Kendall Ellis, an American track and field athlete, was born on March 8, 1996, in Pembroke Pines, Florida. Her parents, Wanda and Sam Ellis raised Kendall and her two older sisters with a strong emphasis on community service and well-rounded development.
A specialist in the 400-meter sprint, Ellis has risen to prominence in the sport, earning two Olympic medals at the Tokyo Games - gold in the 4x400m relay and bronze in the mixed 4x400m. Her athletic success began with impressive performances at St. Thomas Aquinas High School, where she won seven state championships to her name.
Ellis continued to excel at the University of Southern California, securing three NCAA titles and 14 NCAA Division I All-American honors. She earned a Bachelor's in Business Administration from USC in just three years, followed by an MBA from DeVry University.
Kendall Ellis' Parents
Kendall Ellis's parents are Wanda and Sam Ellis.
Who is Kendall Ellis' Mother?
Kendall Ellis's mother is Wanda Ellis. Specific details about Wanda's profession or background are not widely available.
Who is Kendall Ellis' Father?
Kendall Ellis's father is Sam Ellis.
Early Life and Development
Kendall Ellis grew up in Pembroke Pines, Florida. As sourced from Wikipedia, she was actively involved with the West Pembroke Pines Optimist Track Club as a volunteer.
Ellis studied at St. Thomas Aquinas High School. She graduated in 2014 as a seven-time Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) state champion. Her high school personal best times were impressive: 24.18 seconds in the 200 meters and 52.95 seconds in the 400 meters.
FHSAA state championship performances
| Year | Event | Result |
| 2014 | 400m | 1st (52.95s) |
| 2014 | 4x400m relay | 1st (3:41.01) |
| 2013 | 400m | 1st (54.96s) |
| 2013 | 4x400m relay | 1st (3:45.01) |
| 2012 | 400m | 1st (53.22s) |
| 2012 | 4x400m relay | 1st (3:47.67) |
| 2011 | 400m | 1st (54.83s) |
College Career
Kendall Ellis studied at USC. She set two NCAA indoor track and field records, a North American, Central American and Caribbean Athletic Association indoor 400 meters record, and United States college records in the 400m and 4x400m relay.
Her professional career began in 2018 when she signed with New Balance. Ellis has since represented the United States in several international competitions, including the World Championships and the Olympic Games.
Major international achievements
| Year | Competition | Event | Result |
| 2021 | Tokyo Olympics | Mixed 4x400m | Bronze |
| 2021 | Tokyo Olympics | 4x400m relay | Gold |
| 2019 | World Championships | 4x400m relay | Gold |
| 2017 | World Championships | 4x400m relay | Gold |
Personal Struggles and Growth
In a personal account shared on Milesplit in 2014, Ellis revealed the mental challenges she faced early in her career. She struggled with intense pre-competition anxiety. These issues became so severe that they threatened to end her running career prematurely.
Ellis described experiencing dizziness, vomiting, shaking, and mental breakdowns before meets. The pressure of defending her state titles and competing at national-level meets took a significant toll on her mental health.
With the support of her parents and coaches, Ellis sought sports therapy to address these issues. This therapy focused on identifying triggers for her nerves and developing strategies to control them. Through this process, Ellis was able to overcome her anxiety and return to competition with renewed confidence.
This personal growth contributed to her successful senior year in high school, where she set a personal record of 52.95 seconds in the 400 meters and won her fourth consecutive state championship.
FAQ's on Kendall Ellis Parents
A. Kendall Ellis is an American Track and Field athlete.
A. Kendall Ellis is 28 years of age as of July 2024.
A. Wanda and Sam Ellis are the parents of Kendall Ellis.
A. Kendall Ellis attended USC.
