Born on September 18, 1992, in Tennessee, Keni Harrison was adopted and raised in a large family with ten other children in Clayton, North Carolina. She initially played soccer before shifting to track and field at Clayton High School, where she performed impressively in hurdles, winning state championships.
At the University of Kentucky, she won NCAA titles in both indoor and outdoor events. Her breakthrough moment came in 2016 when she broke the 28-year-old world record in the women's 100m hurdles, clocking an impressive 12.20 seconds at the London Müller Anniversary Games.
She narrowly missing out on the 2016 Rio Olympics, but ended up claiming a gold in the 60m hurdles at the 2018 World Indoor Championships and the 100m hurdles at the 2018 NACAC Championships.
Keni Harrison's Olympic Medal Wins
Keni Harrison has won one Olympic medal in her career so far:
Silver Medal in the Women's 100m Hurdles event at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
Keni Harrison's Medals Breakdown
World Championships
| Event | Medal | Year |
| 100m Hurdles | Silver | 2019 |
| 100m Hurdles | Bronze | 2023 |
Summer Olympics
| Event | Medal | Year |
| 100m Hurdles | Silver | 2020 |
Keni Harrison's Records & Achievements
Held the world record in the Women's 100m Hurdles with a time of 12.20 seconds, set on July 22, 2016, at the London Müller Anniversary Games
North American record holder in the 100m Hurdles (12.20 seconds) and 60m Hurdles (7.70 seconds)
Won the 60m Hurdles at the 2018 World Indoor Championships
Won the 100m Hurdles at the 2018 NACAC Championships
Keni Harrison's Olympic Journey
Born in Tennessee in 1992, she grew up in a large family with ten other children and played soccer before taking up track and field at Clayton High School in North Carolina.
Harrison's college career at the University of Kentucky led to various achievements, including NCAA championship titles in both indoor and outdoor events in 2015. Despite missing out on qualifying for the 2016 Rio Olympics, Harrison broke the 28-year-old world record in the 100m Hurdles just weeks later, setting a new mark of 12.20 seconds.
After securing her spot on the U.S. Olympic team, Harrison finally made her Olympic debut at the 2020 Tokyo Games held in 2021, where she won the silver medal in the 100m Hurdles.
FAQ's On Keni Harrison’s Medals
A. Keni Harrison's personal best and former world record time in the 100m hurdles is 12.20 seconds, set at the London Müller Anniversary Games in 2016.
A. Keni Harrison has won one Olympic medal so far - a silver in the 100m hurdles at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
A. Keni Harrison took up track and field, including hurdling, during her high school years at Clayton High School in North Carolina.
A. Keni Harrison competed for the University of Kentucky Wildcats, winning multiple NCAA titles in indoor and outdoor events.
A. Keni Harrison has won silver and bronze medals in the 100m hurdles at the 2019 and 2023 World Championships, respectively, and gold in the 60m hurdles at the 2018 World Indoor Championships.
A. Yes, Keni Harrison holds the North American records in both the 100m hurdles (12.20 seconds) and the 60m hurdles (7.70 seconds).
