{Footer USA Track & Field 1996 Summer Olympics}}
{{Footer USA Track & Field 2000 Summer Olympics}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Montgomery, Tim}}
[[Category:1975 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Gaffney, South Carolina]]
[[Category:Track and field athletes from South Carolina]]
[[Category:American male sprinters]]
[[Category:African-American track and field athletes]]
[[Category:Olympic gold medalists for the United States in track and field]]
[[Category:Olympic silver medalists for the United States in track and field]]
[[Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 1996 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 2000 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 1996 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 2000 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:World Athletics Championships athletes for the United States]]
[[Category:World Athletics Championships medalists]]
[[Category:World Athletics Indoor Championships medalists]]
[[Category:Junior college men's track and field athletes in the United States]]
[[Category:Doping cases in athletics]]
[[Category:American sportspeople in doping cases]]
[[Category:American people convicted of money laundering]]
[[Category:Goodwill Games medalists in athletics]]
[[Category:Athletes stripped of World Athletics Championships medals]]
[[Category:Prisoners and detainees of Virginia]]
[[Category:21st-century American criminals]]
[[Category:Criminals from South Carolina]]
[[Category:American people convicted of drug offenses]]
[[Category:World Athletics Championships winners]]
[[Category:Competitors at the 2001 Goodwill Games]]
[[Category:21st-century African-American sportsmen]]
[[Category:20th-century African-American sportsmen]]
[[Category:Olympic sportspeople convicted of crimes]]