Jamie Nieto, 2012 Olympic High Jumper

Aug. 2, 2012 - PRLog -- Jamie Nieto, 2004 and 2012 Olympic High Jumper



Watch Jamie compete on Aug. 5th and 7th

Jamie Nieto is an Olympic High Jumper (2004 and 2012).  He made the United States Olympic Team in 2004, missed the 2008 Olympics due to a technicality and came back stronger than ever to earn a spot on the 2012 Olympic High Jump Team.  At 35, Jamie is the oldest male high jumper in the history of the United States to make it to the team. This accomplishment earned Jamie a permanent place in the United States Olympic history books.

Jamie’s track and field career began at Valley High School in Sacramento, California, where Jamie joined the track and field team in his junior year to make him a stronger basketball player in his senior year.  He discovered his ability to high jump competitively when he competed in his first CIF California state meet.  Jamie did so well as a high jumper in his junior year that he decided to rejoin the track and field team in his senior year.  After graduation in 1994, Jamie could have attended a NCAA Division II school with the onslaught of offers he received in basketball and track.  Jamie felt it was best to train and improve his high jumping skills at Sacramento City College, with the intention of attracting a NCAA Division I school.  As a member of the track and field team at Sacramento City College, Jamie ranked each year at the CIF California JUCO state meet, placing second in 1995 and third in 1996.

Jamie’s efforts gained him recognition at two NCAA Division I schools.  He accepted the scholarship to attend Eastern Michigan University and became a three-time All American, Indoor and Outdoor School Record Holder and Indoor Mid-American Conference Champion. He competed in the 1999 World University Games in Palma Del Mallorca. Jamie currently holds the Eastern Michigan men's track indoor high jump record of 7-feet-6 inches and the outdoor mark of 7-4.75 inches; and in 2012, he was inducted into the university’s “Athletic Hall of Fame”.

After receiving his Bachelors of Business Administration from Eastern Michigan in 1999, Jamie went on to qualify for the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens; just missed qualifying for the 2008 Olympics after placing second in the Olympic Trials due to the standard by the self-imposed USOC deadline; and persevered to qualify for the 2012 Olympic Team with a leap of 7-feet-5 three quarter inches at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon.  Jamie Nieto is an Olympic High Jumper (2004 and 2012).  He made the United States Olympic Team in 2004, missed the 2008 Olympics due to a technicality and came back stronger than ever to earn a spot on the 2012 Olympic High Jump Team.

For more information on Jamie Nieto and/or to request an interview contact:  Publicist Gwendolyn McClain at office) 510.470.3515 or cell) 901.628.6316 or Manager Damian Love at office) 424.243.5236.