Kim Batten was a natural in the sport, and it extended well beyond the 400m hurdles, her signature event.
When she arrived at Florida State University she was regarded more as a long and triple jumper than she was a hurdler. But from that point she went on to set the world record, win a world title and the 1996 Olympic silver medal.
Batten’s emergence onto the international scene was immediate and stunning. As a 22-year-old still learning the event, she shocked the track and field world in beating Sandra Farmer- Patrick to win the 1991 USA Outdoor title.
Her most memorable performance came at the 1995 World Outdoor Championships, when she out-leaned Tonja Buford- Bailey at the line as both competitors ran under the current world record time. She followed that up with her Olympic silver in Atlanta and World Outdoor silver in 1997.
When her career came to a close, Batten was a two-time Olympian, 1995 Pan American champion and a standard-bearer for her era.
KIM BATTEN
Bragging Rights
H Former 400m hurdles world record holder (52.61) H 1996 Olympic silver medalist H 1995 World Outdoor champion and 1997 World Outdoor bronze medalist H Six-time USA Outdoor champion