Kevin Young, Olympic Champion, Proves Hurdles Are No Obstacle

To go from the foot of the Watts Towers to the top of the world, Kevin Young had to overcome numerous hurdles. It was the 10 he cleared in last summer’s Olympic Games at Barcelona that earned him the Track & Field News male-athlete-of-the-year award.

“Everyone knows what Kevin has done in recent months and recent years, but the reason I’m pleased to be here is because of Kevin’s background,” said the 1960 recipient, decathlete Rafer Johnson, while presenting the award Thursday during a ceremony in Van Nuys.

Young, who ran the 400-meter hurdles in 46.78 seconds to win the gold medal and break Edwin Moses’ nine-year-old world record at Barcelona, was raised in a house across from the Watts Towers, went to Jordan High and earned his place on the UCLA track team as a walk-on.

“A lot of young guys in the neighborhood were very talented athletes, but they got their priorities mixed up,” Young said. “It was emphasized by my family that I get my education.

“I loved going to school. If I stayed at home, I had to do the housecleaning.”

Young, 26, has a degree in sociology.

He plans to compete this year in the open 500 meters in two indoor meets before an active outdoor season that will include several races in the open 400 meters as well as the intermediate hurdles.