Career
A native of Los Angeles, California, Nellum attended Long Beach Polytechnic High School, where he also competed in American football as a wide receiver, and was teammates with Terrence Austin, Jurrell Casey, Vaughn Telemaque, and Donovan Warren. He was ranked the No. 70 wide receiver prospect in his class by Rivals.com . [1]
While still in high school, Nellum was named Gatorade Track & Field Athlete of the Year in 2007. In his sophomore year, Nellum finished second to David Gettis in the 400 meters at the 2005 CIF California State Meet. As a junior, he doubled as state champion in the 200 and 400 meters. At the 2007 CIF State Meet, Nellum repeated as 200 and 400 meters champion. [2] In a memorable 200 metres dash, Nellum (state meet record 20.43) ran head-to-head with 100 meters champion Jahvid Best (20.65), narrowly beating him down the stretch. [3] Nellum's and Best's time ranked No. 1 and No. 2 among high school sprinters in 2007, and earned Nellum a consecutive All-USA selection by USA Today . [4] Nellum's time broke a twenty-year-old state record established by Quincy Watts in 1987. [5]
Nellum had to redshirt the 2009 season at USC, after being shot in the leg by two gang members. [6] Nellum was told by doctors that he would probably never again reach world-class speeds as a runner. [7]
On June 24, 2012, in Eugene, Oregon, Bryshon Nellum ran a personal record 44.80—his first sub-45-second time—in the 400 meters at the U.S. Olympic track trials, placing third in the competition and earning a spot on the 2012 Olympic team. At the 2012 Olympics Nellum reached the semi-finals of the individual 400 meters and won a silver medal as part of the 4 × 400 meters relay team. [8] He carried the US flag at the closing ceremony after being chosen by the US athletes. [8]
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