Carl Lewis

“I am proud to join FAO and the United Nations family to draw everyone’s attention to the very real and dramatic problems, as well as the concrete challenges and activities that FAO works on every day”.

Carl Lewis was nominated FAO Goodwill Ambassador on 16 October 2009.

During his career, Carl Lewis  attended four Olympic games and won 9 Olympic gold medals, earning himself international respect and a place in history as one of the truly great athletes of all time.

He was member of five American Olympic Teams, winning 10 medals, nine of them gold. With unsurpassed talent in the long jump and speed in the sprints, he has gone places where no other track and field athlete has ever visited. His five Olympic appearances are a record for a male athlete, and many of his Olympic performances were in world record or Olympic record time. His impressive track and field performances earned Carl Lewis world-renowned fame and instant name recognition as one of the greatest athletes of our time.

Since his retirement from active competition in 1997, Carl Lewis has devoted a great deal of his time and energy to charity, founding “The Carl Lewis Foundation,” which serves as an umbrella for the many charities that Lewis supports including the “Best Buddies” organization, The Wendy Marx Foundation (for organ donor awareness), many youth fitness groups as well as the Ronald McDonald House Charities. He has recently launched a new website; www.fitforever.com Fit Forever, created by Carl Lewis, is dedicated to empowering youth and adults, and to improving their life conditions through physical activity and a healthy lifestyle.

An activist for family, youth, education, wellness and fitness, Carl Lewis brings his international celebrity status to attract awareness of the challenges and opportunities surrounding these issues around the world.

In recognition of his untiring commitment to the cause of the underprivileged and active involvement in the global efforts to bring hope for a decent life to those who are disadvantaged, hungry and suffering, Carl Lewis was nominated Goodwill Ambassador of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization on 16 October 2009, on the occasion of the World Food Day. In this capacity, Carl has already recorded a support message for the Run for Food race which took place in Rome, Milan and other cities of the world.