Erik Kynard

USA Championships
2012 Olympic Trials runner-up (2.28m/7-5.75)
Third at 2011 USA Outdoors (2.28m/7-5.75)
 
International Championships
2012 Olympic silver medalist (2.33m/7-7.75)
2009 Pan American Junior silver medalist (2.10m/6-10.75)
 
Collegiate Championships
Two-time NCAA Outdoor champion - 2011 (2.29m/7-6); 2012 (2.34m/7-8)
3rd twice at NCAA Indoors - 2012 (2.20m/7-2.5); 2013 (2.29m/7-6)
Two-time Big 12 Indoor champion - 2012 (2.27m/7-5.25); 2013 (2.31m/7-7)
 
About Erik
At just 21 years old during the London Olympic Games, Erik Kynard proved both his ability in the high jump and his composure. With 2011 world champion Jesse Williams out of the competition, Kynard was certain Team USA didn't miss a beat by securing silver and dramatically help the U.S. to its 29 total medals. A prodigy in the high jump, Erik Kynard qualified for the 2008 Olympic Trials as a 17-year-old high school athlete. As a high school senior, Kynard won both the 2009 Nike Outdoor and Indoor Championships in the high jump with clearances of 2.22m/7-3.25 and 2.21m/7-3. To go along with those victories, he was also a two-time Ohio state champion in the high jump. After a successful career at Rogers High School in Toledo, Ohio, Kynard went onto Kansas State University to compete under the tutelage of head coach Cliff Rovelto. During his freshman year at Kansas State, Kynard posted a season best of 2.23m/7-3.75 to finish second at the Big 12 Indoor Championships. He improved dramatically as a sophomore – winning the NCAA Outdoor Championships. Kynard then placed third at the USA Outdoor Championships and punched his ticket to the World Championships in Daegu, South Korea. Kynard has six sisters and two brothers. Just a few days following his Olympic silver medal, Kynard appearned on the Late Show with David Letterman.