| Rank | Event | Year | Location | Result |
| Olympic Games | ||||
| 1 | 400m | 2008 | Beijing, CHN | 43.75 |
| 1 | 4 x 400m Relay | 2008 | Beijing, CHN | 2:55.39 |
| World Championships | ||||
| 1 | 4 x 400m Relay | 2011 | Daegu, KOR | 2:59.31 |
| 1 | 400m | 2009 | Berlin, GER | 44.06 |
| 1 | 4 x 400m Relay | 2009 | Berlin, GER | 2:57.86 |
| 1 | 4 x 400m Relay | 2007 | Osaka, JPN | 2:55.56 |
| 1 | 4 x 400m Relay | 2005 | Helsinki, FIN | 2:56.91 |
| 2 | 400m | 2011 | Daegu, KOR | 44.63 |
| 2 | 400m | 2007 | Osaka, JPN | 43.96 |
| Diamond League | ||||
| 1 | 400m | 2012 | Eugene, OR, USA | 44.91 |
| 1 | 400m | 2012 | Doha, QAT | 44.19 |
| 2 | 400m | 2011 | Zurich, SUI | 44.67 |
| 2 | 400m | 2011 | Stockholm, SWE | 44.74 |
| Golden League | ||||
| 1 | 400m | 2009 | Zurich, SUI | 44.21 |
| 2 | 400m | 2008 | Zurich, SUI | 44.43 |
| World Challenge | ||||
| 1 | 400m | 2012 | Ostrava, CZE | 45.13 |
| 1 | 200m | 2011 | Rieti, ITA | 20.13 |
| 1 | 400m | 2011 | Zagreb, CRO | 45.22 |
| Super Grand Prix | ||||
| 1 | 400m | 2009 | Monaco, MON | 44.73 |
| 1 | 400m | 2008 | Lausanne, SUI | 43.98 |
| 2 | 200m | 2009 | Lausanne, SUI | 20.41 |
| Grand Prix | ||||
| 1 | 400m | 2010 | Shanghai, CHN | 45.28 |
| 1 | 300m | 2009 | Eugene, OR, USA | 31.30 |
| 1 | 400m | 2009 | Gateshead, GBR | 45.10 |
| 1 | 400m | 2009 | Athens, GRE | 44.54 |
| 1 | 400m | 2009 | New York, NY, USA | 44.75 |
Occupation
Athlete
Education
Sports Management - Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA, USA
Language(s) spoken
English
Coach
Dwayne Miller (USA) (usatf.org, 2011)
Debut
2004 for United States, Fayetteville Invitational (United States) (usatf.org, 22 Mar 2007)
Additional information
Start of sporting career
He first started on the track in his freshman year of college. (lashawnmerrittusa.com, 2011)
Superstitions / Rituals
Before every race he kisses his right index and both middle fingers and points them to the sky in honour of his older brother, who died in an accident as a 19-year-old. (lashawnmerrittusa.com, 2011)
Awards
He became only the second athlete in history after countryman Michael Johnson to run under 20s for 200m and under 44s for 400m. (Conway Hill Sunday, 16 Dec 2007)
General
DRUG BAN
In 2010 he was given a two-year ban for testing positive for the dehydroepiandrosterone steroid. In his defence he claimed it came from ExtenZe, an over-the-counter herbal medicine designed to enlarge the penis. After his ban was reduced to 21 months he went to the Court of Arbitration for Sport [CAS] to contest the IOC ruling which says that any athlete banned for more than six months is not eligible to compete at the next Olympic Games. He won his appeal meaning he can defend his 400m title at the 2012 Games in London. (guardian.co.uk, 06 Oct 2011; theprojecttv.com.au, 23 Apr 2010)
TRAGEDY
His brother Antwan died after falling to his death from the window of his eighth floor dormitory after being attacked by a group of fellow students. He was 19 years old when he died. LaShawn says that he always runs with his brother's spirit close to him and that it helps him achieve amazing feats. "A lot of times, I felt like I was being pushed to the finish line. It was like he was running with me. I knew he was guiding me." (lashawnmerrittusa.com, 2011)
Previous Olympics
Beijing 2008
