Hyleas Fountain: World Leading Heptathlete & Winner of Olympic Silver Medal Reveals Her Success Secrets

Hyleas Fountain was born in Columbus, Georgia. She is an American heptathlete. She was the silver medalist in the event at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Her famous Quote” Two things define you. Your patience when you have nothing, and your attitude when you have everything”.

Fountain has been one of the top heptathletes in the U.S. for the past seven years, with multiple national titles to her name. She tied the American record in the women’s pentathlon at the 2010 World Indoor Championships with her score of 4,753 points, finishing in fourth place. Fountain became the only American woman other than Jackie Joyner-Kersee to win an Olympic medal in the heptathlon, in 2008. Initially she was the bronze medalist, but was moved up from third to second when original silver medalist Lyudmila Blonska failed a drug test.

Her time of 12.65 in the 100m hurdles at the 2008 Olympic Trials, worth 1,178 points on scoring tables, broke three records: American record, heptathlon 100m hurdles (12.69, Jackie Joyner-Kersee, 1988, Seoul); Olympic Trials record, heptathlon 100m hurdles (12.71, Jackie Joyner-Kersee, 1988, Indianapolis); and USA National Championship record, heptathlon 100m hurdles (12.77, Jackie Joyner-Kersee, 1991, NYC).

Not only an NCAA heptathlon champion, Fountain is also an outstanding long jumper, triple jumper, high jumper and hurdler. Credits her mother for introducing her to the sport at age seven. With Jackie Joyner-Kersee as her idol, Fountain says that in school she always wrote papers on her and Wilma Rudolph. Because heptathlon was not offered in Pennsylvania high schools, she had to wait until college. In 2002, she won five NJCAA titles and had three runner-up finishes for Barton CC. Transitioned her speed to the ice to help USA Bobsled as a push athlete and helped pilot Megan Hill to a bronze medal at the North American Cup tour in late 2012.

Off the track, Hyleas always ensures to make time for her two dogs, Febe and Ceiley. When not enjoying hobbies of photography, singing, and cooking, she expresses her true girly girl side and loves to shop. Philanthropically, Hyleas supports Run for Haiti and Girls on the Run. Additionally, she lends her time back to the sport in a leadership role as an athlete representative on the Board of Directors for USA Track & Field. Hyleas also finds ways to give back and promote athletics in her current training location of Daytona, FL.

Achievements of Hyleas Fountain in Heptathlon

USA Championships

• Five-time USA Outdoor champion – 2005 (6,208); 2007 (6,090); 2008 (6,619); 2010 (6735w); 2012 (6419)
• 2005 USA Indoor pentathlon champion (4,417i)
• 2004 Outdoor Long Jump

International Championships

• 2008 Olympic silver medalist (6,619)

Collegiate Championships

• 2004 NCAA Outdoor long jump champion (6.61m/21-8.25 SR)
• 2003 NCAA Outdoor champion (5,999)
• 2004 NCAA Indoor long jump (6.58m/21-7.25) and pentathlon (4,412) champion

Personal Best -Outdoor

• 200 Metres 23.21 +0.3 Beijing (National Stadium) 15 AUG 2008
• 800 Metres 2:15.32 Talence 14 SEP 2008
• 100 Metres Hurdles12.70 +1.3 London (Olympic Stadium) 03 AUG 2012
• High Jump 1.90 Des Moines, IA 25 JUN 2010
• Long Jump 6.89 +0.6 Luzern 15 JUL 2009
• Long Jump 6.89 +1.7 Nottwil 08 AUG 2010
• Triple Jump 13.40 +1.0 Oxford, MS 16 MAY 2004
• Shot Put 13.81 Eugene, OR 27 JUN 2009
• Javelin Throw 48.15 Eugene, OR 28 JUN 2008
• Heptathlon 6735 Des Moines, IA 26 JUN 2010

Personal Best – Indoor

• 60 Metres 7.49 Findlay, OH 21 JAN 2011
• 800 Metres 2:21.02 Doha (Aspire Dome) 13 MAR 2010
• 55 Metres Hurdles 7.61 Blankenburg 12 FEB 2005
• 60 Metres Hurdles 7.98 Boston (Roxbury), MA 01 MAR 2009
• High Jump 1.87 Doha (Aspire Dome) 13 MAR 2010
• Long Jump 6.70 Albuquerque, NM 28 FEB 2010
• Shot Put 14.06 Doha (Aspire Dome) 13 MAR 2010
• Pentathlon 4753 Doha (Aspire Dome) 13 MAR 2010

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