Lex Gillette Explained

Elexis "Lex" Gillette
Fullname:Elexis LaVelle Gillette
Nickname:Lex
Nationality:American
Birth Date:1984 10, mf=yes
Birth Place:Raleigh, North Carolina
Residence:Chula Vista, California

Elexis LaVelle "Lex" Gillette (born October 19, 1984) is a blind Paralympic athlete from Raleigh, North Carolina in the United States competing in T11 (track) and F11 (field) events for the United States.

He competed in the 2004 Summer Paralympics in Athens, where he won silver in the men's long jump F11 event. At the 2008 Summer Paralympics in Beijing, he won a silver medal in the men's long jump F11 event and finished fifth in the men's triple jump F11. He competed in 100 m and 200 m T11 events but did not advance to the finals. At the 2012 Summer Paralympics in London, he won a third consecutive silver medal in the men's long jump F11 event and finished fourth in the triple jump event. At the 2016 Summer Paralympics in Rio, he won a fourth consecutive silver medal in the men's Long Jump - T11 event. At the 2020 Summer Paralympics in Tokyo, he won a fifth consecutive silver medal in the men's Long Jump - T11 event.

In 2019, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Lex won the gold medal with a jump of 6.45 m during the 2019 World Para Athletics Championships – Men's long jump, marking his fourth world championship. At the 2013 IPC Athletics World Championships in Lyon, France, he won gold in the men's long jump F11 event and he also won silver in the triple jump event. Gillette was a part of the 2013 IPC Athletics World Championships 4 × 100 m relay team that won a silver medal and set a new American record in the process. Gillette broke his own long jump world record for F11 classified athletes of 6.73 m (22 feet 1 inch) with a leap of 6.77 m (22 feet 2 in.) on April 23, 2015, at a high performance meet held at the Chula Vista Olympic Training Center.[1] [2]

Education

He attended Athens Drive High School and graduated from East Carolina University in 2007.[3]

Music

Lex Gillette is also a musician. He plays the piano and enjoys singing. Gillette released a music single on April 16, 2012, that was originally titled Go for Gold and was later changed to On the Stage.

Beep ball

While in high school, Gillette was introduced to beep ball, a modified form of baseball for the visually impaired and blind. In 2003, Gillette was recruited to play with the West Coast Dawgs of the National Beep Baseball Association. His first role with the team consisted mostly of designated hitter duties, but in 2005, Gillette became the starting right fielder for the Dawgs. In 2005 West Coast finished 5th in the World Series that were held in Houston, Texas. 2006 saw the Dawgs play in the championship game where they lost to the Taiwan Home Run. The 2007 World Series of Beep Ball were held in Rochester, Minnesota, and the Dawgs returned to the championship game only to lose to the Kansas All Stars. In 2008, Gillette won his first World Series title with the West Coast Dawgs as they outlasted Kansas for the world title. He was named to the offensive all-star team in the same year. The Dawgs returned to the 2009 World Series title game and repeated as champions against the Taiwan Home Run. In both 2010, and 2011, the West Coast Dawgs played in the World Series title game against the Taiwan Home Run, and both times, Gillette scored the game-winning run to put the Dawgs on top as world champions. ESPN’s E60 featured Gillette and the West Coast Dawgs’ 2011 title run.[4]

Awards

In November 2015, Gillette received the Athletes in Excellence Award from The Foundation for Global Sports Development, in recognition of his community service efforts and work with youth.[5]

Lex Gillette Day

Mayor David S. Gysberts and Washington County Board of Commissioners Terry Baker proclaimed September 25 Lex Gillette Day in both Hagerstown, Maryland and Washington County, MD.[6]

Major Accomplishments

Notes and References

  1. Web site: IPC Athletics World Records. https://web.archive.org/web/20120901073138/http://www.london2012.com/paralympics/athlete/schulz-martin-5503532/. dead. 1 September 2012. International Paralympic Committee. 26 January 2013.
  2. Web site: Lex Gillette wins third consecutive silver medal. https://web.archive.org/web/20120904225815/http://www.teamusa.org/US-Paralympics/Features/2012/September/04/Lex-Gillette-wins-third-consecutive-silver-medal.aspx. dead. September 4, 2012. Team USA.
  3. News: Davis. Mike. Blind alumnus beats athletic record. 17 October 2011. The East Carolinian. October 13, 2011.
  4. Schaap. Jeremy. Beep Ball. ESPN. 6 February 2015.
  5. News: Five Team USA Athletes Honored With Athletes In Excellence Awards For Their Work Changing Lives. https://web.archive.org/web/20151127203200/http://www.teamusa.org/News/2015/November/25/Five-Team-USA-Athletes-Honored-With-Athletes-In-Excellence-Awards-For-Their-Work-Changing-Lives. dead. November 27, 2015. Team USA. 2016-10-10.
  6. News: Shok. Holly. Three-time U.S. Paralympian Elexis "Lex" Gillette visits Hagerstown. 28 January 2015. Herald Mail. September 26, 2013.

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