On the 189th episode of “Listen In With KNN” on Fox Sports 1340AM/96.9 FM, host Kelsey Nicole Nelson welcomed in Olympic gold medalist Dawn-Harper Nelson. Harper-Nelson competed in the 100m hurdles at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing and finished with a time of 12.54 seconds to secure her first gold medal. Harper-Nelson was asked what the moment was like for her, Harper-Nelson said “It was so surreal, it took me a while for it to hit me, when I crossed that line I mean I looked up like how did I do, like did I do ok?”
At the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), Harper-Nelson was a successful NCAA All-American. Harper-Nelson was asked about her time at UCLA and how her experience prepared her as a professional athlete and African-American woman in society, Harper-Nelson said, “To get a degree from UCLA it just would open doors everywhere and my parents were extremely happy with my decision to go to UCLA because of the education part of it.” Harper-Nelson also had this to say about her time at UCLA, “I’ve just been truly happy to just kind of scream from the rooftops about how UCLA has just molded me into the woman I am today.”
As we discuss the legacy of former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich had presented Harper-Nelson with her day on October 6th, 2008 in her hometown of East St. Louis, Ill. in honor of her accomplishments. Harper-Nelson was asked about what it meant to her to have her day dedicated to her, Harper-Nelson said “You hear about you know growing up you celebrate certain days and you’re like wait ok he’s handing me the plaque, and he’s like no this is your day and I just kind of wrapped my head around October 6th, like I’m going to forever be able to say on this day I was honored for my accomplishments in this state.” Harper-Nelson was also given her street named Dawn-Harper drive in East St. Louis, Ill.
In 2012, Harper-Nelson headed to London for the Olympics and an opportunity at her second Olympic medal. Harper-Nelson did not disappoint when she fell .02 seconds shy of the gold medal but won the silver medal for Team USA in the 100m hurdles to become a two-time winner of an Olympic medal. When Harper-Nelson was asked about her recollection of the race she said, “Our race was one of the big races for the 2012 Olympics and that we lived up to it, because there are a lot of things that go on and you’re like I would like it to go this way or oh I hope, first of all, to be in the best shape of your life when the Olympics happen, lightning has to strike and then for you to execute on that day it has to strike like 10 more times.”
Harper-Nelson was named a spokesperson for the American Diabetes Association, which was important to her since she has a family history of bouts with diabetes. “When I was approached about wanting to join the American Diabetes Association, I was completely like when do we start? Do you want me to start yesterday? Is it possible because diabetes it’s in my family, it’s something I’ve seen and experienced since I was a child and to think that someone will listen to me because of my accomplishments,” said Harper-Nelson.
In 2017, Harper-Nelson headed to London for the IAAF world championships. Harper-Nelson would wind up medaling by finishing 2nd in the 100m hurdles with a time of 12.63, outdone by long-time friend and rival, Sally Pearson. The silver medal ended up being Harper-Nelson’s second medal from an IAAF world championship in her career.
